The Autumn Internationals 2026 are the closing three rounds of the brand-new Nations Championship, played across November at Principality Stadium (Cardiff), Scottish Gas Murrayfield (Edinburgh), Allianz Stadium Twickenham (London) and Aviva Stadium (Dublin) before a first-ever Finals Weekend at Twickenham on 27–29 November 2026.
This guide has every verified fixture and kick-off time, how the new format works, and the practical matchday stuff the official sites skip: getting to each stadium, bag rules at every gate, fan zones, pubs and where to leave your luggage.
In Cardiff or Edinburgh for a match? Big bags are banned at both grounds. Store your bags near Principality Stadium or near Murrayfield and walk in hands-free.
Autumn Internationals 2026: Key Facts
| Dates | 6–21 November 2026 (Rounds 4–6), Finals Weekend 27–29 November 2026 |
| Competition | Nations Championship (inaugural edition), replacing the old Autumn Nations Series |
| Teams | 12: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales v Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa |
| Venues | Principality Stadium (Cardiff), Scottish Gas Murrayfield (Edinburgh), Allianz Stadium Twickenham (London), Aviva Stadium (Dublin), plus France and Italy home grounds |
| Finals Weekend | Allianz Stadium Twickenham, six matches over three days |
| Tickets | Sold by each home union (WRU, Scottish Rugby, RFU, IRFU); Finals Weekend sold separately |
| Bags | Small bags only at all four stadiums; no left luggage on site |
Nations Championship 2026 Fixtures: November Window
All kick-off times are local (GMT in the UK, Irish time in Dublin). Fixtures confirmed by the WRU, Scottish Rugby, RFU and IRFU.
Wales rugby fixtures 2026 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 7 Nov | Wales v Japan | 16:40 |
| Sat 14 Nov | Wales v New Zealand | 14:10 |
| Sat 21 Nov | Wales v Australia | 20:10 |
Scotland rugby fixtures 2026 – Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 7 Nov | Scotland v New Zealand | 14:10 |
| Sun 15 Nov | Scotland v Australia | 15:10 |
| Sat 21 Nov | Scotland v Japan | 14:10 |
England fixtures – Allianz Stadium Twickenham, London
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 8 Nov | England v Australia | 15:10 |
| Sat 14 Nov | England v Japan | 16:40 |
| Sat 21 Nov | England v New Zealand | 14:10 |
Ireland fixtures – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 6 Nov | Ireland v Argentina | 20:10 |
| Sat 14 Nov | Ireland v Fiji | 20:10 |
| Sat 21 Nov | Ireland v South Africa | 16:40 |
France host Fiji, South Africa and Argentina, and Italy host South Africa, Argentina and Fiji across the same three weekends.
How the Nations Championship Works
The Nations Championship is a new biennial competition launched in 2026. Twelve teams are split into a Northern pool (the Six Nations sides) and a Southern pool (the Rugby Championship sides plus Fiji and Japan). Every Northern team plays every Southern team once: three rounds in July, hosted in the south, and three rounds in November, hosted in the north.
Each pool ranks its six teams on the points they collect against the other hemisphere. Those rankings decide the Finals Weekend pairings, so every November result still counts.
Finals Weekend at Twickenham, 27–29 November 2026
| Day | Matches (Northern v Southern) | Kick-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 27 Nov | 6th v 6th, then 3rd v 3rd | 16:40 and 20:10 |
| Sat 28 Nov | 5th v 5th, then 2nd v 2nd | 13:10 and 16:40 |
| Sun 29 Nov | 4th v 4th, then the Final: 1st v 1st | 13:10 and 16:40 |
Every team plays once at Twickenham, so Wales, Scotland and Ireland fans will all be heading to London on the last weekend of November. Who plays whom is only known after Round 6 on 21 November.
Tickets for the Autumn Internationals 2026
Tickets are sold through each home union: the WRU for Wales, Scottish Rugby for Scotland (single matches and two-match packages are on sale), the RFU for England and the IRFU for Ireland. Finals Weekend tickets are sold separately via Allianz Stadium Twickenham. Matches against New Zealand sell fastest, so book early and only buy from official channels or authorised resale.
Cardiff Matchday Guide: Principality Stadium
Getting to Principality Stadium
The stadium sits on Westgate Street, right in the city centre, about five minutes’ walk from Cardiff Central station. Direct trains run from London Paddington (around two hours), Bristol, Swansea and the Valleys. Buy a return ticket before you travel: after the final whistle, queuing systems operate at Cardiff Central (mainline) and Cardiff Queen Street (local services), and it can take well over an hour to board.
Cardiff Council closes most of the city centre to traffic for several hours around every international, including Westgate Street, St Mary Street, Castle Street and Wood Street. Don’t plan on driving in or getting a taxi to the gate; park at a park-and-ride or on the edge of the centre and walk.
Principality Stadium bag policy
Large bags are not allowed. The stadium defines a small bag as no larger than 35cm x 40cm x 19cm or a standard handbag, and officially recommends coming without a bag at all. Everyone goes through a search lane at their gate, and there are no bag storage facilities at the stadium. Food and drink can’t be brought in, so finish it outside.
Fan zones and pubs in Cardiff
Cardiff on a rugby day is one big fan zone. Westgate Street and St Mary Street, both pedestrianised for the match, fill up from mid-morning. Classic pre-match stops include the City Arms directly opposite the stadium, Tiny Rebel and Brewhouse on Westgate Street and St Mary Street, and the Prince of Wales on St Mary Street for a cheaper pint. Expect queues at the door an hour or two before kick-off; the WRU and Visit Cardiff announce any official fanzone and big-screen sites closer to each match.
Where to store bags in Cardiff
If you’re arriving by train with a suitcase, drop it before you head to the pubs. Radical Storage partner shops and hotels sit between Cardiff Central and the stadium, so you can book luggage storage near Principality Stadium for the day and collect it after the match.
Edinburgh Matchday Guide: Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Getting to Murrayfield
Murrayfield is about 3 km west of the city centre. The easiest route is the tram from Princes Street or Haymarket to the Murrayfield Stadium stop, then a short walk along Roseburn Street; buy your tram ticket before boarding. Walking from Princes Street takes around 45 minutes via Shandwick Place and Haymarket Terrace, and it’s the stress-free option after the match when the trams are packed.
Arriving by train? Haymarket station is a 20-minute walk from the ground, and Edinburgh Waverley connects to the tram. Lothian Buses run direct matchday services from Ingliston Park and Ride, and seven park-and-ride sites ring the city. There is no parking at the stadium or on surrounding streets on matchdays.
Murrayfield bag policy
Scottish Rugby’s rule is strict: no bags larger than A4 (21cm x 30cm), except for medical or childcare reasons, and those are searched and tagged at a designated turnstile. Every bag is searched and there is no bag drop at the stadium. Sealed plastic bottles up to 500ml and empty reusable cups under 600ml are fine; cans, tripods and flag poles over 1m are not. Bagpipes in a case are allowed.
Fan village and pubs in Edinburgh
The West Fan Village opens with the turnstiles and is reachable from both the north and south sides of the ground, with food, drink and the Scottish Rugby Store marquees. For a pre-match pint, the Roseburn Bar sits a couple of minutes from the stadium and is rammed on international days; Ryrie’s and the pubs around Haymarket are a good middle ground, and the Athletic Arms (“Diggers”) in nearby Dalry is an Edinburgh institution.
Where to store bags in Edinburgh
With an A4 limit, even a day backpack will be turned away. Leave it in the city centre or around Haymarket on your way out: find luggage storage near Murrayfield and pick it up on the way back to your hotel or the station.
London and Dublin: Twickenham and Aviva Stadium
Allianz Stadium Twickenham is at 200 Whitton Road in south-west London. Twickenham station is a 10–15 minute walk, with trains from London Waterloo taking around 30 minutes; allow extra time, as the station and surrounding streets are heavily managed after the game. Only small bags that fit under your seat are permitted, and there is no left luggage. For Finals Weekend, store your bags near Allianz Stadium or in central London before heading out.
Aviva Stadium on Lansdowne Road is a 20-minute walk from Dublin city centre, and Lansdowne Road DART station is right beside it. Only small bags and handbags are allowed, all are searched, and the Friday-night Argentina match means a late finish, so book luggage storage near Aviva Stadium if you’re travelling the same day.
Matchday Tips
- Book beds early. Cardiff and Edinburgh hotels sell out for the New Zealand games and Twickenham for Finals Weekend.
- Go bag-free. Searches are quicker and you won’t be turned away at the gate.
- Arrive early. Turnstile queues peak in the final 45 minutes before kick-off.
- Buy return train tickets in advance. Ticket offices are swamped after the match.
- Layer up. November evening kick-offs in Cardiff (20:10) and Dublin (20:10) are cold; the Principality roof is often closed, Murrayfield is open-air.
Luggage Storage for the Autumn Internationals 2026
Heading to Principality Stadium or Murrayfield? Neither ground has a bag drop, and both turn away anything bigger than a handbag or an A4 bag. Radical Storage has verified partner locations across Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Dublin, many between the main station and the stadium, so you can drop your suitcase or backpack and enjoy matchday hands-free.
Book online in a minute, with every bag protected up to €10,000, free cancellation and a 4.8/5 rating from travellers. Find storage near Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Allianz Stadium Twickenham or Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Frequently Asked Questions
The November rounds of the Nations Championship run from 6 to 21 November 2026, followed by Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium Twickenham on 27–29 November 2026.
Wales play Japan (7 Nov, 16:40), New Zealand (14 Nov, 14:10) and Australia (21 Nov, 20:10), all at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, then one Finals Weekend match at Twickenham.
Scotland host New Zealand (Sat 7 Nov, 14:10), Australia (Sun 15 Nov, 15:10) and Japan (Sat 21 Nov, 14:10) at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh.
A new biennial competition launched in 2026. Six Northern Hemisphere teams each play six Southern Hemisphere teams (three in July, three in November), then meet their equivalent-ranked side at Finals Weekend to decide the champion.
Only small bags. Principality Stadium allows bags up to 35cm x 40cm x 19cm or a standard handbag; Murrayfield allows nothing larger than A4 (21cm x 30cm). Neither stadium has a bag drop or left luggage.
Radical Storage has partner locations near Cardiff Central and Principality Stadium, and around Haymarket and Edinburgh city centre for Murrayfield, plus London and Dublin. Book online, drop your bags and collect them after the match.
Six matches over three days at Twickenham (27–29 November). Each Northern team plays the Southern team with the same pool ranking, finishing with 1st v 1st on Sunday 29 November at 16:40 to crown the Nations Championship winner.
