How to watch Gaelic Football on BBC iPlayer (it's FREE)

• Watch GAA Gaelic Football for free on BBC iPlayer (UK restricted)
• Abroad? Use NordVPN to watch BBC iPlayer
• GAA football opener – Tyrone v Kildare (24 Jan)

The opening weekend of the 2026 GAA Allianz Football League is here – and six heavyweight games will be shown live and for free by BBC Sport NI and streamed for free on BBC iPlayer. The action starts at 6pm on Jan 24, 2026 with a Division 2 clash.

Tyrone, who dropped out of the Division 1 last year, begin their Division 2 campaign against Kildare at Healy Park in Omagh, followed by Armagh’s visit to Monaghan on Sunday 25 January.

Meanwhile, Antrim are back in action on Sunday 22 February against Carlow in Division 1B before Tyrone host Offaly on Saturday 28 February in football.

Here’s how to watch Gaelic Football on BBC iPlayer from anywhere with a VPN – and for free.

How to watch GAA football for free on BBC iPlayer

The BBC is broadcasting six initial games across the GAA Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues this year, with more to be confirmed.

How to watch BBC iPlayer: You can stream via the BBC website or the BBC iPlayer app (iOS / Android). To watch, sign up with your email, date of birth, and a UK postcode (e.g. SE1 7PB), and confirm you have a UK TV licence.

OUTSIDE THE UK? Use NordVPN to access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

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• Division 2 Football, Tyrone v Kildare, Saturday 24 January, throw-in 6pm
• Division 1 Football, Monaghan v Armagh, Sunday 25 January, throw-in 2pm
• Division 2 Football, Derry v Tyrone, Saturday 31 January, throw-in 6pm
• Division 1B Hurling, Antrim v Clare, Sunday 01 February, throw-in 1pm
• Division 1B Hurling, Antrim v Carlow, Sunday 22 February, throw-in 1pm
• Division 2 Football, Tyrone v Offaly, Saturday 28 February, throw-in 6pm
  

How to watch Gaelic Football on BBC iPlayer from anywhere

BBC iPlayer streams many Gaelic Football games free for viewers in the UK as the GAA 2026 season kicks off.

If you’re traveling or living abroad, you’ll need a VPN to securely change your location and access your usual UK apps, including BBC iPlayer.

There are lots of VPNs, but NordVPN is the one you can rely on to unblock BBC iPlayer and watch GAA Irish football from anywhere in the world.

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It's very simple to use a VPN to watch Gaelic Football on BBC iPlayer.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favourite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the US and want to watch your free BBC iPlayer stream, you'd select 'United Kingdom'.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to BBC iPlayer, sign in, and watch Gaelic Football for free.

5 key storylines to watch for in the GAA 2026 season

Can Kerry continue their dominance?
Kerry begin the season as reigning Allianz League and All-Ireland champions, and everyone will be watching to see if they can defend their titles or if challengers close the gap early.

Ulster rivalries reignited
Matches like Monaghan vs Armagh and Donegal vs Dublin spotlight old feuds and new managerial eras as counties look to establish Division 1 supremacy from the first round.

Division 2 promotion battles
Tyrone and Derry aim to return to the top flight, while Meath and Cork seek to end their time in Division 2 — making every point crucial in a notoriously tight division.

New leadership and fresh faces
Moves like Galway’s new captain John Maher and Dublin’s lineup overhaul signal squad evolution, adding intrigue to who will step up on big league days.

Rebuilding and survival stories
Teams in lower divisions — from Clare and Westmeath to Antrim and Wicklow — have big early tests as they eye promotion or seek to avoid drop-outs, adding unpredictable drama across tiers.

What devices is BBC iPlayer available on?

You can use BBC iPlayer on all of the following devices and platforms:

Amazon Fire (Tablets, Cube, Stick, TVs)
Android TV (please note: some models aren’t supported)
Android (Mobile & Tablet) - Android 7.0 and above
Apple TV (tvOS 14 or later)
Google TV
Freely
Freesat (please note: some models aren’t supported)
Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes)
iOS (iPhone & iPad) - iOS 14 and above
LG Smart TVs (2016-2024)
NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (minimum firmware v11.5.0)
PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
Roku (Stick & Roku-OS powered TVs, minimum firmware v11.5.0)
Samsung Smart TVs (2017 and above - 2016 models only offer on demand TV)
Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream
Virgin Media (360, Stream, TiVo)
YouView (BT, Humax, Sony, TalkTalk)
Xbox (One, Series X, Series S)

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