Tees off: Thursday July 16 · Royal Birkdale, England

How to watch The Open Championship 2026 — every round, every option

The 154th Open Championship runs Thursday July 16 through Sunday July 19, 2026 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. NBC Sports has US rights — coverage on NBC, USA Network, and Peacock. Here's the round-by-round breakdown and the cheapest way to watch.

★ Quick answer

NBC Sports owns US rights to The Open. USA Network (cable) covers Thursday + Friday + early weekend. NBC (broadcast, free OTA) takes over for weekend afternoon trophy coverage. Peacock Premium ($7.99/mo) streams everything plus exclusive Featured Groups + Featured Holes.

Cheapest path: Peacock for one month at $7.99. Catches every shot of every round including the early-morning ET window (UK time zone — coverage starts 1:30 AM ET Thursday).

1Round-by-round schedule

The Open is played in the UK, so first-serve... er, first tee times are very early in the morning ET. All times below are Eastern.

Round 1

Thursday July 16 · Round 1

Field: 156 players, two-tee start · Tee times: 1:35 AM – 11:00 AM ET (6:35 AM – 4:00 PM UK)
1:30 AM – 4:00 PM ETUSA NetworkUSA
All dayPeacock Premium + Featured GroupsPCK
Round 2

Friday July 17 · Round 2 (cut day)

Field: Full 156 players · cut to top 70 + ties after this round · Tee times: 1:35 AM – 11:00 AM ET
1:30 AM – 4:00 PM ETUSA NetworkUSA
All dayPeacock Premium + Featured GroupsPCK
Round 3

Saturday July 18 · Round 3 (moving day) FREE OTA (afternoon)

Field: Cut survivors only (~70 players) · Tee times: 5:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET (10 AM – 3 PM UK)
5:00 AM – 9:00 AM ETUSA NetworkUSA
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM ETNBC broadcast ✓ FREE w/ antennaNBC
All dayPeacock Premium + FeaturedPCK
Round 4

Sunday July 19 · Final round (Claret Jug) FREE OTA (afternoon)

Field: Cut survivors · final pairings tee off last · Tee times: 5:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET
5:00 AM – 9:00 AM ETUSA NetworkUSA
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM ETNBC broadcast ✓ FREE w/ antennaNBC
All dayPeacock Premium + FeaturedPCK

2The venue — Royal Birkdale

🏌️ Royal Birkdale Golf Club · Southport, England

Founded: 1889 · Granted "Royal" status in 1951 · Linksland on the Lancashire coast

Style: Classic British links — towering sandhills, deep pot bunkers, fescue rough, prevailing wind off the Irish Sea. One of the most strategically demanding Open venues.

Open history: 11th time hosting (1954, 1961, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1983, 1991, 1998, 2008, 2017, 2026)

Recent winners here: 2017 Jordan Spieth (-12, signature recovery from 13th-hole disaster) · 2008 Padraig Harrington (+3, his second straight Open) · 1991 Ian Baker-Finch · 1998 Mark O'Meara

3The 4 ways to watch — ranked cheapest

📡 Antenna only (free) $0/mo + ~$30 antenna

Catches NBC weekend afternoon coverage. Saturday + Sunday 9 AM – 3 PM ET trophy windows. Misses Thursday + Friday entirely + early weekend USA Network.
  • Best for: Casual viewers who only want the back nine on Sunday
Shop antennas →
Affiliate link · Mohu Leaf 50 ($45)

▶️ YouTube TV $82.99/mo

NBC + USA Network + Golf Channel. Full coverage + 14-day free trial covers the entire week if started July 15.
Try YouTube TV →

📺 Sling Blue $45.99/mo

USA Network + NBC (where Sling carries it). Verify NBC availability in your market via Sling's Channel Locator.
Try Sling →

Rick's take, 28 years installing AV systems:

Peacock at $8 for the month is the universal answer for any NBC-broadcast golf major. Catches every round live, includes Featured Groups (a feature you can't get on cable). If you only want the Sunday trophy window, an antenna for NBC weekend afternoon coverage is free — but you'll miss the early-week story setup.

Don't pay $83 for YouTube TV unless you already want it long-term. The 14-day free trial covers the entire tournament if you start it July 15 and remember to cancel July 28.

4Common questions

What channel is The Open Championship 2026 on?

NBC Sports has US rights. Coverage airs on NBC (broadcast), USA Network (cable), and Peacock Premium streams everything.

Can I watch The Open for free?

Partially. NBC broadcast covers Saturday + Sunday afternoon final-round windows — free with antenna. Thursday + Friday + early-weekend coverage is on USA Network (cable) or Peacock streaming.

What is the cheapest way to watch The Open 2026?

Peacock Premium at $7.99 for the month. Cancel after July 19.

What time does The Open start?

Tee times start approximately 6:35 AM UK time on Thursday/Friday — that's 1:35 AM ET. Coverage runs through 11 AM ET each day. Weekend tees start 10 AM UK = 5 AM ET.

Where is the 2026 Open Championship?

Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. 11th time hosting The Open.

Does Peacock have The Open Championship?

Yes. Streams every minute live including NBC + USA Network simulcasts and Peacock-exclusive Featured Groups + Featured Holes.

5Keep going

Watch — The Open Championship highlights

Highlights from recent editions on the official broadcast partners' YouTube channels. Click any thumbnail to play right here on the page.

📺
RECAP
Last year — 2025 Open
Watch 2025 Open Championship final round highlights
Search YouTube for the latest official upload
📺
CLASSIC
Royal Birkdale memory
Jordan Spieth 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale
Search YouTube for the latest official upload
Last verified June 9, 2026 against NBC Sports + The R&A official schedule. Tee times confirmed daily by the R&A. Streaming-service prices verified at signup.