Super League 2026: big questions answered on promotion/relegation, TV coverage & play-off format
Super League will have a new look when it expands to 14 teams next year.
The increase from 12 clubs led to speculation over the play-off format, broadcasting of matches and how promotion and relegation - if any - will be determined. Ahead of the Betfred Super League fixture list being published today (Thursday), RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones held a media briefing to provide some clarity. Here’s his response to the key questions.
Will every Super League game be televised in 2026?
Sky Sports have exclusive rights to two matches in each round and the others are shared with the competition’s streaming service SuperLeague+ and the BBC. The increase in teams means an extra game each week, but Jones confirmed every fixture will be broadcast.
Of the seventh match, he said: “We are working with Sky on it. It falls under the Sky contract, but is an additional game so it is an on-going conversation with Sky. It will be under the Sky model in terms of the production of the game, the video referee functionality and all those kinds of bits and pieces. It will look very similar to the other four non-exclusive pick games.”
Are BBC TV planning to show live games again next year?
Yes. Ten games will be screened live on the network, with another five via the iPlayer. Choices have been made up to round 15: Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors, February 15 (iPlayer); Hull KR v Brisbane Broncos, February 19 (World Club Challenge, BBC 3); Warrington Wolves v Wakefield Trinity, February 28 (BBC 2); Catalans Dragons v Hull KR, March 21 (BBC 2); Leigh Leopards v Toulouse Olympique, March 28 (BBC 2); Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos, April 3 (iPlayer); Wigan Warriors v Bradford Bulls, May 2 (iPlayer); Huddersfield Giants v St Helens, May 14 (iPlayer); Wakefield Trinity v Hull KR, June 6 (BBC 2).
Will the team finishing bottom of Super League be replaced by the Championship winners, or is it the IMG grading system?
We don’t know, but a decision is expected after an RFL council meeting in December. Jones revealed: “That’s still to be determined. It’s fair to say that needs to happen before the start of the season so that’s something that will come over the next couple of weeks or months.”
What’s the play-off format in 2026?
Following the move to 14 clubs, seven- or eight-team play-offs were considered. However, the top-six format will continue, with two elimination ties (third versus sixth, fourth versus fifth) before the semi-finals, when the league leaders will be at home to the lowest-ranked remaining side. Jones said Magic Weekend’s inclusion in the calendar ruled out the possibility of a top-eight series and there was “no clear direction of travel from the clubs” in discussions over a seven-team format.
When will Magic Weekend kick-off times be announced?
That depends on the stand-alone fixture between Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique which is being played that weekend at a neutral venue in the south of France. According to Jones: “We are going to keep working on the French Magic game. Once we know [details of] that, we will then fix the Everton kick-off times.”