The Europa League is back for 2026/27 and it is set to be a fascinating watch. This guide has all the details on TV coverage and free live streams, ensuring you won't miss a minute of action.

This week marks the start of the 36-team league phase, where European heavyweights such as AC Milan, Benfica and Juventus begin their quest for glory alongside relative minnows, including Bournemouth, Celje and Torreense.

The Cherries are making their European debut and are joined by two more Premier League teams: Sunderland, competing in continental football for the first time since 1973, and Crystal Palace, last season's Conference League winners. Meanwhile, Celtic are Scotland's sole representative in the league phase.

Gameweek one takes place over Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September, which features eye-catching fixtures including Milan vs Benfica, Besiktas vs Marseille and Real Sociedad vs Bournemouth. Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Celtic all begin their campaign at home, against Lech Poznan, AZ Alkmaar and Ferencvaros respectively.

If you’re going to be abroad for any of the action, don’t forget that you can use a VPN to watch your usual Europa League live stream from overseas – find out more below.

Can I watch the Europa League for free?

Yes, selected Europa League games are free-to-air in specific countries across the world.

In the US, CBS Sports Golazo Network will show some games for free. You don't even need an account to stream the matches live.

Elsewhere, RTBF in Belgium, TRT in Turkey, CazeTV in Brazil and TV8 in Italy will show selected matches for free.

Abroad? Use NordVPN to unlock your free Europa League stream if you're travelling during the 2026/27 season.

Use a VPN to watch the Europa League from anywhere

Geo-restrictions apply to all major streaming services these days, but that doesn't mean you can't get your usual Europa League coverage if you're overseas.

All you need is a VPN (Virtual Private Network), a handy piece of internet security software that can make it look like your device is still back at home. Assuming it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs, you can use a VPN to unblock your usual streaming services and enjoy the football wherever you are in the world.

There are plenty of good-value options out there, but FourFourTwo’s brainy office mates TechRadar are big fans of NordVPN.

Where to watch Europa League in the UK

TNT Sports and its streaming partner HBO Max is the home of the Europa League in the UK, with every game live across the 2026/27 season either on linear TV or via the HBO Max app.

How to watch the Europa League in the US

Broadcasting giant CBS holds the exclusive Europa League rights in the US.

The Paramount+ streaming platform has every single game live, with selected matches on CBS Sports Network and the free-to-air CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Watch Europa League live streams in Canada

Watch Europa League live streams in Australia

Watch Europa League live streams in New Zealand

Europa League fixtures this week

Wednesday, September 16

Thursday, September 17

Europa League format

The Europa League follows the same format as the Champions League, with 36 teams competing in the league phase. Each club will play eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away, with games taking place solely on Thursday nights from matchweek two onwards. The league phase runs from September 16 to January 28.

The top eight teams in the 36-team table progress straight through to the last 16, while the clubs who finish 9th-24th go into a play-off round. The eight teams who win their play-off round ties reach the last 16.

From then on, it's the traditional two-leg home-and-away ties to get to the quarter-finals and semi-finals, up to the final in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 26, 2027.

Europa League dates

Matchday 1: 16-17 September 2026

Matchday 2: 15 October 2026

Matchday 3: 22 October 2026

Matchday 4: 5 November 2026

Matchday 5: 26 November 2026

Matchday 6: 10 December 2026

Matchday 7: 21 January 2027

Matchday 8: 28 January 2027

Knockout phase play-offs: 18 & 25 February 2027

Last 16: 11 & 18 March 2027

Quarter-finals: 8 & 15 April 2027

Semi-finals: 29 April & 6 May 2027

Final: 26 May 2027 (Frankfurt)

Europa League teams

• AC Milan
• Anderlecht
• Ararat-Armenia
• AZ Alkmaar
• Bayer Leverkusen
• Benfica
• Besiktas
• Bournemouth
• Celje
• Celta Vigo
• Celtic
• Crystal Palace
• Dinamo Zagreb
• Ferencvaros
• Hapoel Be'er Sheva
• Hoffenheim
• Jagiellonia
• Juventus
• Lech Poznan
• Levski Sofia
• Lillestrøm
• Lyon
• Marseille
• NEC Nijmegen
• OFI Crete
• Olympiacos
• Omonia
• RB Salzburg
• Real Sociedad
• Rennes
• Sparta Prague
• Sturm Graz
• Sunderland
• Torreense
• Union Saint-Gilloise
• Viktoria Plzen

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