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The best live sport on TV this week: 20 to 27 May
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The French Open gets under way at Roland Garros, plus football from the Premier League and the play-off finals, European rugby finals and more live sport
By Chris Miller, Feature Writer
- Published
- 20 May 2026
World number one Jannik Sinner is among the tennis superstars going for Grand Slam glory in Paris this week. The football season reaches its climax with the final day of the Premier League, the EFL play-off finals, the Scottish Cup final and two European finals, while the top French and Irish teams face off in a European rugby union final double-header in Bilbao. Other highlights include the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, Diamond League athletics, rugby league, basketball, cycling and golf.
Scroll down for your TV sporting highlights in the week ahead (Wednesday 13 to Wednesday 20 May). And don’t forget to bookmark this page for your weekly sporting picks on Virgin TV.
Wednesday 20 May
Pick of the day
Football: UEFA Europa League Final – Aston Villa v Freiburg
6pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
Peter Withe, scorer of Aston Villa’s winner in the 1982 European Cup final, is a name that will be venerated by the club for generations. Can one of the current squad step up and add their own name to the Villa pantheon? John McGinn is perhaps the most likely candidate: the Scotland midfielder has been at the club since they were in the Championship and as well as being an inspirational captain, he’s weighed in with crucial goals recently. Opponents Freiburg are surprise finalists but they’ve earned their place with impressive wins over Genk, Celta Vigo and Braga.
What else to watch:
Tennis: WTA Tour – Strasbourg Open
9.30am, Sky Sports Tennis HD (CH 520) + Sky Sports+
Tennis: ATP Tour – Hamburg Open
11am, Sky Sports Tennis HD (CH 520) + Sky Sports+
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 10
11am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Horse Racing: Live From Around The UK
1pm, Sky Sports Racing HD (CH 519)
Cricket: Indian Premier League – Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians
2.50pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Cricket: England v New Zealand – 1st Women’s T20
6pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Thursday 21 May
Pick of the day
Rugby League: Super League – Hull Kingston Rovers v Wigan Warriors
7.30pm, Sky Sports+ HD (CH 504)
After three defeats in their first four games of the 2026 season, defending champions Hull KR have reeled off a string of victories to hoist themselves up the Super League table and into play-off contention. Wigan, in contrast, surged ahead early but then lost four in a row. As well as vital points at stake at Craven Park, there’s the chance to strike a psychological blow ahead of next week’s Challenge Cup final between these two sides.
What else to watch:
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 11
11am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Cricket: IPL – Gujarat Titans v Chennai Super Kings
2.50pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Golf: PGA Tour – The Byron Nelson, Round 1
5pm, Sky Sports Golf HD (CH 505)
Baseball: MLB – Cleveland Guardians @ Detroit Tigers
6pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Darts: PDC Premier League Week 16 – Sheffield
7pm, Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510)
Football: Scottish Premiership Play-off Final 1st Leg – Partick Thistle v St Mirren
7.30pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 503)
Friday 22 May
Pick of the day
Cricket: Men’s T20 Blast – Somerset v Hampshire Hawks
6.25pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Last September’s T20 Blast finals day was a triumph for Somerset, as they knocked Lancashire out in the semi-final and then successfully chased down the target of 195 set by Hampshire, thanks in large part to 94 off 58 balls from player of the match Will Smeed. And the champions are in action on the first day of the new season, with Hampshire providing the opposition again. It’s a Blast double-header at Taunton: the women’s teams face off earlier on Sky Sports Cricket.
What else to watch:
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 12
11am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Cricket: Women’s T20 Blast – Somerset v Hampshire Hawks
2.25pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Netball: Super League – Nottingham Forest v Manchester Thunder
7pm, Sky Sports Mix HD (CH 511)
Rugby Union: European Challenge Cup Final – Montpellier v Ulster
7pm, Premier Sports 1 HD (CH 528) + 7.30pm, ITV4 HD (CH 118)
Rugby League: Super League – Leigh Leopards v Hull FC
7.30pm, Sky Sports+ HD (CH 504)
Motorsport: Formula One Canadian Grand Prix – Sprint Qualifying
9pm, Sky Sports F1® HD (CH 507)
Saturday 23 May
Pick of the day
Rugby Union: European Champions Cup Final – Leinster v Bordeaux-Bègles
1.45pm, ITV4 HD (CH 118) + Premier Sports 1 HD (CH 528)
Leinster are among the most successful teams in this competition with four championships but since their victory in 2018, they’ve been runners-up an almost unbelievable four times. That included three consecutive final defeats to French clubs and the bad news for the Blues is that they’re up against reigning champs Bordeaux on Saturday. Can they turn their fortunes around in Bilbao?
What else to watch:
Football: WSL Relegation Play-off – Charlton Athletic v Leicester City
12pm, Sky One HD (CH 109) + Sky Sports Premier League HD (CH 502) + 12.15pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)
Athletics: Diamond League Xiamen
12pm, Apps > BBC iPlayer
Cricket: England v New Zealand – 2nd Women’s T20
2pm, 5 HD (CH 105) + Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Football: Scottish Cup Final – Celtic v Dunfermline Athletic
2pm, Premier Sports 2 HD (CH 529) + 2.15pm, Apps > BBC iPlayer
Football: EFL Championship Play-off Final – Hull City v Southampton
3pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 502)
Football: UEFA Women’s Champions League Final – Barcelona v Lyon
4pm, Apps > Disney+ + 4.30pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)
Sunday 24 May
Pick of the day
Football: Premier League – Final Day
2pm, Sky Sports Premier League (CH 502) + Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510) + 4pm, Sky Sports+
The title race may be done and dusted after Man City’s draw at Bournemouth handed the Premier League glory to Arsenal, but there’s still plenty to sort out on a thrilling final day. The European qualification placings are very much in play: the top six have secured their spots but below that, every team down to Fulham in 13th are theoretically in contention. At the bottom, Spurs are favourites to stay up thanks to a two-point cushion over West Ham and a superior goal difference, but you never know… Sky Sports has all the final-day action across its channels and Sky Sports+ as all the matches kick off simultaneously at 4pm. Build-up starts at 2pm.
What else to watch:
Tennis: French Open At Roland-Garros
9.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 524) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
Football: EFL League One Play-off Final – Stockport County v Bolton Wanderers
12pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 502)
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 15
12pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 523)
Motorsport: Indy 500 – Race
3pm, Sky Sports F1® HD (CH 507) + Sky Sports Mix HD (CH 511)
Motorsport: Formula One Canadian Grand Prix – Race
7.30pm, Sky Sports F1® HD (CH 507)
Basketball: WNBA – Dallas Wings @ New York Liberty
8pm, Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510)
Bank Holiday Monday
Pick of the day
Football: EFL League Two Play-off Final – Salford City v Notts County
2pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 502)
After just missing out on automatic promotion, both these teams will be laser-focused on success in the play-off final at Wembley. Salford arrived in the EFL with a fanfare and a certain glamour in 2019 thanks to their famous owners (ex-Man Utd stars), but they’ve been mired in League Two ever since. Notts County, whose far longer history includes 30 seasons in English football’s top flight, have been steadily improving since their promotion from the National League in 2023 and lost in the semi-finals last year. It’s going to be a tense one for the fans.
What else to watch:
Tennis: French Open At Roland-Garros
9.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 524) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
Motorsport: British GT Championship – Oulton Park
10.35am + 3.15pm, Sky Sports F1® HD (CH 507)
Cricket: England v New Zealand – 3rd Women’s T20
2pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Pool: Ultimate Pool Pairs Cup – Week 9
6pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Football: Scottish Premiership Play-off Final 2nd Leg – St Mirren v Partick Thistle
7.30pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 503)
Baseball: MLB – New York Yankees @ Kansas City Royals
8.30pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 522)
Tuesday 26 May
Pick of the day
Tennis: French Open At Roland-Garros
9.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 524) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
TNT Sports is your destination for live action from Stade Roland-Garros in Paris as the world’s top players battle for the prestigious title. Having achieved three-quarters of a career Grand Slam, Jannik Sinner will aim to take this opportunity to complete the full set with defending champ Carlos Alcaraz injured. Coco Gauff holds the women’s singles title but Ukrainian veteran Elina Svitolina is the player in form, having claimed the Italian Open title last week. Today is the final day of opening-round matches.
What else to watch:
Basketball: WNBA – Portland Fire @ New York Liberty
1am, Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510)
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 16
12.30pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 523)
Horse Racing: Live From Around The UK
1pm, Sky Sports Racing HD (CH 519)
Cricket: IPL – Qualifier 1
2.50pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Cricket: Women’s T20 Blast – Hampshire Hawks v Essex
2.55pm, Sky Sports Mix HD (CH 511)
Cricket: Men’s T20 Blast – Hampshire Hawks v Essex
7pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Wednesday 27 May
Pick of the day
Football: UEFA Conference League Final – Crystal Palace v Rayo Vallecano
6pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
Based in an unglamorous but vibrant working-class district of a capital city. Overshadowed by more successful city rivals. In their first ever European final. All these descriptions apply to both the teams in this year’s Conference League showdown. Can coach Oliver Glasner augment his already impressive legacy by leading Palace to their second major trophy in as many seasons? Or can Madrid underdogs Rayo cap their recent rise by nabbing the prize? Whoever wins, expect the fan celebrations to be wild.
What else to watch:
Basketball: NBA Western Conference Finals Game 4 – San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder
1am, Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510)
Tennis: French Open At Roland-Garros
9.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 524) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
Rugby League: Men’s State Of Origin Game 1 – New South Wales Blues v Queensland Maroons
10am, Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510)
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 17
10.45am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Cricket: Ireland v New Zealand – Men’s Test Match, Day 1
11am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 522)
Cricket: IPL – Eliminator
2.50pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
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