Where to Watch The Open Championship 2026: Complete TV and Radio Guide with Commentators
Match date:
Where to Watch The Open Championship 2026: Complete TV and Radio Guide with Commentators
The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Saturday, 19 July 2026, will be broadcast live across the UK on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Two, and Sky Sports Golf, while US audiences can tune into NBC and stream on Peacock from 7 a.m. ET. The world feed, led by legendary commentator Andrew Cotter, will also be available globally with analysis from Ken Brown, David Howell, and Sam Torrance [2][10].
UK Broadcasters and Commentators
In the UK, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds offer full audio coverage with presenter Mark Chapman and lead commentators including Iain Carter, Katherine Downes, and James Gregg. Co-commentators feature former players Oliver Wilson, Catriona Matthew, and Graeme Storm, bringing expert insight from the course [1].
For television highlights, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer (UK only) will air post-round coverage presented by Sarah Mulkerrins, with punditry from Ken Brown, Iain Carter, and Ned Michaels, alongside reports by Andy Stevenson and Rishi Persad [2].
Sky Sports Golf provides wall-to-wall live coverage, anchored by presenter Nick Dougherty. The commentary team includes Ewen Murray and Andrew Coltart, with co-commentators such as Sir Nick Faldo, Dame Laura Davies, Paul McGinley, and Rich Beem. On-course reporters include Iona Stephen, Inci Mehmet, and David Howell, delivering real-time insights throughout the weekend [10].
US Broadcasters and Commentators
American viewers can watch full live coverage on NBC and stream on Peacock starting at 7 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. Mike Tirico hosts the coverage, with lead commentary by Dan Hicks, Terry Gannon, and Steve Sands. Co-commentators include Kevin Kisner, Brad Faxon, Paul McGinley, and Curt Byrum, while Jim “Bones” Mackay, Smylie Kaufman, and John Wood provide on-course reporting [2][6].
Early-round coverage (Thursday and Friday) streams exclusively on Peacock and NBCSN from 1:30 a.m. ET, transitioning to USA Network from 4 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET [2][3].
Key Pundits and Their Backgrounds
Sir Nick Faldo, a three-time Open winner, brings unmatched tactical insight as a Sky Sports pundit. Dame Laura Davies, one of golf’s most decorated female players, adds bold analysis and historical perspective. Paul McGinley, who led Europe to victory in the 2014 Ryder Cup, is a regular across Sky, NBC, and Golf Central. Ken Brown, a former Open qualifier and BBC analyst for decades, offers deep course knowledge and storytelling flair [1][2].
On the world feed, Andrew Cotter is renowned for his emotive and poetic commentary style, having covered multiple Open Championships and the 2020 Masters. Sam Torrance, a former Ryder Cup captain and Open participant, complements with irish wit and sharp technical analysis [1].
How to Follow Globally
For international fans, Golf Central on Golf Channel features studio analysis from Brandel Chamblee, Eamon Lynch, and Paige Mackenzie, with on-site reporting by Rex Hoggard and Todd Lewis [1]. RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ News serve Irish audiences with coverage by Greg Allen and punditry from Iain Carter and Doug Ferguson [1].
Full live streaming, including featured groups and player focus content, is available via The Open App, R&A TV, and Peacock (USA). One Club members can access exclusive content through the Open App and R&A TV [4][7].
For the most up-to-date schedules and channel availability, visit The Open’s official watch guide [7].
Article generated: 18 July 2026, 07:01 GMT