Sport on TV: Christmas 2018 and New Year listings
Watch a feast of festive football and an action-packed sporting schedule
’Tis the season to watch sport on TV because there’s loads on during the Christmas and New Year festive period.
From Premier League football and Premiership rugby union to Test cricket and world championship darts, fans will be able to put their feet up, grab the remote and enjoy the sporting action.
Here’s our sport-by-sport guide to the live festive action on the Sky Sports and BT Sport networks.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Festive football live TV guide
Premier League
- Friday 21 December: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Liverpool (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Saturday 22 December: Arsenal vs. Burnley (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports); Cardiff City vs. Manchester United (5.30pm, live on BT Sport)
- Sunday 23 December: Everton vs. Tottenham Hotspur (4pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Wednesday 26 December: Fulham vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports); Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Arsenal (5.15pm, live on Sky Sports); Watford vs. Chelsea (7.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Thursday 27 December: Southampton vs. West Ham United (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Friday 29 December: Liverpool vs. Arsenal (5.30pm, live on BT Sport)
- Sunday 30 December: Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea (12pm, live on Sky Sports); Southampton vs. Manchester City (2.15pm, live on Sky Sports); Manchester United vs. Bournemouth (4.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Tuesday 1 January 2019: Everton vs. Leicester City (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports); Cardiff City vs. Tottenham Hotspur (5.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Wednesday 2 January: Newcastle United vs. Manchester United (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Thursday 3 January: Manchester City vs. Liverpool (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
EFL Championship
- Saturday 22 December: Hull City vs. Swansea City (5.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Sunday 23 December: Aston Villa vs. Leeds United (1.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Wednesday 26 December: Sheffield United vs. Derby County (3pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Tuesday 1 January: Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds United (3pm, live on Sky Sports)
Scottish Premiership
- Sunday 23 December: St. Johnstone vs. Rangers (12.15pm, live on BT Sport)
- Wednesday 26 December: Aberdeen vs. Celtic (2pm, live on BT Sport)
German Bundesliga
- Friday 21 December: Borussia Dortmund v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm, live on BT Sport)
- Saturday 22 December: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayern Munich (5.30pm, live on BT Sport)
Rugby Union
Premiership
- Friday 21 December: Worcester Warriors vs. Northampton Saints (7.45pm, live on BT Sport)
- Saturday 22 December: Exeter Chiefs vs. Saracens (3pm, live on BT Sport)
- Sunday 23 December: Wasps vs. Bath (3pm, live on BT Sport)
- Friday 28 December: Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs (7.45pm, live on BT Sport)
- Saturday 29 December: Harlequins vs. Wasps (4pm, live on BT Sport)
- Sunday 30 December: Bath vs. Leicester Tigers (3pm, live on BT Sport)
Championship
- Saturday 22 December: Richmond vs. Bedford (3.15pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Saturday 29 December: Doncaster vs. Yorkshire Carnegie (4.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
American football
NFL week 16
- Saturday 22 December: Washington Redskins at Tennessee Titans (9pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Sunday 23 December: Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers (12.30am); Houston Texans at Philadelphia Eagles (5.35pm); Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints (10.30pm)
- Monday 24 December: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks (1.10am, live on Sky Sports)
- Tuesday 25 December: Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders (1am, live on Sky Sports)
Cricket
Test matches
- 25-29 December: New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka (10pm daily start, live on Sky Sports)
- 25-29 December: Australia vs. India (11.30pm daily start, live on BT Sport)
- 26-30 December: South Africa vs. Pakistan (8am daily start, live on Sky Sports)
Darts
PDC William Hill World Darts Championship
- 13 December 2018-1 January 2019 (live on Sky Sports)
Mixed martial arts
UFC 232
- Sunday 30 December: Jones vs. Gustafsson II (3am, live on BT Sport)
Christmas TV shows
Tuesday 25 December Torvill and Dean
Two-hour biopic about Olympic figure skating champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, starring Anita Dobson and Stephen Tompkinson. (9.15pm on Christmas Day; ITV)
Netflix
Sunderland ’Til I Die
Docuseries following Sunderland through the 2017-18 season as they try to bounce back after relegation from the Premier League.
Bobby Robson: More Than a Manager
Explore the life and times of the legendary former England boss.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - losing it, pedal to the metal, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
Inspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
By The Week Junior Published
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By The Week UK Published
-
Kelly Cates to present Match of the Day
Speed Read Sky Sports presenter to take over from Gary Lineker at start of next season
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Will Gary Lineker's departure be an own goal for the BBC?
Today's Big Question Former star striker turned highest-paid presenter will leave Match of the Day after 25 years, with BBC head of sport reportedly declining to offer him a contract
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
WSL takeover: a new era for women's football?
Under the radar Split from governing body comes in wake of record crowds, TV audiences and revenue in the women's game
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Christmas and New Year sport on TV guide: football, Ashes cricket and more
feature Enjoy a feast of sporting action this festive season
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published