ISL 2026-27 Live Streaming: Sony Sports, SonyLIV and YouTube Set to Show Every Match

Eight days before kick-off, the Indian Super League has finally found a home. Sony Sports Network will broadcast ISL 2026-27 on television across the Indian subcontinent. Fans in India will also be able to stream matches on SonyLIV, and every single game will go live on YouTube, in India and around the world.

The agreement covers two seasons: 2026-27 and 2027-28.

This is more than a channel announcement. It is the first media deal negotiated by the clubs themselves, it ends weeks of uncertainty over whether the season would be shown on TV at all, and it puts the ISL on free-to-access YouTube for the first time. Below, we break down where to watch, how the ISL’s TV value has changed since 2014, and what this deal means for fans and clubs.

Quick answer: Watch ISL 2026-27 on Sony Sports Network (TV), on SonyLIV (India) or on YouTube (India and worldwide). The season starts Saturday, 10 October 2026.

ISL 2026-27 broadcast and streaming details

Digital rights in India are non-exclusive. That’s unusual for Indian sport, where one platform normally locks up streaming. Here, you can pick whichever app you already use.

Opening weekend: the first matches you can watch

The season opens with a double-header on Saturday, 10 October 2026.

Phase 1 of the fixture list runs from 10 October 2026 to 17 January 2027 and contains 78 matches. Most of them (53) fall on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays, and the standard kick-off slots are 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM IST. That weekend-heavy, early-evening schedule suits both prime-time TV and phone viewing after work.

One date to circle: on 24 November 2026, NorthEast United FC host Sporting Club Delhi at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal. It is the ISL’s first step into Manipur.

From Star to Sony: the ISL’s broadcast history

The ISL has had four broadcast setups in 12 years. Each change says something about the league’s commercial health.

Read that table from top to bottom and the story is clear. The ISL’s media value fell from ₹275 crore a season to under ₹9 crore in two years. The new deal is not a return to the old money. It is a reset: the clubs chose reach and visibility over a big cheque.

Note: Disney Star’s reasons and the Viacom18 base price come from 2023 reports by InsideSport and others; the 2026-27 fee has not been reported.

Why this deal matters

1. The clubs are now in charge. 2026-27 is the first season under a club-led model, where the participating clubs share the commercial and operational running of the league. The broadcast deal is the biggest test of that model so far, and it arrived just in time. Clubs opened talks with broadcasters in August after the formal media-rights process drew little interest, and Zee was the front-runner until the final days.

2. Two platforms reflect a split in the dressing room. Many clubs wanted to go all-in on YouTube for the widest reach. A few insisted on keeping a traditional TV partner so sponsors would still see their logos on television. Sony on TV plus YouTube online is the compromise.

3. Clubs finally get audience data. Under the new deal, clubs will receive all broadcast and streaming numbers, including reach broken down by state. Until now, clubs had no direct access to this information. For a club selling shirt sponsorships, being able to show a sponsor exactly how many viewers it has in its home state is worth far more than a vague national figure.

4. YouTube changes who can watch. A free-to-access global stream removes the subscription barrier for casual fans and lets the Indian diaspora follow their clubs live. YouTube has already used Indian properties such as the Prime Volleyball League and the Tamil Nadu Premier League to test live-sports features.

5. It completes a new commercial package. The broadcast deal lands alongside several other agreements signed under the club-led model

MG is the ISL’s first title sponsor since Hero MotoCorp left after the 2022-23 season. Put together, the league enters 2026-27 with a broadcaster, a title sponsor and a data partner in place, something that looked uncertain only weeks ago.

Our view: The money is a fraction of the Star and Viacom18 era, but the structure is healthier. Reach on YouTube, a TV presence for sponsors and real audience data give clubs the tools to build value themselves rather than rely on one large media cheque.

What it means for you: a practical viewing guide

• Watching at home on TV: Check your DTH or cable pack for Sony Sports channels before 10 October. If Sony Sports isn’t in your pack, add the channel or a sports add-on through your operator’s app.
• Watching on your phone for free: Subscribe to the official ISL YouTube channel and turn on notifications. Live matches usually appear in the channel’s “Live” tab shortly before kick-off.
• Watching on a smart TV: Both YouTube and SonyLIV have smart-TV apps. YouTube is the zero-cost option; SonyLIV makes sense if you already pay for it for other sports.
• Watching from outside India: Sony’s TV and SonyLIV coverage is limited to the subcontinent. YouTube will carry every match worldwide, so fans in the Gulf, UK, US or elsewhere can watch live.
• Highlights: Expect clips on YouTube soon after the final whistle. Bookmark this page and our match previews for daily links.

Tip for the matchday slots: most games start at 5:00 PM or 7:30 PM IST, so set reminders for those two windows rather than checking each fixture.

Sony’s football record

Sony is no stranger to the ISL. It showed the 2025-26 season on TV after FanCode, which held the media rights, sub-licensed the linear TV rights to Sony. The network also carries the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and the Durand Cup.

ISL 2026-27 season guide

Format. The league goes back to home-and-away after last season’s shortened single-leg campaign. Every club plays every other club twice. Including playoffs, there are 163 matches between 10 October 2026 and May 2027.

• League Shield: the club that finishes top of the table is the official ISL champion and earns a place in Asian club competition.
• ISL Cup: the top six qualify for the playoffs.
• No relegation this season.

The 13 clubs

Who’s missing and why

• Jamshedpur FC have withdrawn from the ISL. Churchill Brothers, relegated to IFL 2 last season, took over their sporting licence and jump straight back to the top tier.
• Mohammedan SC were relegated at the end of 2025-26.
• Diamond Harbour FC won the Indian Football League 2025-26 and earned promotion, but did not meet the administrative requirements to play in the ISL. They will be placed bottom of the standings by default and return to the IFL in 2027-28, so the league runs with 13 clubs instead of 14.

Before publishing: fill the empty rows with one line on each club’s summer (head coach, key signing). That club-by-club detail is what makes the page original.

Which channel will show ISL 2026-27 on TV? Sony Sports Network, across India and the Indian subcontinent. Exact channel numbers and language feeds are yet to be announced.

Can I watch ISL 2026-27 for free? Every match streams live on YouTube, which is free to access. SonyLIV and Sony’s TV channels require a subscription or a channel pack.

Is ISL 2026-27 on SonyLIV? Yes. Sony streams ISL matches on SonyLIV in India.

Is ISL on JioHotstar or FanCode this season? No. FanCode held the rights for 2025-26 only, and the Viacom18/JioCinema deal ended after 2024-25.

How can I watch ISL outside India? On YouTube, which will stream every match worldwide. Sony’s coverage is limited to the subcontinent.

When does ISL 2026-27 start? Saturday, 10 October 2026, with Bengaluru FC vs Sporting Club Delhi at 5:00 PM IST and FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC at 7:30 PM IST.

How many teams and matches are there? 13 clubs and 163 matches including playoffs.

What is the MG ISL? The league’s new name. MG Motor is the title sponsor for two seasons, in a deal worth over ₹25 crore.

Why isn’t Jamshedpur FC playing? Jamshedpur FC withdrew from the ISL. Churchill Brothers took over their sporting licence.

Last updated: 2 October 2026.