How to watch County Championship 2026: TV, YouTube and live stream

And just like that, the final round of County Championship fixtures are upon us.

A campaign that started in the brisk Spring mornings of early April will reach its conclusion in the late September gloom.

It may no longer be the powerhouse it once was but the 2026 season has been a reminder of the joys of the four-day domestic competition, which is still the backbone of English red-ball cricket – and feels even more important under returning Test captain Joe Root and coach Stephen Fleming.

• Watch the County Championship 2026 on ECB.co.uk and your team's official YouTube channel

The final round of County Championship fixtures begin with Warwickshire 11 points clear in Division One and the frontrunners to win the title for the first time in five years.

Beating Leicestershire at Edgbaston would be enough to secure their triumph, but the visitors need to win to avoid relegation, while Somerset and Nottinghamshire are waiting to strike should they slip up.

It's set to be a thrilling end to the County Championship campaign – and UK fans can watch every ball for free.

RadioTimes.com brings you all the details about how to watch the County Championship 2026.

When is the County Championship 2026?

The County Championship season starts on Friday 3 April 2026.

The final round of County Championship fixtures starts on Thursday 24 September 2026 and wraps up on Sunday 27 September 2026.

Unfortunately, the County Championship 2026 will not be broadcast live on TV.

However, all matches will be available to watch for free via the Match Centre on ECB.co.uk and through your team's official YouTube channel, which you can stream through smart TVs.

Fans can also watch live on mobile or tablet through the England Cricket app.

County Championship on the radio

Few sports suit the airwaves quite like cricket and there will be extensive radio coverage throughout the County Championship.

Every ball of the season, in both divisions, will be broadcast live on local radio and the BBC Sport website. Listeners can also tune in through the England Cricket app or via teams' YouTube streams.

County Championship 2026 schedule

All start 11am UK time. Subject to change.

Division One: Thursday 24 - Sunday 27 September

• Warwickshire v Leicestershire, at Edgbaston
• Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire, at Trent Bridge
• Hampshire v Sussex, at the Rose Bowl
• Glamorgan v Essex, at Sophia Gardens
• Somerset v Surrey, at Taunton

Division Two: Thursday 24 - Sunday 27 September

• Kent v Gloucestershire, at Canterbury
• Middlesex v Northamptonshire, at Lord's
• Worcestershire v Derbyshire, at New Road
• Lancashire v Durham, at Old Trafford

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Authors

Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.