What Channel is the Snooker On?

The complete UK TV guide for professional snooker. BBC, TNT Sports, Channel 5, Eurosport — find out exactly where to watch every tournament in 2026.

Snooker on UK TV — Upcoming Schedule

Tournament Dates Session Channel Live Streaming Status
Tour Championship 25 – 30 Mar 2026 Afternoon & Evening Channel 5 TNT Sports 5Player discovery+ Completed
China Open 8 – 14 Apr 2026 Afternoon Eurosport discovery+ Upcoming
World Snooker Championship 18 Apr – 5 May 2026 Afternoon & Evening BBC Two TNT Sports BBC iPlayer discovery+ Upcoming
Scottish Open Oct 2026 Afternoon TNT Sports discovery+ Upcoming
Northern Ireland Open Nov 2026 Afternoon TNT Sports discovery+ Upcoming
UK Championship 28 Nov – 7 Dec 2026 Afternoon & Evening BBC Two TNT Sports BBC iPlayer discovery+ Upcoming
Masters 9 – 16 Jan 2027 Afternoon & Evening BBC Two TNT Sports BBC iPlayer discovery+ Upcoming
German Masters 28 Jan – 2 Feb 2026 Afternoon Eurosport discovery+ Completed
Welsh Open 17 – 22 Feb 2026 Afternoon TNT Sports discovery+ Completed
Players Championship 24 Feb – 1 Mar 2026 Afternoon & Evening TNT Sports discovery+ Completed
Gibraltar Open 5 – 9 Mar 2026 Afternoon Eurosport discovery+ Completed
World Grand Prix Mar 2027 Afternoon & Evening TNT Sports discovery+ Upcoming

How to Watch Snooker in the UK

Four main broadcasters share snooker coverage in the UK. Here is what each one offers and how to access it.

BBC / BBC iPlayer

Free to air. No subscription required.

  • BBC Two covers the World Championship (live throughout, afternoon and evening sessions)
  • The Masters at Alexandra Palace (live throughout)
  • UK Championship (highlights and some live coverage)
  • Selected ranking event finals

Stream free on BBC iPlayer with a TV licence.

TNT Sports / discovery+

Subscription required (via Sky, BT, or Virgin; also NOW TV).

  • Most comprehensive snooker coverage — all ranking events
  • World Championship, Masters, UK Championship
  • Players Championship, Welsh Open, Scottish Open, and more

discovery+ streaming from £6.99/month.

Channel 5 / 5Player

Free to air. No subscription required.

  • Covers the Tour Championship
  • Some ranking event finals
  • Highlights packages throughout the season

Stream free on My5 (5Player).

Eurosport / discovery+

Subscription (discovery+) or via Sky/Virgin add-on.

  • Covers the China Open, German Masters, Gibraltar Open
  • European Tour events throughout the season

Available via discovery+ or as a Sky/BT/Virgin add-on.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions fans ask about watching snooker on TV in the UK.

What channel is the snooker on today?

Snooker airs across BBC Two, TNT Sports, Channel 5, and Eurosport depending on the tournament. For BBC coverage, it is always free on BBC iPlayer. For TNT Sports, you will need a Sky Sports, BT Sport, or NOW TV subscription. Check our TV schedule table above for today's listings. The snooker is most commonly on BBC Two during the World Championship and The Masters.

Is the snooker on BBC today?

BBC covers the World Snooker Championship (both afternoon and evening sessions live on BBC Two), The Masters at Alexandra Palace, and the UK Championship. Outside these three Triple Crown events, most snooker moves to TNT Sports or Eurosport. Check the schedule table above to see if today's snooker is on the BBC.

What channel is the World Snooker Championship on?

The World Snooker Championship is broadcast live on BBC Two and TNT Sports (Sky channel 527). The BBC covers both afternoon and evening sessions throughout the tournament, with TNT Sports also providing live coverage. Both the afternoon and evening sessions from the first round through to the final are shown live. BBC iPlayer streams the coverage for free.

What channel is the Masters snooker on?

The Masters snooker tournament, held at Alexandra Palace in London, is broadcast on BBC Two and TNT Sports. Like the World Championship, the BBC provides free live coverage of both sessions. You can also watch live on BBC iPlayer without a subscription to any paid service.

Is snooker on free TV in the UK?

Yes, significant amounts of snooker are available on free-to-air TV in the UK. The World Championship, The Masters, and the UK Championship all feature live coverage on BBC Two — completely free with a TV licence. Channel 5 also shows selected events for free. For full coverage of all ranking events, a TNT Sports or Eurosport/discovery+ subscription is needed.

What channel is snooker on tonight?

Tonight's snooker depends on the tournament. During the World Championship (April–May), BBC Two typically shows both the afternoon session (1pm) and evening session (7pm). TNT Sports (Sky 527) also covers major events. Check the schedule table at the top of this page for today's listings.

Where can I watch snooker without a subscription?

The BBC shows snooker free-to-air on BBC Two, and you can stream it free on BBC iPlayer with a TV licence. Channel 5 also shows selected events free on My5 (5Player). For the majority of ranking events throughout the season, a TNT Sports or discovery+ subscription is required.

UK Snooker TV Rights: Who Shows What

Snooker's television landscape in the UK is split between free-to-air broadcasters and subscription services. The most prestigious events — known collectively as the Triple Crown (the World Championship, The Masters, and the UK Championship) — are all shown live on BBC Two, making them accessible to every household with a TV licence. The BBC has a long and celebrated history with snooker, dating back to the iconic Pot Black era and the famous 1985 World Championship final watched by over 18 million viewers.

TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) holds the most comprehensive snooker rights in the UK. They cover virtually every ranking event on the World Snooker Tour calendar, including all three Triple Crown tournaments alongside the BBC. If you want to follow the full season — the Welsh Open, the Players Championship, the Scottish Open, and dozens of other events — a TNT Sports subscription (available through Sky, BT, Virgin Media, or NOW TV) is the way to go. Their streaming platform, discovery+, offers an affordable route in from around £6.99 per month.

Channel 5 has carved out a smaller but welcome niche, picking up events like the Tour Championship and occasional highlights packages. Everything on Channel 5 is free to air and can be streamed on My5. Eurosport, meanwhile, covers several European-based ranking events including the German Masters, China Open, and Gibraltar Open. Eurosport is available as a subscription add-on through Sky and Virgin, or through the discovery+ streaming service.

In practice, most dedicated snooker fans in the UK will want access to both the BBC (free) and at least one subscription service — typically TNT Sports via discovery+ — to follow the full season. The good news is that the sport's biggest moments, from Crucible finals to Masters showdowns at Alexandra Palace, remain firmly on free-to-air television.