NRL 2026 livestream: How to watch National Rugby League for free

TL;DR: Live stream NRL 2026 for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are few other sports that can rival rugby league in terms of physicality and skill. It’s clever manipulation and outrageous trickery combined with absolute brutality, and that’s why we all love it.

And if you’re looking for all this and more on a weekly basis, you should check out the NRL. This is an electric competition featuring some of the best players and teams in the world. We’re certainly not up to par with what you get in the northern hemisphere, but there’s something special about the National Rugby League. It feels like something wild happens every week.

If you want to watch NRL 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the NRL?

The National Rugby League (NRL) is a professional rugby league competition in Australasia, comprising clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand.

Each team plays 24 matches during the regular season, with the team placed first at the end being awarded the minor premiership. This is followed by a series of finals contested between the top eight ranked teams from the regular season, culminating in the NRL Grand Final.

The defending champions are the Brisbane Broncos.

When does the 2026 NRL take place?

The 2026 NRL season is the 119th edition of professional rugby league in Australia and the 29th season organized by the National Rugby League. This season runs from February 28 to September 5.

How to watch NRL 2026 for free

Select matches from the 2026 NRL season are available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (numeric location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free NRL live streams from anywhere in the world.

Live stream NRL 2026 from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a VPN suitable for streaming (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app on your device of choice (the best VPNs offer apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, etc.)

3. Open the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Live stream NRL 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming aren’t free, but most offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these deals, you can watch NRL 2026 without spending anything. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to stream some NRL matches before recouping your investment.

If you want to maintain permanent access to free streaming sites around the world, you will need a subscription. Luckily, the best VPN for live sports streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions and streaming live sports on 9Now for several reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30 day money back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes four additional months free – 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes one year of free, unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream NRL 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.