Formula 1Updated Jun 14, 2026
How to Watch Formula 1 2026 in France
Every way to watch the 2026 F1 season in France — Canal+ holds the exclusive rights to all 24 Grands Prix through 2029, from €19.99/month. Real prices in EUR, the free-TV picture, and the cheapest route to every race.
By Matchcast Editorial · Published
Broadcasters
4
Free options
Yes
Coverage
Global
The short answer
To watch Formula 1 in France in 2026: Canal+ holds the exclusive French broadcast rights and is the only channel showing every session of all 24 Grands Prix live — every practice, qualifying, sprint and race — in HD with French commentary. A Canal+ subscription that includes F1 starts from around €19.99/month (introductory, then €24.99/month). There is no live free-to-air F1 in France — Canal+ is the only way to watch the races live, on TV or via its official streaming app.
Canal+: the exclusive French F1 broadcaster
In France the Formula 1 broadcast rights belong exclusively to Canal+, which has held them since 2013 and has extended the agreement with the FIA to keep broadcasting the championship through 2029. Canal+ is the only French channel offering an official live HD stream of the Grands Prix, carrying every session: all free practice, all qualifying, every Sprint and every race, with French-language commentary and the full race-weekend studio coverage.
Canal+ broadcasts F1 across its premium sports channels and provides the live HD stream through the myCANAL app on smartphone, tablet, computer and connected TV. Subscribers can follow practice, qualifying and the race live wherever they are.
For a French F1 fan who wants every session live, Canal+ is the only comprehensive option — there is no rival broadcaster and no free-to-air alternative carrying the races live in France.
Canal+ pricing: what an F1 subscription costs
A Canal+ subscription that includes the Formula 1 coverage generally runs in the €15–40/month range depending on the package and any promotion. The common entry offer is from €19.99/month for an introductory period (typically six months), rising to €24.99/month thereafter, with the standard Canal+ engagement terms.
The exact monthly price depends on which Canal+ package you take — the sport-inclusive tiers carry the F1 channels — and on whatever promotional rate Canal+ is running at the time. The myCANAL app is included with the subscription, so the same package that gives you F1 on TV also gives you the live stream on mobile and connected devices at no extra cost.
For a fan whose primary interest is F1, the entry-level sport-inclusive Canal+ tier from €19.99/month is the route; households that also want Canal+'s films, series and other sport (Ligue 1, Champions League, Top 14) get more value from the larger packages, but F1 is included across the sport-carrying tiers.
Is there any free F1 on French TV in 2026?
There is no live free-to-air Formula 1 coverage in France in 2026. The races are not shown live on TF1, France Télévisions (France 2 / France 3) or M6 — Canal+ holds the exclusive live rights, so every live session is behind the Canal+ subscription.
What is free: Formula 1's official YouTube channel posts race-highlight packages (typically a 10-15 minute clip) within an hour or so of each race, available in France, and Canal+'s own channels post short clips. But any live session — practice, qualifying, Sprint or race — requires a Canal+ subscription.
The one nuance French fans sometimes ask about is the French Grand Prix; the F1 calendar has not included a French round in recent seasons, so there is no home-race free-to-air arrangement to rely on. All 2026 races are Canal+ live in France.
F1 TV: the official onboard alternative
Formula 1's own streaming service, F1 TV, is available in France and offers the multi-camera experience — live onboard cameras for every driver, team radio feeds, live timing and multiple commentary tracks including the French-language option. However, because Canal+ holds the exclusive French live rights, F1 TV's live-race access in France is restricted, and the live race tier may not be available the way it is in markets without an exclusive broadcaster.
For French fans, the practical position is that Canal+ is the route to the live races, while F1 TV is useful mainly for the onboard archive, live timing and data. Fans who want guaranteed live coverage of every 2026 session in France should rely on Canal+ rather than F1 TV.
Cost summary: the cheapest workable 2026 season
There is no free live route in France, so the cheapest legal way to watch live 2026 F1 is a sport-inclusive Canal+ subscription from €19.99/month (introductory), rising to €24.99/month. Across the roughly nine active F1 months (March to December) that is in the order of €180–225 for the season, depending on the promotion and package.
The value calculus improves if you watch more than F1: the sport-carrying Canal+ tiers also include Ligue 1, Champions League and Top 14 rugby, so a multi-sport household gets far more than just the F1 races for the same subscription.
The budget reality: free coverage is limited to same-day highlights on Formula 1's official YouTube channel. For any live session, a Canal+ subscription is required — the entry sport tier from €19.99/month is the cheapest legal route to every 2026 Grand Prix in France.
Formula 1 Broadcasters
- VisitCanal+Pay TVFrom €19.99/mo (then €24.99/mo)Canal+Canal+ SportmyCANAL
Exclusive French F1 rights holder (since 2013, extended with the FIA through 2029) — the only channel showing every session of all 24 Grands Prix live in HD with French commentary. Entry sport-inclusive tier from €19.99/mo introductory, then €24.99/mo. Live HD stream included via the myCANAL app on mobile, computer and connected TV.
- VisitmyCANALStreaming
Canal+'s streaming app, included with a Canal+ subscription — carries the live HD F1 stream on smartphone, tablet, computer and connected TV at no extra cost. The streaming route to every live F1 session in France.
- VisitF1 TVStreaming
Formula 1's own service — onboard cameras, team radio, live timing and a French commentary track. Live-race access in France is restricted because Canal+ holds the exclusive French rights; best used for onboards and data rather than guaranteed live races. Use Canal+ for live coverage.
- VisitTF1 / France Télévisions / M6Free
No live free-to-air F1 in France in 2026 — the free channels do not carry live races, because Canal+ holds the exclusive rights. Free coverage is limited to same-day highlights on Formula 1's official YouTube channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch F1 for free in France?
No, not live. There is no live free-to-air Formula 1 coverage in France in 2026 — the races are not shown on TF1, France Télévisions or M6, because Canal+ holds the exclusive live rights. The only free coverage is same-day race-highlight packages on Formula 1's official YouTube channel. Every live session requires a Canal+ subscription.
What channel shows F1 in France?
Canal+ is the exclusive French F1 broadcaster and has held the rights since 2013, with the agreement extended through 2029. It shows every session of the 2026 season live in HD with French commentary, on its premium sport channels and via the myCANAL streaming app. It is the only channel carrying the races live in France.
How much does Canal+ cost to watch F1 in France?
A sport-inclusive Canal+ subscription that includes F1 starts from around €19.99/month for an introductory period (typically six months), then €24.99/month, depending on the package and current promotion. The myCANAL streaming app is included, so the same subscription covers F1 on TV and live on mobile and connected devices.
Can I stream F1 in France?
Yes — through myCANAL, Canal+'s streaming app, which is included with a Canal+ subscription. It carries the live HD F1 stream on smartphone, tablet, computer and connected TV. Formula 1's own F1 TV service is available in France for onboards and data, but its live-race access is restricted because Canal+ holds the exclusive French live rights, so use Canal+/myCANAL for live races.
Is Canal+ the only way to watch F1 in France?
For live coverage, yes. Canal+ holds the exclusive French F1 rights through 2029 and is the only broadcaster carrying every session live. There is no free-to-air live alternative, and F1 TV's live-race access in France is restricted by Canal+'s exclusivity. Free coverage is limited to same-day highlights on Formula 1's official YouTube channel.