Where to Watch Wimbledon in the UK

The Grand Slam calendar is in full swing, with the grass-court season reaching its peak at SW19 as Wimbledon 2026 returns from 29 June to 12 July. It’s the 139th edition of the Championships, as always, held at the legendary All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Besides the prestige, there’s a record prize fund of £64.2 million for the world’s best gentlemen and ladies to fight for. Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek will arrive in the English capital as the reigning winners, trying to defend their hardware.

There’s plenty of pre-tournament noise, with 2-time champ Carlos Alcaraz set to miss the Championships due to wrist injury. Plus, one of the ladies’ favourites, Aryna Sabalenka, is coming with vengeance after a shocking early exit from Roland Garros. For the first time, there’s also going to be a Video Review system to help umpires. All of these point to a historic Wimbledon that fans won’t want to miss. 

Below is our overview of where and how to watch Wimbledon in the UK!

Is Wimbledon on TV in the UK?

Yes, and unlike many other major tennis and sports events, in general, the entire run of the Championships is free-to-air on BBC.

The British Broadcasting Company holds exclusive UK broadcast rights to Wimbledon and is the exclusive home for UK fans. Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam tennis tournament shown on free-to-air British television, a position the BBC has held for decades. Luckily, this doesn’t seem to change any time soon.

Live coverage of all courts runs every day of the tournament across multiple channels:

• BBC One 
• BBC Two
• BBC iPlayer
• BBC Sport App
• BBC Radio 5 Live – audio commentary throughout the day

So, fans won’t need to check their subscription plans to see whether TNT Sports or Sky Sports is included, as the best tennis is available free-to-air. 

How to Watch 2026 Wimbledon in the UK?

Here are more detailed overviews of coverage options for the 2026 Wimbledon edition in the UK.

BBC One & BBC Two

The main television coverage channels should start broadcasts at approximately 10:30 AM BST each day. BBC One typically shows the afternoon action on the Centre Court, while BBC Two carries the morning outside-court action and the popular Today at Wimbledon highlights show each evening.

A talented cast of expert pundits and former champions makes switching between two channels one of the easiest ways to follow the Wimbledon action live on a traditional TV setup.

BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport App

Truth be told, the BBC’s iPlayer is the place where Wimbledon coverage might really open up. 

The platform offers up to 18 simultaneous live streams from all courts, and comes especially handy for bettors and avid fans during the busiest days of the tournament. Viewers can watch any singles match in progress, not just what the BBC deemed worthy of the main broadcast slot.

The iPlayer app works on smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Roku, mobile, tablet, browser and the major games consoles. A UK TV licence is required to watch live, but you can enjoy replays and highlights on demand, only with an account.

BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sounds

If you’re in a car or can’t reach your device with a screen, know that radio commentary is available on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC 5 Sports Extra throughout the fortnight of tennis, with on-demand availability via BBC Sounds, too. 

This is a great way to avoid missing the action on the grass while commuting or working.

Wimbledon 2026 UK Schedule & Start Times (BST)

As with most major tennis tournaments, most Wimbledon match days in 2026 follow the same structure. Matches on outside courts start at 11:00 AM BST, while the Centre Court serves off at 1:30 PM BST. The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Singles Finals traditionally begin at 2:00 PM BST on the second Saturday and Sunday. Please find the table below with the full provisional scheduling for the singles draws:

Since the tournament is in London, please keep in mind that all times are subject to weather and scheduling changes. The official daily order is published the evening before on Wimbledon’s official website.

For the full draw timings and daily schedule, see the Wimbledon 2026 Schedule & Order of Play page.

Wimbledon Favourites for 2026

Gentleman’s Singles

With Carlos Alcaraz, arguably the best grass player of this generation, out injured, the men’s draw seems unusually open. Jannik Sinner will return as champion, but his Roland Garros form left much to be desired, as the Italian went out in the 2nd round.

Novak Djokovic will be in contention, as always, gunning for his record-extending 25th Grand Slam, while Alexander Zverev, fresh off his French Open victory, Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev are some of the more favoured outside picks.

Ladies’ Singles

In the ladies’ draw, Iga Świątek will try to defend her title against world #1 Aryna Sabalenka and reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff. Świątek will seemingly have her work cut out for her, as Mirra Andreeva seems to be in form, with Elena Rybakina also in the mix. 

British fans will set their sights on Emma Raducanu, who reached the Queen’s tournament Final very recently.

How to Find Free Wimbledon 2026 Highlights & Match Recaps?

If you find yourself interested in catching up to the action of Wimbledon 2026, there are plenty of media outlets besides the BBC that publish highlights and recaps of the high-octane clashes on grass for free.

• Official Wimbledon YouTube Channel – catch daily highlight reels, match recaps, BTS content and even full match replays from past editions.
• The Official Wimbledon App and Website – see live scores, draw updates, point-by-point match commentary and even short video clips throughout the Championships.
• Wimbledon on Social Media – the BBC and the LTA post highlight clips and reaction footage shortly after each match on Instagram, X and TikTok. The Wimbledon accounts do the same, so make sure to give them a follow. 

Wimbledon Betting in the UK

As one of the four Grand Slams on the calendar, and the only one in Britain, Wimbledon attracts more UK betting interest than any other tennis tournament of the year. A wide range of tennis betting markets is available at 7bet.

The available range includes outright winners for Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles, individual match, set betting, total games overs and unders, individual scores and a number of specials. Remember, you must be 18 or over to place real money wagers. Approach staking as entertainment only, and not as a means to make money. Set personal limits using Responsible Gaming tools, which are available at any time through your 7bet account settings. 

FAQ

Where Can I Watch Wimbledon in the UK?

The 2026 edition is shown exclusively on free-to-air television on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Ireland. Coverage is available daily, with audio commentary accessible on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

Is Wimbledon on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, ITV or Channel 4?

No. Wimbledon is broadcast exclusively on the BBC in the UK. All other channels may show highlights and recaps and provide analysis through various studio settings, but live matches are streamed exclusively by the BBC.

What Time do the Wimbledon Finals Start in the UK?

The Ladies’ Singles Final is scheduled for Saturday, 11 July, and should start no earlier than 4 PM BST. The Gentlemen’s Singles Final will take place on the final day of the tournament – Sunday, 12 July – and should also start no earlier than 4 PM. 

Why isn’t Carlos Alcaraz Playing in the 2026 Edition of Wimbledon?

After winning the Australian Open, Alcaraz has been on a somewhat shaky spiral, battling injuries. Since his finals loss to Sinner in the Monte Carlo tournament, Alcaraz has been mostly sidelined due to a lingering wrist injury. The Spaniard has already missed the French Open, meaning the Gentlemen’s field is much more open this year.

How Many Courts Can I Stream on BBC iPlayer?

During the busiest days, iPlayer offers up to 18 simultaneous court streams, meaning bettors or avid fans can track almost every ball in real time. This is significantly more than the two main BBC TV channels can cover. 

Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org