Updated October 2026 | All stats are as of the end of IPL 2026 (final played 31 May 2026).
Quick answer: for IPL live streaming, the main routes in 2026 were Star Sports on TV and the JioHotstar app in India, Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, Willow in the USA and Canada, and Fox Cricket with Kayo Sports in Australia. Live coverage in these markets sits behind a TV package or a paid subscription. This guide covers what each route offers and what to check before you buy, and it reflects the 2026 season.
| Country | TV | Streaming | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports | JioHotstar | JioHotstar requires a paid plan (or a mobile or broadband plan that includes it) for live sports |
| UK and Ireland | Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event | Sky Go; NOW Sports membership for non-Sky customers | Sky Sports holds the UK and Ireland rights through 2027 |
| USA and Canada | Willow | Willow app | Some pay-TV streaming services list Willow |
| Australia | Fox Cricket (Foxtel) | Kayo Sports | Check which package includes the cricket channel |
IPL Live Streaming: The Short Answer
Pick your country in the table above and use that broadcaster. IPL rights are sold country by country, so the app or channel you use at home may not work abroad. All four markets here use a paid route. We did not find an official free option for full live matches in these countries, so treat any site that claims to stream every match for free with caution.
Where to Watch, Country by Country
India
Star Sports carries the matches on television, and the JioHotstar app streams them. JioHotstar now requires a paid subscription for live sports.
How to start: install the JioHotstar app and choose a plan that includes live sports, or watch Star Sports through your TV provider. If you already have a plan from a mobile or broadband provider that includes JioHotstar, check that it covers live sports before the season starts.
United Kingdom and Ireland
Sky Sports holds the exclusive IPL rights for the UK and Ireland through 2027. Matches are shown on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, and you can stream them with Sky Go. People who do not have Sky can use a NOW Sports membership.
How to start: if you have a Sky TV package, check that it includes Sky Sports Cricket and use Sky Go on your devices. If you do not have Sky, a NOW Sports membership is the other route listed.
United States and Canada
Willow is the exclusive broadcaster for the USA and Canada, on TV and through the Willow app. Some listings also show Willow on pay-TV streaming services such as Fubo and Sling TV, so check your provider’s current channel list.
How to start: subscribe to Willow, or check whether your pay-TV or streaming provider lists it, then sign in to the Willow app on your phone, tablet or smart TV.
Australia
Matches are shown on Fox Cricket, and Kayo Sports also streams them.
How to start: Foxtel customers can watch on Fox Cricket. If you do not have Foxtel, Kayo Sports streams the matches.
Costs and Options Compared
We have not listed prices, because subscription fees and packages change from season to season and differ between providers. What we can confirm is the type of access:
| Country | Access type | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| India | TV channel plus a paid app subscription | Which JioHotstar plan includes live sports |
| UK and Ireland | Sky TV package, or NOW Sports membership | Whether the plan includes Sky Sports Cricket |
| USA and Canada | Willow subscription or a pay-TV package that lists Willow | Whether your provider carries Willow |
| Australia | Foxtel package or Kayo Sports subscription | Whether the plan includes Fox Cricket |
A quick checklist before you subscribe
- Confirm the broadcaster’s listing for the exact season you want to watch.
- Check that the package names the sports channel or live sports tier in the table above.
- Check which devices the app supports, such as phone, tablet or smart TV.
- If you travel, remember that rights are sold country by country, so the provider for your home country may not work elsewhere.
Which option suits you?
The best choice depends on where you are and how you like to watch. This table matches common situations to the routes already described above.
| If you want to… | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Watch on a television at home in India | Star Sports through your TV provider | Star Sports carries the matches on TV in India |
| Watch on a phone or tablet in India | JioHotstar app | JioHotstar is the streaming platform, and it needs a paid plan for live sports |
| Watch in the UK or Ireland with Sky | Sky Sports Cricket or Sky Sports Main Event, with Sky Go on other devices | Sky Sports holds the rights through 2027 |
| Watch in the UK or Ireland without Sky | A NOW Sports membership | It lets non-Sky customers stream Sky Sports |
| Watch in the USA or Canada | Willow on TV or in the Willow app | Willow is the exclusive broadcaster |
| Watch in Australia on TV | Fox Cricket through Foxtel | Fox Cricket shows the matches |
| Watch in Australia on a device | Kayo Sports | Kayo Sports also streams them |
If you plan to watch while travelling, work out which country you will be in. Rights are sold country by country, so the provider you use at home may not be the one that carries the league where you are.
Step by Step: How to Start Watching
- Find your country in the table at the top of this page.
- Check the broadcaster’s current listing for the IPL season you want to watch. Rights are sold in multi-year deals, so confirm they still apply.
- Choose a package that includes the sports channel or live sports tier named above.
- Sign in or install the app on your phone, tablet or smart TV, using the account you subscribed with.
- Check the match time in your own time zone before each game, because the IPL is played in India.
Match times in your time zone
The IPL is played in India, so match times are announced in Indian Standard Time (IST). IST is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of UTC and does not change during the year. In 2026, evening matches started at 7:30 pm IST, and afternoon matches on double-header days started at 3:30 pm IST. The table uses the clocks in force for most of the season, from early April to the final at the end of May.
| Place | Time zone in April and May | Compared with India | 7:30 pm IST match | 3:30 pm IST match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | British Summer Time (UTC+1) | 4 hours 30 minutes behind | 3:00 pm | 11:00 am |
| US East Coast | Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4) | 9 hours 30 minutes behind | 10:00 am | 6:00 am |
| US West Coast | Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−7) | 12 hours 30 minutes behind | 7:00 am | 3:00 am |
| Sydney | Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10) | 4 hours 30 minutes ahead | Midnight (12:00 am the next day) | 8:00 pm |
Two clock changes fall near the start of the season. UK clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March (29 March in 2026), so before that date the UK is 5 hours 30 minutes behind India. Sydney clocks go back on the first Sunday in April (5 April in 2026), so before that date Sydney is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead. US clocks change in early March, before the season starts. Start times can be changed, so check the time for the day you are watching.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
- The app does not show IPL matches. Rights are held country by country, so an app that works at home may not carry the league abroad. Use the broadcaster listed for the country you are in.
- You cannot find the channel. Look at the exact channel named in the table (for example Sky Sports Cricket in the UK) and check that your package includes it.
- A site claims every match is free. We could not confirm an official free route for full live matches in these countries. Unofficial streams can be unreliable and may breach the broadcaster’s rights, so stick to the official providers listed above.
Fixing the most common problems
Most viewing problems come down to a handful of causes. Work through them in this order:
- Check your plan. Make sure your plan includes live sports or the right channel. Compare your package with the table at the top of this page.
- Check you are using the right provider for your country. If the app or channel does not show the IPL, look up the broadcaster for the country you are in.
- Sign out and back in. This refreshes a login that may have expired.
- Check your connection. A slow or unstable connection causes buffering. Move closer to the router or lower the video quality in the app.
- Update the app and your device. Old versions of an app can stop working with the latest streams.
- Contact the provider. If everything above is fine, the broadcaster’s own support is the quickest way to fix a billing or account problem.
What Changes Each Season
Broadcast rights are sold in multi-year cycles, and platforms, channel names and prices can change between seasons. The Sky Sports rights in the UK and Ireland run through 2027. This guide reflects the 2026 season, and you should check each broadcaster’s own listing before the next one starts. For season context, see our IPL 2026 season review and the IPL teams guide.
Related guides: the IPL playoff format, IPL rules explained, all practical guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I watch IPL live streaming?
Use the broadcaster for your country: Star Sports and the JioHotstar app in India, Sky Sports (with Sky Go or NOW Sports) in the UK and Ireland, Willow in the USA and Canada, and Fox Cricket or Kayo Sports in Australia. Check the current listing before each season, because rights deals change.
Is there a free option?
We did not find an official free option for full live matches in India, the UK, the USA or Australia. JioHotstar requires a paid subscription for live sports, and the other broadcasters are TV or subscription services. Check each broadcaster’s current listing, because offers can change.
Where can I watch the IPL in the UK?
On Sky Sports. Sky Sports holds the exclusive rights for the UK and Ireland through 2027, with matches on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. You can stream with Sky Go, and people without Sky can use a NOW Sports membership.
Where can I watch the IPL in the USA?
On Willow, which is the exclusive broadcaster for the USA and Canada, on TV and in the Willow app. Some pay-TV streaming services also list it, so check your provider’s channel list.
Where can I watch the IPL in Australia?
On Fox Cricket through Foxtel, and Kayo Sports also streams the matches.
Why can’t I watch the IPL abroad on my home app?
IPL rights are sold country by country, so the broadcaster for your home country may not carry the league where you are. Use the broadcaster listed for the country you are in.
Do I need a TV package to watch the IPL?
In every market covered here, access is through a TV package or a paid subscription. In India, JioHotstar requires a paid plan (or a mobile or broadband plan that includes it) for live sports.