Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain will not be available on free-to-air television in the United Kingdom for the first time in more than three decades. TNT Sports, the current UK rights holder, has confirmed that it will maintain its paywall for the match scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30.

This decision marks a departure from previous years when TNT Sports allowed free access to the European finals since acquiring the broadcast rights in 2015. Prior to that, the final had been broadcast free-to-air by ITV following the competition’s rebranding in 1992. Fans will now need to subscribe to TNT Sports for £31.99 per month or access the match via HBO Max for £4.99 monthly.

The Champions League final is one of three major European club finals featuring English teams this season, with Aston Villa facing Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul, and Crystal Palace meeting Rayo Vallecano in the Europa Conference League final in Leipzig. Like the Champions League final, both of these matches will also be restricted behind TNT Sports’ paywall.

While UEFA has expressed frustration over the lack of free-to-air coverage for these high-profile matches, the UK Government does not classify the Champions League final among the key sporting events that must be broadcast free-to-air, often referred to as the sport’s "crown jewels."

Looking ahead, TNT Sports will lose the rights to all three major European club competitions at the end of the 2026-27 season. Paramount won the bid for the Champions League rights beginning in the 2027-28 season, while Sky Sports secured the Europa League and Europa Conference League packages.