Ulster Rugby fixtures 2026/27 – complete URC + European guide
Ulster Rugby’s 2026/27 fixture list is set, with 18 United Rugby Championship matches and four confirmed EPCR Challenge Cup pool games across the regular season.
This page is the Rugby Ulster season hub for the senior men’s competitive fixtures. It will be kept updated if dates, kick-off times or venues change during the campaign.
Time-zone guide: The first kick-off time shown is always the time in the UK and Ireland. We label it BST during British Summer Time and GMT during the winter. For overseas fixtures, the venue-local kick-off is also shown separately. In the Republic of Ireland, BST corresponds to Irish Standard Time (IST) during summer; GMT applies in winter.
Ulster Rugby URC fixtures 2026/27
Ulster open the URC season at home to Edinburgh Rugby on Friday 25 September before travelling to Glasgow in Round 2. The first interprovincial game follows against Munster at Affidea Stadium on Saturday 10 October.
| Round | Fixture | Date | UK/Ireland KO | Venue local KO | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby | Friday 25 September 2026 | 19:45 BST | 19:45 BST | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 2 | Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 3 October 2026 | 19:45 BST | 19:45 BST | Scotstoun Stadium |
| Round 3 | Ulster Rugby v Munster Rugby | Saturday 10 October 2026 | 17:30 BST | 17:30 BST | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 4 | Vodacom Bulls v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 24 October 2026 | 12:45 BST | 13:45 SAST | Loftus Versfeld |
| Round 5 | DHL Stormers v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 31 October 2026 | 12:45 GMT | 14:45 SAST | DHL Cape Town Stadium |
| Round 6 | Cardiff Rugby v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 5 December 2026 | 15:00 GMT | 15:00 GMT | Cardiff Arms Park |
| Round 7 | Ulster Rugby v Ospreys | Friday 18 December 2026 | 19:45 GMT | 19:45 GMT | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 8 | Ulster Rugby v Connacht Rugby | Sunday 27 December 2026 | 17:30 GMT | 17:30 GMT | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 9 | Leinster Rugby v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 2 January 2027 | 19:45 GMT | 19:45 GMT | Laya Arena |
| Round 10 | Ulster Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks | Friday 22 January 2027 | 19:45 GMT | 19:45 GMT | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 11 | Connacht Rugby v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 30 January 2027 | 19:45 GMT | 19:45 GMT | Dexcom Stadium |
| Round 12 | Dragons RFC v Ulster Rugby | Friday 26 February 2027 | 19:45 GMT | 19:45 GMT | Rodney Parade |
| Round 13 | Ulster Rugby v Zebre Parma | Saturday 20 March 2027 | 15:00 GMT | 15:00 GMT | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 14 | Benetton v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 27 March 2027 | 19:45 GMT | 20:45 CET | Stadio Comunale di Monigo |
| Round 15 | Ulster Rugby v Scarlets | Saturday 17 April 2027 | 19:45 BST | 19:45 BST | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 16 | Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby | Friday 23 April 2027 | 19:45 BST | 19:45 BST | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 17 | Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 8 May 2027 | 17:15 BST | 17:15 IST | Thomond Park |
| Round 18 | Ulster Rugby v Lions | Friday 14 May 2027 | 19:45 BST | 19:45 BST | Affidea Stadium |
Ulster Rugby EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures 2026/27
Ulster are in Challenge Cup Pool 1 alongside Toyota Cheetahs, USAP, Dragons RFC, Aviron Bayonnais and Zebre Parma. Their four confirmed pool matches begin away to Zebre in October, followed by home games against Bayonne and Dragons and a January trip to Perpignan.
| Round | Fixture | Date | UK/Ireland KO | Venue local KO | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Zebre Parma v Ulster Rugby | Saturday 17 October 2026 | 15:15 BST | 16:15 CEST | Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi |
| Round 2 | Ulster Rugby v Aviron Bayonnais | Saturday 12 December 2026 | 13:00 GMT | 13:00 GMT | Affidea Stadium |
| Round 3 | USAP v Ulster Rugby | Sunday 10 January 2027 | 13:00 GMT | 14:00 CET | Stade Aimé Giral |
| Round 4 | Ulster Rugby v Dragons RFC | Saturday 16 January 2027 | 15:15 GMT | 15:15 GMT | Affidea Stadium |
Key dates in Ulster’s 2026/27 season
- URC opener: Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby, Friday 25 September, 19:45 BST.
- First interpro: Ulster Rugby v Munster Rugby, Saturday 10 October, 17:30 BST.
- European opener: Zebre Parma v Ulster Rugby, Saturday 17 October, 15:15 BST (16:15 CEST in Parma).
- Christmas interpro: Ulster Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Sunday 27 December, 17:30 GMT.
- New Year derby: Leinster Rugby v Ulster Rugby, Saturday 2 January, 19:45 GMT.
- Final scheduled URC regular-season game: Ulster Rugby v Lions, Friday 14 May, 19:45 BST.
Are the Ulster fixtures final?
These are the currently confirmed competitive fixtures. Rugby schedules can change because of broadcast selections, competition requirements or venue arrangements, so this guide will be updated whenever an official change is announced.