How to watch The Grand Sumo Tournament on BBC iPlayer (it's free)

Wakatakakage competes against Tamawashi during day one of The Grand Sumo Tournament at Royal Albert Hall on October 15, 2025 in London, England. This is the first time since the 1991 event at the Royal Albert Hall that an official Five Day Basho tournament will take place outside of Japan. The tournament will host the most accomplished and elite sumos, including those who have reached the top rank of Yokozuna, and showcase Japan's rich cultural history and traditions.

(Image credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

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Watch your stream from anywhere

You can watch The Grand Sumo Tournament live on BBC iPlayer, streaming for free from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October. The stream will include in-depth coverage and English commentary across an entertaining weekend of sumo wrestling.

For the first time since 1991, the event is being held in London at the iconic Royal Albert Hall. Grand champion Ōnosato is the favorite for the tournament, but he is sure to face competition from the likes of Kotozakura and Hoshōryū.

But how can you watch The Grand Sumo Tournament on BBC iPlayer from anywhere? Can you get the free stream in Canada and the U.S. too? And what phones is BBC iPlayer available on?

Here's our full (and quick) guide to how to watch The Grand Sumo Tournament on BBC iPlayer...

How to watch The Grand Sumo Tournament live streams for free

Sumo fans in the U.K. can watch The Grand Sumo Tournament live for FREE on the BBC.

Coverage will be on the red button, but for the most extensive broadcast you want to head over to BBC iPlayer.

To watch BBC iPlayer: Visit the BBC iPlayer website or download the app (iOS/Android).

BBC iPlayer is FREE - but you will need to create an account, have a valid U.K. postcode (e.g. SE1 7PB) and a TV license.

OUTSIDE THE U.K.? USE NORDVPN TO UNLOCK YOUR STREAM!

How to watch The Grand Sumo Tournament live streams from anywhere

Although BBC iPlayer is only available to British residents, those who are from the U.K. but visiting the likes of the U.S. and Canada can stream it through the use of VPN (Virtual Private Network).

The software sets your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So, it's ideal for tennis fans away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:

How to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN

How To Watch iPlayer with a VPN - YouTube

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What does BBC's coverage of The Grand Sumo Tournament include?

BBC iPlayer will have in-depth coverage of The Grand Sumo Tournament showing all the action from 15-19 October.

Coverage begins at 7:30 P.M. BST / 2:30 P.M. ET / 3:30 A.M. (Following Day) JST each day.

And if you miss any of the action, BBC Sport also has a live blog showing in-play clips.

Remember. You will need NordVPN to access your Grand Sumo Tournament streams if you're outside of the U.K. right now.

What devices can I watch BBC iPlayer on?

Amazon Fire (Tablets, Cube, Stick, TVs)
Android TV (please note: some models aren’t supported)
Android (Mobile & Tablet) - Android 7.0 and above
Apple TV (tvOS 14 or later)
Google TV (Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield)
Freely
Freesat (please note: some models aren’t supported)
Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes) (some models aren’t supported)
iOS (iPhone & iPad) - iOS 14 and above
LG Smart TVs (2016-2024)
NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (minimum firmware v11.5.0)
PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
Roku (Stick & Roku-OS powered TVs, minimum firmware v11.5.0)
Samsung Smart TVs (2017 and above)
Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puck
Virgin Media (360, Stream, TiVo)
YouView (BT, Humax, Sony, TalkTalk)
Xbox (One, Series X, Series S)

Is BBC iPlayer a good place to watch The Grand Sumo Tournament?

The BBC offers unparalleled access to a host of events including Wimbledon, The Six Nations and The FA Cup.

They will now be providing full coverage of The Grand Sumo Tournament.

Internet speed wise, 1.5 Mbps is recommended for standard definition and 5 Mbps for high definition (HD).

The Grand Sumo Tournament Schedule

Wednesday 15 October - 7:30 P.M. - 10:10 P.M.
Thursday 16 October - 7:30 P.M. - 10:10 P.M.
Friday 17 October - 7:30 P.M. - 10:10 P.M.
Saturday 18 October - 7:30 P.M. - 10:15 P.M.
Sunday 19 October - 7:30 P.M. - 10:15 P.M.

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Jacob is a journalist and editor based in the UK. He began his career at the University of Derby where he achieved a First-Class Honours in Specialist Sports Journalism. He has written articles for Football League World and previously worked at Yeovil Town Football Club. His specialties are all things sport and streaming services.

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