How to Watch the CFL in 2026 in the US
The CFL is a genuine summer-and-fall football fix for US fans — and in 2026 most of it is free to stream. Here's how to watch north of the border from the States.
The two ways to watch in the US
- CBS Sports Network — televises a 34-game package of CFL action in 2026, the marquee windows including Thursday and weekend games. It's a cable/satellite channel, also carried on the major live-TV streamers.
- CFL+ — the league's own streaming service at cfl.ca carries the games not on CBS Sports Network, and it's free for US viewers. That covers the bulk of the schedule plus the playoffs.
2026 is the final year of the CFL's current US television deal with CBS Sports Network, so it's a good season to get into the habit while the games are easy to find.
The season & the Grey Cup
The CFL regular season runs from June into early November, followed by the division semifinals and finals and then the championship. The 113th Grey Cup is set for November 15, 2026 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. Playoff and Grey Cup coverage for US viewers streams on CFL+.
What's different about CFL football
If you're coming from the NFL or college game, expect a wider, longer field, three downs instead of four, twelve players a side, and a faster, more wide-open style — it rewards the pass and produces a lot of late-game drama.
How to watch without cable
The easy answer: CFL+ is free, so you can follow most of the season at no cost on the web or the CFL app. For the CBS Sports Network games, any live-TV streamer that carries CBSSN works — see our football streaming services guide. For the week-by-week schedule with US channels and kickoff in your local time, see the CFL TV schedule.
