UIL Broadcasts for the 2026 State Football Championships will give Texas high school football families a wider access point than last season, with all 12 title games scheduled for free local television and station streaming from December 16-19, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The timing matters because the Texas playoff field is still being settled on November 2, 2026. Teams have not reached Arlington yet, but families, bands, cheer programs, school staff, alumni and local businesses can already plan around the broadcast windows that are set. The four-day championship run covers six classifications, from 1A through 6A, with Division I and Division II title games in each class.
The University Interscholastic League lists the championship event for December 16-19, 2026, at AT&T Stadium, with 12 games across the six classifications UIL championship information. Nexstar Media Group and Mission Broadcasting, Inc. are set to carry live coverage, and the games are scheduled to be free on local television stations and those stations’ streaming platforms, according to the Houston Chronicle report.
UIL Broadcasts Schedule At AT&T Stadium
Daily Title Game Windows
The championship format gives each day three title games. That structure helps families plan travel, school send-offs and watch gatherings without waiting for late-week TV assignments. All listed times are local to Arlington, Texas.
| Date | Game Times | Championship Games |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 16, 2026 | 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 7:00 PM | 1A Div. II, 1A Div. I, 2A Div. II |
| Dec. 17, 2026 | 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM | 3A Div. II, 2A Div. I, 3A Div. I |
| Dec. 18, 2026 | 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM | 5A Div. II, 4A Div. II, 6A Div. II |
| Dec. 19, 2026 | 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM | 5A Div. I, 4A Div. I, 6A Div. I |
The schedule creates a familiar Texas rhythm. Six-man football opens the week on Wednesday, December 16. The 2A and 3A games carry into Thursday, December 17. Friday, December 18, brings 4A, 5A and 6A championship action. Saturday, December 19, closes the event with 5A Division I, 4A Division I and 6A Division I.
For smaller communities, the Wednesday and Thursday slots can shape school calendars and work schedules. For larger districts in 5A and 6A, the Friday and Saturday windows can affect band travel, student section turnout and alumni watch plans across the state.
How Local TV And Streaming Access Will Work
How UIL Broadcasts Change Access
The biggest practical change is the return of traditional local television access alongside streaming. Last season’s championships were streamed exclusively on Victory+, which has since dissolved, according to the Houston Chronicle. For December 2026, the broadcast agreement adds over-the-air local television to station streaming platforms.
That matters in Texas because state title week is not only an Arlington event. It is a statewide school and community event. Grandparents in West Texas, former players in Houston, relatives in the Valley and alumni outside the state may not all use the same apps or services. Free local TV and station streams reduce friction for viewers who just want a clear path to the game.
Participating local outlets listed in the research include:
- Dallas-Fort Worth: KDAF channel 33 and CW33+
- Houston: KIAH and CW39+
- Austin: KBVO, KXAN and KXAN+
- El Paso: KTSM 9.2 Estrella TV and KTSM+
- Amarillo: KCIT, KAMR and KAMR+
- Abilene/Sweetwater: KRBC and KTAB+
- San Angelo: KSAN and KLST+
- Waco/Temple/Bryan: KYLE and FOX44+
- Wichita Falls: KJBO and KFDX+
- Tyler/Longview: KTPN and KETK+
- Lubbock: KAMC and eL+
- Midland/Odessa: KMID and Big2+
- Harlingen/Brownsville: KGBT and Valley Central+
Fans across Texas and beyond are expected to have access through participating stations’ digital streaming platforms regardless of location. That is useful for military families, college students home for winter break in another market, and relatives who want to follow a hometown team from outside Texas.
Why The Broadcast Change Matters In Texas
Community Viewing Is Part Of State Week
Texas high school football state championship week reaches beyond the teams on the field. A title game can affect pep rallies, district communications, small-town restaurant traffic and travel decisions for families deciding whether to make the drive to Arlington or watch from home.
UIL Broadcasts help serve both groups. Families who can attend still have the AT&T Stadium option. Those who cannot travel can gather at home, at school-approved watch events or with relatives without a paid championship stream. The free-access plan is especially relevant for communities several hours from Arlington, including the Panhandle, the Rio Grande Valley, the Permian Basin and East Texas.
The TV component also helps casual local viewers find the games. A championship appearance by a nearby school often pulls in people who may not have followed every playoff round. Local television gives those viewers a simpler path, especially for older fans who are more comfortable with broadcast channels than streaming apps.
For a deeper fan-planning view of the Arlington championship week, this site’s UIL State Championships schedule tracks the Dec. 16-19 setup and the broader timing around AT&T Stadium.
Planning Notes For Families, Schools And Media
What To Check Before Championship Week
Because the matchups are not set on November 2, 2026, the most useful step for families is to track the fixed pieces now and wait for school-specific details later. The dates, game windows, classifications and broadcast access plan are known. Team assignments will depend on how the playoffs unfold.
School districts should also expect communication needs to build quickly once semifinal results are final. That includes bus schedules, student attendance guidance, ticket information, band and cheer plans, and viewing details for families staying home. The broadcast setup gives districts another practical item to share once their team reaches the final.
Media credential timing is also set. Online media credential requests open on December 6, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. The deadline to request credentials is December 15, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Those dates matter for local newspapers, radio crews, school media teams and regional sports outlets that plan to cover a finalist in Arlington.
Viewers should still verify their specific station or stream during championship week. The research identifies the participating markets and outlets, but local programming notes can be easier to confirm closer to kickoff. The safest plan is to check the local station site or app once the finalist pairings are known.
What UIL Broadcasts Mean For Texas Families
A Clearer Path To The State Finals
UIL Broadcasts give the 2026 championships a broader reach at a time when many families are balancing work, school, travel and holiday schedules. The games remain centered at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, but the access plan spreads the event across living rooms, school communities and alumni circles throughout Texas.
The schedule also protects the identity of the event. The smallest classifications still get defined windows. The largest classifications still close the week. Every title game has a set place in the four-day run, and every participating community will know where its championship slot sits once the playoff bracket produces finalists.
For fans, the practical takeaway is simple: mark December 16-19, 2026, match the classification to the proper day and time, and confirm the local station or station stream once championship week arrives. The move back to free local TV access, paired with streaming through participating outlets, gives Texas high school football a wider front porch for its biggest week.
