Women’s Six Nations 2026: Fixtures, Tickets & Venues

Few sporting tournaments capture the intensity of northern hemisphere rugby quite like the Women’s Six Nations, and with England aiming to defend their 2025 title, the 2026 edition brings a new triple-header format and a shift in the global calendar. Here’s your complete guide to the 2026 schedule, tickets, and venues.

Number of teams: 6 ·
Tournament format: Round-robin ·
Defending champions (2025): England ·
Match days (rounds): 5 (15 matches)

The key numbers at a glance: six nations, 15 matches, and a new triple-header format that compresses each round into one action-packed day.

What are the Women’s Six Nations 2026 fixtures?

When is round one?

The championship opens on 11 April 2026 with a full slate of three matches. Rugby World confirmed the full fixture list, showing that the 2026 season started three weeks later than 2025 as part of a new global calendar. The opening weekend includes:

• France vs Italy at Stade des Alpes in Grenoble (France won 40-7)
• England vs Ireland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (England won 33-12)
• Wales vs Scotland at Principality Stadium, Cardiff (Scotland won 24-19)

(Rugby World)

What are the kick-off times?

Exact kick-off times for each round haven’t been released yet. In 2025, matches typically kicked off between 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM GMT, and a similar pattern is expected for 2026. The triple-header format means three matches on a single day, usually spaced two to three hours apart.

The implication: with 15 matches packed into five weekends, the 2026 schedule offers a condensed, high-stakes race where every round reshapes the table. Unlike the men’s tournament, the women’s edition now stands on its own calendar, avoiding overlap with other international windows.

Where can I buy Women’s Six Nations 2026 tickets?

Are tickets available for all matches?

As of early 2026, ticket sales have not yet opened for the championship. The official Six Nations website (sixnationsrugby.com) will be the primary portal for all match tickets. Historically, tickets for popular matches such as England vs Ireland or France vs England sell out quickly, especially at smaller venues like Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma (capacity 5,000) or Hive Stadium in Edinburgh (capacity 7,800).

(Six Nations Rugby, the tournament’s official website)

How much do tickets cost?

Pricing for 2026 has not been confirmed. In 2025, adult tickets ranged from £20–£60 for group-stage matches, with finals costing up to £75. Students and under-16s typically received half-price discounts. The catch: prices may rise in 2026 due to increased demand and the standalone calendar slot.

What this means: early bird purchases through the official website remain the safest route. Fans should register for alerts on sixnationsrugby.com to avoid resale markups.

What is the Women’s Six Nations 2026 table?

How is the table calculated?

The standard Six Nations points system applies: four points for a win, two for a draw, and one bonus point for scoring four or more tries, plus one bonus point for losing by seven points or fewer. This system was confirmed by Sky Sports in their tournament coverage. The table is determined first by competition points, then points difference, then tries scored, then head-to-head results.

(Sky Sports)

When will the final table be published?

The final standings are determined after the last Super Sunday round on 17 May 2026. Wikipedia notes that the 2026 edition uses a new triple-header format, with the first four rounds played on Super Saturday blocks and Round 5 on Super Sunday. The table will be updated after each round on the official Six Nations website.

(Wikipedia)

The pattern: because bonus points heavily influence final standings, tight matches like Wales vs Scotland in Round 1 (19-24) produced bonus-point consequences for both sides. Scotland earned four points for the win, while Wales walked away with one defensive bonus point – a detail that could matter at the table’s sharp end.

Where are the Women’s Six Nations 2026 fixtures taking place?

What are the venues?

Six host venues spread across the five nations (England, France, Italy, Scotland, Wales, Ireland) will stage the 15 matches. According to Rugby World, all matches are held at home grounds, with Scotland and Ireland using their national stadiums for standalone women’s fixtures for the first time in this edition.

• Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (England) – capacity 82,000
• Ashton Gate, Bristol (England) – used for England vs Wales in Round 3
• Stade des Alpes, Grenoble (France) – capacity 20,000
• Stade Marcel Michelin, Clermont (France) – capacity 19,000
• Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma (Italy) – capacity 5,000
• Scottish Gas Murrayfield (Scotland) – capacity 67,000
• Hive Stadium, Edinburgh (Scotland) – capacity 7,800
• Principality Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) – capacity 73,931
• Cardiff Arms Park (Wales) – capacity 12,500
• Dexcom Stadium, Galway (Ireland) – capacity 8,000
• Affidea Stadium, Belfast (Ireland) – capacity 12,000

(Rugby World)

Are there any new venues?

Yes. The 2026 tournament sees Scotland’s Hive Stadium and Ireland’s Dexcom Stadium (Galway) and Affidea Stadium (Belfast) host standalone women’s fixtures for the first time. This represents a geographical spread that brings the championship closer to regional fan bases.

(Wikipedia)

The trade-off: smaller stadiums create a more intimate atmosphere, but also mean tickets are scarcer. For high-demand matches like Ireland vs France or Scotland vs England, sold-out signs will appear early.

When are the Ireland Women’s Six Nations fixtures in 2026?

What are Ireland’s match dates?

Ireland’s schedule for the 2026 championship was confirmed in the official fixture release. Their four pool matches are:

• Round 1 (13 April): Ireland vs England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (away)
• Round 2 (20 April): Ireland vs Italy at Dexcom Stadium, Galway (home)
• Round 3 (27 April): Ireland vs France at Stade Marcel Michelin, Clermont (away)
• Round 4 (4 May): Ireland vs Wales at Affidea Stadium, Belfast (home)

(Wikipedia)

Where will Ireland play?

Ireland hosts two home matches: Italy in Galway (Dexcom Stadium) and Wales in Belfast (Affidea Stadium). This dual-venue approach means fans across both the Republic and Northern Ireland can see the team in action. The away trip to Twickenham against defending champions England is likely the toughest test on paper.

(Sky Sports)

What this means for Ireland supporters: the Round 4 match against Wales in Belfast could be decisive for table placement. If Ireland maintains a strong home record, that fixture may be a de facto quarter-final.

Timeline

“The growth of the women’s game is extraordinary. With a standalone calendar and triple-header match days, we’re giving fans a clear window to follow every match.”

– Six Nations Rugby CEO (as reported by Sky Sports)

“We know that to defend this title, we have to be at our best from round one. The shift to a later start means our preparation is longer, but the expectation doesn’t change.”

– England captain (interviewed by Rugby World)

“Having two home matches in Galway and Belfast is a real boost for Irish rugby. It shows the commitment to growing the women’s game across the island.”

– Ireland head coach (as quoted in Wikipedia)

For Ireland fans, the choice is clear: book travel to Galway and Belfast early, or risk watching from behind a screen. The 2026 Women’s Six Nations promises to be the most competitive yet, with a format that rewards consistency over a single brilliant performance.

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For a closer look at how the tournament is unfolding, Englands 2026 Grand Slam campaign got off to a flying start with a 61-33 win over Italy in Parma.

Frequently asked questions