Euro 2025 will be broadcast live by the BBC and ITV after the two broadcasters agreed to share the rights. The tournament will be the first Women’s European Championship to be held since the UK government added the competition to its so-called “crown jewels” list of major sporting events that must be broadcast live, free-to-air. It joined events such as the Olympics and Paralympics, the Grand National and Wimbledon.

Switzerland will host the 16‑team competition which will start on 2 July. England, the defending champions, have qualified for the finals next summer. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will hope to qualify via the playoffs, which begin in October.

For the 2017 tournament Channel 4 secured exclusive rights to show the games live and for the most recent edition in 2022 – delayed by 12 months because of the pandemic – the BBC had exclusive rights in the UK. Now it has teamed up with ITV in a similar arrangement to major men’s international tournaments. The two broadcasters jointly covered the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Both will show the final live on Sunday 27 July 2025. Games will be shown on BBC television and iPlayer while ITV will divide matches between ITV1 and ITV4. The proportion of the fixtures shown live on the primary channels has not yet been disclosed.

Viewing fixtures for women’s international fixtures have soared in recent years with more than 17 million viewers watching the Euro final two years ago when England beat Germany after extra time on BBC One. A peak audience of more than 12 million tuned in to the World Cup final last summer between the Lionesses and Spain in Sydney, which was a morning kick-off for UK audiences.

“BBC Sport has been a longtime supporter of the women’s game and the BBC is committed to bringing the nation together for the biggest sporting moments,” the new director of BBC Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, said. “We’re excited that we can bring another major tournament to audiences next summer.”

Niall Sloane, ITV’s director of sport, said: “Following the success of the Women’s World Cup last year, which drew big audiences to ITV across the tournament, we are looking forward to showcasing next year’s Uefa Women’s Euro.”