FA Cup Final 2026: How to Watch on UK TV, Kick-Off Time and Wembley Guide

FA Cup Final 2026: Your Complete Viewing Guide

The 2026 FA Cup Final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 16 May, and every minute will be available to watch live and free on both BBC One and ITV1. The showpiece of English football's oldest cup competition is one of the few major club matches still shared between two free-to-air broadcasters, meaning anyone with a TV licence can follow all the build-up, the 90 minutes, and any extra time or penalties without a subscription.

This guide covers when it starts, who is showing it, how to stream it on the move, and how the two finalists reached Wembley. You can also check our football fixtures page for kick-off times and TV channels for every other match happening around the final weekend.

Where to Watch: UK Broadcast Options

The FA Cup Final is a rare fixture that both the BBC and ITV broadcast simultaneously. Each has its own commentary team, punditry line-up, and build-up, so viewers can choose the coverage style they prefer. Both are free-to-air with a valid TV licence.

Broadcaster	Coverage	How to Access	Cost
BBC One	Full live coverage with build-up, match, and post-match analysis	Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat	Free (TV licence required)
BBC iPlayer	Live stream and on-demand replay for 30 days	bbc.co.uk/iplayer or BBC iPlayer app	Free (TV licence required)
ITV1	Full live coverage with separate commentary and analysis	Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat	Free
ITVX	Live stream and on-demand replay	itv.com/itvx or ITVX app	Free (ad-supported, account required)
BBC Radio 5 Live	Full live radio commentary	DAB, FM, BBC Sounds	Free
talkSPORT	Alternative live radio commentary	DAB, FM, talkSPORT app	Free

Kick-Off Time and Match Schedule

FA Cup Final kick-off times have shifted in recent years. The traditional 3pm Saturday slot gave way to a 5:30pm kick-off, and more recently the final has been moved earlier in the day when the Premier League season finishes on the same weekend. For 2026, the FA has scheduled a late-afternoon kick-off to give the match a prime-time TV audience without clashing with the domestic league's final-day fixtures.

Stage	Time (BST)	What Happens
Build-up begins	From approximately 2:30pm	Team news, historical features, fan interviews
Pre-match ceremonies	Approximately 4:30pm	Teams emerge, Abide With Me, national anthem
Kick-off	Approximately 4:30pm to 5:30pm	Match begins (exact time confirmed closer to the day)
Half-time	Around 45 minutes in	15-minute break
Full-time	Approximately two hours after kick-off	Match ends, or extra time and penalties if drawn
Trophy presentation	Shortly after final whistle	Winners climb the Wembley steps to lift the cup

Confirmed kick-off times are published on the official FA Cup site ↗ in the days leading up to the match. We will reflect the exact time on our football fixtures page as soon as it is confirmed.

How to Stream the Final on the Move

Both BBC iPlayer and ITVX offer mobile streaming of the final, so you can watch on a phone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV. Both apps are available on iOS, Android, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and most smart TV platforms.

Streaming Tips

• Sign in early: both services occasionally require a quick login check. Opening the app an hour before kick-off avoids a last-minute password reset.
• Use Wi-Fi where possible: a two-hour HD stream can eat through a mobile data plan. Switching to Wi-Fi or downloading the ITVX app's adaptive stream helps.
• Expect a short delay: live streams typically run 20 to 60 seconds behind the TV broadcast. Avoid goal alerts or social media refreshes if you want to keep the suspense intact.
• Follow radio as backup: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT run live commentary that is ideal if the stream buffers or you need to listen in the car.

The Road to Wembley

The FA Cup begins in August with the extra preliminary round and builds through qualifying and early proper rounds that include non-league clubs, EFL sides, and eventually Premier League teams from the third round. By the final, only two clubs remain out of the 732 that entered the competition.

Round	When	Who Enters
Qualifying rounds	August to October	Non-league clubs from steps 1 to 6
First round proper	Early November	League One and League Two clubs enter
Second round proper	Late November	40 winners from round one
Third round proper	Early January	Premier League and Championship clubs enter
Fourth round	Late January	32 clubs remaining
Fifth round	February	16 clubs remaining, single-leg midweek fixtures
Quarter-finals	March	Eight clubs, winners reach Wembley semi-finals
Semi-finals	April	Four clubs, played at Wembley Stadium
Final	Saturday 16 May 2026	Two remaining clubs

Wembley Stadium: The Home of the Final

The FA Cup Final has been held at Wembley Stadium ↗ since 1923, with a six-year break between 2001 and 2006 while the new stadium was built at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. The current Wembley holds 90,000 supporters and is the largest football stadium in the UK.

FA Cup Final day at Wembley has its own traditions. Community singing of Abide With Me before kick-off dates back to 1927. The national anthem, a flypast in some years, and the walk up the 107 steps to collect the trophy all contribute to the occasion. Television coverage leans heavily on these traditions, with both the BBC and ITV typically starting their build-up two or more hours before kick-off.

What If the Match Ends Level?

Since 2000 the FA Cup Final no longer has a replay. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the final goes straight to 30 minutes of extra time. If it remains level after extra time, the winner is decided by a penalty shootout.

Situation at 90 minutes	What Happens Next
One team leading	Match ends, trophy presented
Scores level	30 minutes of extra time (two 15-minute halves)
Still level after extra time	Penalty shootout, best of five then sudden death

Both the BBC and ITV stay on air through extra time and penalties. Their scheduled programming is pushed back to accommodate the finish, so viewers never miss the trophy lift.

FA Cup Winners: Recent History

Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United have dominated the FA Cup in recent decades, but the competition is famed for its capacity to deliver shocks at every stage. The 2013 final saw Wigan Athletic, a club later relegated from the Premier League days later, lift the trophy against Manchester City. Leicester City's 2021 triumph and Portsmouth's 2008 win are other recent reminders that the final is rarely a foregone conclusion.

What Else Is On Around the Final

The FA Cup Final weekend often coincides with the closing rounds of the Premier League, the World Snooker Championship final, and a heavy programme across other sports. If you are planning a full weekend of viewing, our spring sports on TV 2026 guide covers the full picture across every major sport.

Our Premier League run-in guide covers the title race, top-four battle, and relegation fight happening alongside the cup final. For snooker fans, the World Snooker Championship guide runs through the Crucible schedule, with the final landing on the same weekend as the FA Cup.

Prize Money and What Winning Means

Lifting the FA Cup secures a place in the following season's UEFA Europa League group stage, which can be worth tens of millions in broadcast and prize revenue. The direct FA Cup prize fund is smaller in comparison but still substantial. The FA publishes updated prize money details each season on the official FA Cup site ↗.

For many clubs outside the traditional top six, a cup run is financially transformational. Even reaching the fifth round or quarter-final can fund training-ground upgrades, new signings, or stadium improvements. This is part of what keeps the competition's magic alive at every level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the FA Cup Final free to watch on TV?

Yes. Both BBC One and ITV1 broadcast the final live and free to air. You need a TV licence to watch the BBC coverage or stream on iPlayer. ITV coverage is free on TV and on ITVX with a free account.

What channel is the FA Cup Final 2026 on?

The 2026 FA Cup Final is on BBC One and ITV1 simultaneously. Both broadcasters provide full live coverage with their own commentary and punditry teams. You can also stream on BBC iPlayer or ITVX.

When is the FA Cup Final 2026?

The 2026 FA Cup Final is scheduled for Saturday 16 May 2026 at Wembley Stadium. The exact kick-off time is typically confirmed a few weeks before the match.

Can I watch the FA Cup Final on my phone?

Yes. Download the BBC iPlayer app or the ITVX app, both free on iOS and Android, to stream the final live on a phone or tablet. Both services also work on smart TVs, streaming sticks, and games consoles.

What time does the FA Cup Final kick off?

Recent FA Cup Finals have kicked off between 4:30pm and 5:30pm BST to suit a prime-time TV audience. The exact time for 2026 will be confirmed by the FA in the weeks before the match.

Is there a replay if the final is a draw?

No. The FA Cup Final has not had replays since 2000. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the match goes to 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout if still level.

Who lifts the trophy first if a team wins?

The winning captain lifts the FA Cup after climbing the 107 steps to the Royal Box at Wembley. Members of the royal family or an FA dignitary typically present the trophy and runners-up medals.

Does the FA Cup Final winner qualify for European football?

Yes. The FA Cup winner qualifies for the UEFA Europa League group stage the following season. If the winner has already qualified for European football through league position, the place typically passes down the Premier League table.

Follow Every Match on This Site

Our football fixtures page lists every match happening today, including the FA Cup Final itself, with kick-off times and TV channels alongside each fixture. You can browse upcoming dates to plan your viewing for the entire final weekend.

The 2026 FA Cup Final is one of the biggest free-to-air sporting events of the UK year. With live coverage on BBC One, ITV1, and their streaming platforms, plus radio commentary on BBC 5 Live and talkSPORT, there are more ways than ever to follow the 90 minutes, extra time, and possible penalties that decide English football's most famous domestic trophy.