Virgin Media Television announce TV picks for the first series of 2026 LOI fixtures
- 10 games to be shown in the opening 9 weeks
- All teams to be broadcast in top-flight opening series
- Season starts off with huge double header featuring Champions v Dundalk and Aviva Derby
The League of Ireland and Virgin Media Television have today announced the opening ten fixtures to be broadcast live in the 2026 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division with every team included in first selections of the season.
Shamrock Rovers will begin their title defence to open the season on Virgin Media Two when newly promoted Dundalk visit Tallaght while the Bohemians and St. Patrick’s Athletic Aviva Stadium clash completes a big double header on the opening weekend at the start of February.
There will be some huge Derbies broadcast too with Shelbourne hosting Shamrock Rovers in Round 2, the return of The Louth Derby when Dundalk host Drogheda United in Round 3 and the last Friday night Dublin Derby in Dalymount Park in the LOI between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers before the ground’s redevelopment in 2027.
We’ll also have a huge Shelbourne and St. Patrick’s Athletic clash on March 3 before some massive nights around the country with Sligo Rovers welcoming the Champions on 13 March while Galway United host Waterford and Derry City on 16 March and 3 April in front of Virgin Media Television cameras too.
In between the two Galway United games sees Virgin Media Two showing Dundalk travelling to Dalymount Park to face Bohemians on 20 March with live games being shown from six grounds in the opening ten games.
Virgin Media Television games will now also kick off at 20:00, with coverage getting underway at 19:30, allowing for more build-up before the key fixtures. The popular post match highlights from around the grounds will now include the best of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division games bringing viewers all the drama from the night and analysis from the main game until 22:30.
All selected fixtures (with the exception of Bohemians v St. Patrick’s Athletic at the Aviva Stadium), originally scheduled for 19:45 kick-offs, will now be played at 20:00.
Virgin Media Television live broadcasts on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Play with newly confirmed fixtures:
- Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk, Tallaght Stadium - Friday, 6 February (KO 20:00)
- Bohemians v St. Patrick’s Athletic - Aviva Stadium - Sunday, 8 February (KO 14:00)
- Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers, Tolka Park - Friday, 13 February (KO 20:00)
- Dundalk v Drogheda United, Oriel Park - Friday, 20 February (KO 20:00) - *Virgin Media Three
- Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers, Dalymount Park - Friday, 27 February (KO 20:00)
- Shelbourne v St. Patrick’s Athletic, Tolka Park - Friday, 6 March (KO 20:00)
- Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers, The Showgrounds - Friday, 13 March (KO 20:00)
- Galway United v Waterford, Eamonn Deacy Park - Monday, 16 March (KO 20:00)
- Bohemians v Dundalk, Dalymount Park - Friday, 20 March (KO 20:00)
- Galway United v Derry City - Friday, 3 April (KO 20:00)
