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This year has already brought us some of the biggest events in sports, from the Winter Olympics to the FIFA World Cup. Now, a new contender is entering the arena: the 2026 Patriot Games. The event, an idea brought forth by Donald Trump, “Will bring together outstanding young Americans from across the nation to compete, inspire, and showcase the values that have shaped the United States for nearly 250 years,” per the official website.
The Games will feature athletes ages 14 to 17 — one boy and one girl from every state — for a total of 120 students competing for a $250,000 scholarship prize. The event airs on ESPN+ from Aug. 9 to 11, and if you want to tune in but aren’t sure how to access the service, we’ll show you how to watch The 2026 Patriot Games online for free with a trial to DirecTV or Fubo.
At a Glance: How to Watch The 2026 Patriot Games Online for Free
Events will consist of activities you might remember from elementary or high school — think dodgeball, kickball, tug-of-war, and obstacle courses. Trump has made his stance on the competition clear, stating, “There will be no men playing in women’s sports. You’re not going to see that.”
The 2026 Patriot Games has drawn no shortage of online scrutiny, with many social media users comparing it to The Hunger Games, where one boy and one girl are selected as “tributes” to represent their district. Even the official Democratic Party Twitter account nodded to the comparison, along with prominent Democratic leaders like Gavin Newsom.
Where to Watch The 2026 Patriot Games Online for Free, Livestream
If you want to tune in and see what all the fuss is about, you can watch The 2026 Patriot Games on ESPN+ for free with a trial to DirecTV or Fubo.
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DirecTV
➤ $64.99/month (best plan)
➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 185+ channels
The easiest way to get ESPN+ is with a trial to DirecTV. ESPN+ is included in the platform’s MySports Genre Pack and its higher-tier Signature packages. You’ll get a five-day free trial (which is plenty of time to watch the entirety of the event), after which your price goes up to $64.99 per month, with your first month discounted to $49.99.
Fubo
➤ $54.99/month
➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 300+ channels
Another great option is Fubo, which just brought back its free trial. ESPN+ is available in all of Fubo’s plans, except the Latino plan, and is a simple way to access over 200 channels, including the network where The 2026 Patriot Games will be streaming. After the trial ends, your cost is $55.99 per month.
The 2026 Patriot Games Date, Time
The 2026 Patriot Games premiere on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. EST and should wrap up with the winner on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 5 p.m. EST.
The 2026 Patriot Games Primetime Special Date, Time
In addition to the Patriot Games, ABC will air a primetime special on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 9 p.m. EST, promising highlights from the event. You can watch for free via a trial to DirecTV.
The 2026 Patriot Games Event Schedule
You can find the full schedule of events for The 2026 Patriot Games below.
Sunday, Aug. 9
- 10:00 a.m. — Boys Presidential Qualifier
- 1:00 p.m. — Girls Presidential Qualifier
- 3:00 p.m. — Boys Dodgeball
- 4:00 p.m. — Boys Kickball
- 6:00 p.m. — Girls Dodgeball
- 7:00 p.m. — Girls Kickball
Monday, Aug. 10
- 11:00 a.m. — Boys Varsity Circuit
- 11:00 a.m. — Boys Operation Endurance
- 2:00 p.m. — Girls Varsity Circuit
- 2:00 p.m. — Girls Operation Endurance
Tuesday, Aug. 11
- 9:00 a.m. — Tug of War (Boys & Girls)
- 10:00 a.m. — Pop A Shot (Boys & Girls)
- 5:00 p.m. — Semifinal, Final & Closing
Thursday, Aug. 13
- 9:00 p.m. — ABC primetime special/recap
