The 2026 Canadian Football League season is finally here, and fans across the globe are tuning in. The action officially kicked off on June 4, starting a thrilling 21-week regular season.
This year, nine teams are battling it out across 72 high-stakes games running all the way through October 24.
Once the regular season wraps up, the high-stakes playoffs will begin in November. Everything builds up to the historic 113th Grey Cup championship game on November 15.
Elite quarterbacks like Zach Collaros, Cody Fajardo, and Bo Levi Mitchell are all back on the field, bringing top-tier play and veteran leadership to their teams.
CFL 2026 Key Dates & Timeline
- Regular Season Starts: June 4, 2026
- Regular Season Ends: October 24, 2026
- Playoffs Begin: October 31, 2026
- 113th Grey Cup: Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Host Venue: McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta
How to Watch CFL in Ireland Live for Free
CFL+ is the official streaming platform of the CFL, offering free live streaming of all games, including the 113th Grey Cup, for international fans, including in Ireland.
Whether you want to watch the CFL 2026 in Ireland on a desktop or mobile phone for free, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open your browser and go to the CFL+ Website.
Step 2: Scroll down and choose the Game you want to watch.
Step 3: Enter your details to register and click Play Video.
Step 4:Â Enjoy Free Streaming! [Note: The match will go live when it is broadcast]
CFL 2026 Schedule
Here is the schedule for CFL Grey Cup matches, in Irish time, including the dates.
| Date (IST) | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 3 | ||
| Sat, Jun 20 | BC Lions at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 12:30 AM |
| Sat, Jun 20 | Toronto Argonauts at Ottawa Redblacks | 6:00 PM |
| Sat, Jun 20 | Montreal Alouettes at Edmonton Elks | 9:00 PM |
| Sun, Jun 21 | Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary Stampeders | 12:00 AM |
| Week 4 | ||
| Fri, Jun 26 | Edmonton Elks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 1:30 AM |
| Sat, Jun 27 | Toronto Argonauts at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 2:00 AM |
| Sun, Jun 28 | Calgary Stampeders vs BC Lions (at Kelowna) | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, Jun 28 | Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes | 12:00 AM |
| Week 5 | ||
| Fri, Jul 3 | Toronto Argonauts at Calgary Stampeders | 2:00 AM |
| Sat, Jul 4 | Saskatchewan Roughriders at Ottawa Redblacks | 12:30 AM |
| Sun, Jul 5 | Edmonton Elks vs BC Lions (at Kelowna) | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, Jul 5 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 12:00 AM |
| Week 6 | ||
| Fri, Jul 10 | Ottawa Redblacks at Edmonton Elks | 2:00 AM |
| Sat, Jul 11 | Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 1:30 AM |
| Sun, Jul 12 | Calgary Stampeders at Montreal Alouettes | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, Jul 12 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 12:00 AM |
| Week 7 | ||
| Sat, Jul 18 | BC Lions at Edmonton Elks | 2:00 AM |
| Sat, Jul 18 | Montreal Alouettes at Calgary Stampeders | 9:00 PM |
| Sun, Jul 19 | Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, Jul 19 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Ottawa Redblacks | 12:00 AM |
| Week 8 | ||
| Fri, Jul 24 | Edmonton Elks at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 2:00 AM |
| Sat, Jul 25 | Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 1:30 AM |
| Sun, Jul 26 | Toronto Argonauts at BC Lions | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, Jul 26 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Montreal Alouettes | 12:00 AM |
| Week 9 | ||
| Fri, Jul 31 | BC Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 1:30 AM |
| Sat, Aug 1 | Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks | 12:30 AM |
| Sat, Aug 1 | Calgary Stampeders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 8:00 PM |
| Sun, Aug 2 | Saskatchewan Roughriders at Edmonton Elks | 12:00 AM |
| Week 10 | ||
| Fri, Aug 7 | Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts | 12:30 AM |
| Sat, Aug 8 | Ottawa Redblacks at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 2:00 AM |
| Sat, Aug 8 | Edmonton Elks at Montreal Alouettes | 8:00 PM |
| Sun, Aug 9 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats at BC Lions | 12:00 AM |
| Week 11 | ||
| Fri, Aug 14 | BC Lions at Calgary Stampeders | 2:00 AM |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Ottawa Redblacks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 1:30 AM |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Toronto Argonauts at Edmonton Elks | 8:00 PM |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Saskatchewan Roughriders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 12:00 AM |
| Week 12 | ||
| Fri, Aug 21 | Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes | 12:30 AM |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Edmonton Elks | 2:30 AM |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Lions | 12:00 AM |
| Week 13 | ||
| Sat, Aug 29 | Montreal Alouettes at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 1:30 AM |
| Sat, Aug 29 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Calgary Stampeders | 8:00 PM |
| Sun, Aug 30 | Toronto Argonauts at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, Aug 30 | BC Lions at Ottawa Redblacks | 12:00 AM |
| Week 14 (Labour Day Weekend) | ||
| Sat, Sep 5 | BC Lions at Montreal Alouettes | 12:30 AM |
| Mon, Sep 7 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 12:00 AM |
| Mon, Sep 7 | Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 7:30 PM |
| Mon, Sep 7 | Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders | 11:00 PM |
| Week 15 | ||
| Sat, Sep 12 | Ottawa Redblacks at Toronto Argonauts | 6:00 PM |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Saskatchewan Roughriders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 9:00 PM |
| Sun, Sep 13 | Calgary Stampeders at Edmonton Elks | 12:00 AM |
| Sun, Sep 13 | Montreal Alouettes at BC Lions | 3:00 AM |
| Week 16 | ||
| Sat, Sep 19 | Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 12:30 AM |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Edmonton Elks at Toronto Argonauts | 8:00 PM |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Ottawa Redblacks at Calgary Stampeders | 12:00 AM |
| Week 17 | ||
| Sat, Sep 26 | Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 1:00 AM |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Lions | 3:30 AM |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Calgary Stampeders at Ottawa Redblacks | 8:00 PM |
| Sun, Sep 27 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Edmonton Elks | 12:00 AM |
| Week 18 | ||
| Sat, Oct 3 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa Redblacks | 12:00 AM |
| Sat, Oct 3 | Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 2:30 AM |
| Sat, Oct 3 | BC Lions at Toronto Argonauts | 8:00 PM |
| Sun, Oct 4 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Montreal Alouettes | 12:00 AM |
| Week 19 (Thanksgiving Weekend) | ||
| Sat, Oct 10 | Edmonton Elks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 12:00 AM |
| Sat, Oct 10 | Ottawa Redblacks at BC Lions | 3:00 AM |
| Sun, Oct 11 | Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 12:00 AM |
| Mon, Oct 12 | Saskatchewan Roughriders at Montreal Alouettes | 6:00 PM |
| Week 20 | ||
| Sat, Oct 17 | Toronto Argonauts at Ottawa Redblacks | 12:00 AM |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Edmonton Elks | 2:30 AM |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Montreal Alouettes at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 8:00 PM |
| Sun, Oct 18 | BC Lions at Calgary Stampeders | 12:00 AM |
| Week 21 | ||
| Sat, Oct 24 | Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts | 12:00 AM |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Lions | 3:00 AM |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 8:00 PM |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders | 8:00 PM |
2026 CFL Schedule Highlights
The 2026 CFL schedule brings a few historic firsts and structural adjustments:
Historic Opening Week: Week 1 featured only 3 games, the fewest kickoff matchups in CFL history.
Labour Day Mega-Weekend: For the first time since 1995, fans get a massive four-game quadruple-header over Labour Day weekend.
More Sunday Night Football: The league expands its Sunday evening broadcast windows across Weeks 4–8 and Weeks 12–14.
Thanksgiving Grey Cup Rematch: The 112th Grey Cup finalists shift their traditional early-season rematch to a high-stakes holiday clash in October.
Other Football Games to Watch in Ireland
If you’re a sports fan, here’s a list of top international football leagues you can watch in Ireland.
- Watch NRL in Ireland
- Watch the FIFA Club World Cup in Ireland
- Watch the NBA in Ireland
- Watch AFL in Ireland
FAQs – CFL 2026
1. Why does the CFL have only three downs?
The CFL’s three-down rule is designed to make the game faster and more dynamic. With only three attempts to advance 10 yards, teams are pushed to play more aggressively and take greater risks.
2. When does the CFL 2026 season start and end?
The CFL 2026 season started on June 4. The 113th Grey Cup will take place on November 15, 2026, at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta.
3. Where are CFL games played?
CFL games are played across Canada in cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg. Each of the 9 teams hosts games in its home stadium.
4. How many players should each team in the CFL have?
On game day, teams dress a 45-player roster: includes 3 quarterbacks, 21 “Nationals” (Canadians), a minimum of 1 “Global” player, and a maximum of 19 “Americans”.
ConclusionÂ
The Canadian Football League (CFL) 2026 season officially kicked off on June 4 and runs through October 26, with playoffs leading to the 113th Grey Cup on November 15.
You can watch the CFL in Ireland live for free on CFL+. Just register once and start streaming!
