The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 season is set to give fans around the world another action-packed European club football campaign and India’s football audience too will be gearing up for a new season of high-profile matches. Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are some of Europe’s biggest clubs who will compete for the continent’s most prestigious club trophy.
The good news for Indian viewers is that UEFA Champions League still remains easy to watch. UEFA’s official broadcast-partner information says Sony will be broadcaster for the Indian subcontinent in 2026–27 competition.
Where to Watch UEFA Champions League 2026-27 Live in India
Indian football fans can watch Champions League matches on television via the Sony Sports Network. The network has live broadcast rights for UEFA club competitions in the Indian subcontinent for this rights cycle (through 2026-27 season) and a Delhi High Court order also names Sony Sports Network as linear TV platform and SonyLIV as associated streaming service for UCL live coverage in India.
The exact Sony Sports channel carrying an individual match will vary depending on the broadcast schedule, language feed and television package. Fans should therefore check their local DTH or cable-TV listings before kick-off.
Champions League 2026-27 Live Streaming on SonyLIV
For those who watch football on smartphones, tablets, laptops or smart TVs SonyLIV is the online destination. Live UEFA Champions League matches are streamed in India as part of Sony’s digital coverage via this platform.
This is what makes SonyLIV so useful for fans who don’t have a TV connection or want to watch matches while travelling. Viewers should check the latest SonyLIV subscription options and pricing before signing up (plans and promotional offers can change).
UEFA’s latest broadcast-partner list shows Sony as the Champions League broadcaster for India subcontinent.
When Does the 2026-27 Champions League Season Start?
The 2026-27 Champions League kicks off on September 8, 2026 (the first three games are played on September 8, 9 and 10). The new league phase format means fans will have plenty of chances to see Europe’s biggest clubs in action.
Some of the biggest fixtures of the opening matchdays are Real Madrid vs Inter Milan, Porto vs Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal, Barcelona vs Feyenoord and Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid. The competition will then move through league play before entering knockout stages.
| Match | Day | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| AEK Athens vs LASK Linz | Today | 10:15 PM |
| Club Brugge vs Aston Villa | Today | 10:15 PM |
| Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal CF | Tomorrow | 12:30 AM |
| FC Porto vs Manchester City | Tomorrow | 12:30 AM |
| Lille OSC vs Real Betis Seville | Tomorrow | 12:30 AM |
| Real Madrid vs Inter Milano | Tomorrow | 12:30 AM |
| FC Barcelona vs Feyenoord Rotterdam | Tomorrow | 10:15 PM |
| VfB Stuttgart vs Viking FK | Tomorrow | 10:15 PM |
When Will Champions League Matches Start in India?
One of the biggest problems for Indian football fans is that Europe and India are two different time zones. Champions League matches played in European evening slots are often played late at night or early in the morning in India.
Some early European kickoffs can start as late as 11:15 PM IST but the traditional 9 PM CET time slot in India is around 1:30 AM IST so fans may have to stay up late to watch marquee clashes involving some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Kickoff times can differ depending on fixture and matchday so viewers should check the official schedule and SonyLIV listing closer to each game.
Can You Watch the Champions League for Free in India?
There is no indication that free-to-air live Champions League coverage will be available in India for the 2026–27 season. The live rights are with Sony so if you want to watch matches legally you have to use the authorised Sony Sports television channels or SonyLIV streaming service. UEFA have also sued large scale illegal streaming platforms in India (see above).
Fans can still follow match reports, scores, highlights and other updates through official UEFA and broadcaster channels but these are not to be confused with full live-match coverage.
A Season Packed With Football's Biggest Names
The 2026-27 Champions League is set to be full of storylines as Europe’s established giants are back competing for continental glory again. Real Madrid will be at the top of the agenda along with Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and other big clubs as well as deep runs.
The league-phase format generates more high-profile games so Indian fans will have a steady flow of big European games throughout the season.
The simplest way for viewers in India to follow the competition is therefore Sony Sports Network on television and SonyLIV online streaming. With the season starting in September football fans need to check their TV packages and SonyLIV subscriptions ahead of opening fixtures to make sure they don’t miss the big games.
