Different sport balls, laptop with different sport players on a screen and VPN shield icon next to it
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How to Watch the 2023 European Games for Free: in Brief

Guess what’s even better than watching the European Games: watching the Euro Games for free! You can do so by using a free European Games stream and a VPN, in case your chosen stream isn’t available where you live. Simply follow these steps:

  1. Get NordVPN.
  2. Connect to a server in the U.K.
  3. Head over to the BBC iPlayer‘s live stream of the games on BBC 3.
  4. To watch, you’ll need to set up a free account, which requires a name, email and U.K. postcode.

This isn’t the only free stream of the European Games. We’ve rounded up an extensive list that you can use a VPN to access. Keep reading on below!

Icon showing different sport balls

It’s been a long four years since the last edition, but the European Games 2023 are finally here. The exciting event will be held in Krakow, Poland, from June 20 to July 2, 2023.

The 2023 Euro Games will feature almost 30 different sports, and all games featured in the Olympics offer qualification opportunities for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

But what if you’re a huge sports fan who doesn’t have access to a free network or stream to follow this exciting event?

We’ll explain how to watch the European Games for free wherever you are. You’ll just need a great VPN, like NordVPN, and an internet connection. We’ve tested over 80 VPNs to find your best bet for streaming the European Games for free!

How to Stream the European Games for Free Online in 2023

Online streaming service on a laptop with a VPN

Not all countries offer a stream or network that broadcasts the European Games 2023. Moreover, some that do might only offer paid options. Fortunately, there is an easy way to access free European Games streams wherever you are: using a VPN.

A VPN will allow you to connect to a distant server in completely different countries. By doing so, you are able to change your true IP address to an IP address from a different country and get access to any Euro Games stream you want!

A great stream that we recommend to follow the European Games is BBC iPlayer. This stream is in English, unlike many other European Games streams. We personally tested this stream, and we were able to access it hassle-free with NordVPN, as you can see below.

Screenshot of BBC iPlayer with NordVPN connected to UK server

It’s incredibly easy to use the BBC iPlayer and NordVPN to watch the Euro Games for free. Below, you’ll find the steps for doing so.

Step-by-step guide: Watch the European Games 2023 on BBC iPlayer for free with a VPN

  1. Get a NordVPN subscription. We use this provider all the time with the BBC iPlayer and other U.K.-based streaming platforms, such as Netflix UK. We’ve always experienced optimal streaming speeds with NordVPN, whether our team was physically located in Kenya, Southeast Asia, the U.S., or the Netherlands.

    Screenshot of NordVPN website homepage, with added logo in the corner, May 2023
  2. Create an account and download the right NordVPN app for your device. NordVPN offers apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, and other popular operating systems and devices. If you’re on mobile, get the app straight from the App Store or Play Store.

    Screenshot of NordVPN, download a VPN for a Windows PC or laptop
  3. Log in to your NordVPN account using the credentials you created during the sign-up process.

    Login page of NordVPN
  4. Connect to a server in the UK. You can easily do so within NordVPN’s handy interactive map. Pro tip: if your server isn’t working with BBC iPlayer, which is unlikely, you can click on the refresh button next to the “Pause” button and the disconnect button to connect to a new server.

    NordVPN software showing the VPN being connected to a server in the United Kingdom
  5. Visit the BBC iPlayer’s website and create an account or sign in if you already have one.

    Create an account form on the BBC iPlayer website
  6. Go to your email inbox and confirm your BBC account.
  7. The BBC iPlayer should now redirect you to their homepage. Alternatively, you can go to the BBC iPlayer and log in manually. Navigate to the BBC’s live feed on the BBC 3 channel to watch your favorite athletes compete in the Euro Games!

Alternative Free Euro Games Streams (No Account Required!)

Free stream alternatives icon small

Do you want to watch the European Games using a stream in another language than English? Or do you prefer a stream that doesn’t require you to create an account?

Check out these alternative free European Games streams!

Change your server

In case you decide to use one of the streams below, make sure you choose a server in the country they are based in, rather than a U.K. server.

StreamCountryLanguage
ORFAustriaGerman
VRTBelgiumFlemish
ARDGermanyGerman
ZDFGermanyGerman
RAIItalyItalian
NOSNetherlandsDutch
TVPPolandPolish
RTP PortugalPortuguese
RTVESpainSpanish
TRTTurkeyTurkish

We personally checked all of these broadcasters’ live streams to see if they are indeed free and up and running. There were no issues whatsoever. We made sure to focus on easy-to-use alternative Euro Games streams that don’t require sign-up for maximum convenience.

Again, many of these streams require the use of a VPN if you want to access them outside of the country they’re based in. We made sure all of the options that require a VPN work excellently with our preferred streaming VPN: NordVPN!

How to Watch the European Games in the USA, Canada, and Australia

Icon showing USA, Canada and Australia circle flags

Unfortunately, as of mid-June, there were no legitimate streams in the USA, Canada, or Australia, that offer access to the European Games. This is possibly due to broadcasting agreements not being reached in these countries.

Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be sad news for sports fans. After all, you can use a VPN service to access the BBC iPlayer or any of the alternatives above. We strongly recommend NordVPN, thanks to its huge server network, solid speeds, and user-friendly interface.

How to watch the European Games 2023 in Latin America

South America map with flags icon

We have some great news for sports lovers in Latin America: you can likely watch the Euro Games on Claro. Claro will broadcast the European Games in 17 out of the 21 countries and territories in Latin America. These include:

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

Are you from Brazil or another county that’s not on the list above? Or, alternatively, do you not have access to Claro? There’s no need to worry. You can just use a VPN to access one of the free streams mentioned in this article.

Scroll up for a detailed step-by-step guide on how to watch the Euro Games worldwide for free with a VPN and the BBC iPlayer or another stream. We strongly recommend using our number 1 VPN: NordVPN.

The Best VPNs to Watch the Euro Games Worldwide

Since there’s a good chance you need a VPN to watch the Euro Games for free, we’ll discuss some great options below. We’ve selected these providers based on our extensive experience with over 80+ VPNs.

We paid special attention to the following factors:

Infographic showing things to look for when choosing the best VPN to watch the Euro Games worldwide
  • A large server network: As we’ve seen, there are plenty of free Euro Games streams to choose from. We want everyone to be able to choose their favorite stream in their language. That’s why we only included VPNs with servers in many different countries.
  • Reliable servers: We made sure all of the VPNs we’ve chosen are compatible with our favorite European Games stream: the BBC iPlayer. Moreover, all of these VPNs have reliable servers that are stellar unblocking options.
  • Good streaming speeds: Watching live sports requires fast connections. As such, we ensured all our recommended providers offer excellent streaming speeds.

Below, you’ll find the three best VPNs to watch the European Games.

1. NordVPN: The top European Games VPN to catch every minute of action

Screenshot of NordVPN website homepage, with added logo in the corner, May 2023
  • 440+ servers in the UK alone for great compatibility with BBC iPlayer
  • Dedicated IPs
  • Solid speeds for sports streaming
  • Reasonably priced
  • Compatible with major operating systems, like Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iPhone, and more

NordVPN, as mentioned, is a gold medal choice if you want to watch the European Games from anywhere. This provider, which is our number 1 VPN overall, offers a huge server network of 5,500 + servers in 60 countries. This will allow you to access all of the Euro Games streams mentioned above, and more.

In particular, NordVPN offers 440+ servers in the UK alone. This is great news for our many English-speaking readers who want to use the BBC iPlayer to watch the European Games.

NordVPN also has solid streaming speeds and very reliable servers, especially when it comes to unblocking. This means you’re unlikely to face streams that take a long time to load or are blocked altogether.

If you do run into any issues, such as VPN blocks, NordVPN has got you covered as well. After all, it offers dedicated IP addresses. These are unique IP addresses that can help you circumvent VPN blocks.

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2. Surfshark: The fastest Euro Games VPN at the right price

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  • 200+ servers in four UK locations
  • Dedicated IPs (new feature!)
  • Connect an unlimited number of devices with one subscription
  • One of the most affordable premium VPNs
  • Compatible with all major operating systems

Surfshark is another outstanding VPN to use if you want to watch the European Games. This is mainly because of its blazing streaming speeds. In fact, Surfshark proved to be the fastest VPN of all the options we tested during our speed comparison.

Thanks to Surfshark’s speed, you’ll be able to watch the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony, and everything in between without any issues!

Just like NordVPN, Surfshark features a huge server network (3,200+ servers in 100 countries) and dedicated IP addresses. Both will prove useful when trying to access a European Games stream.

Moreover, Surfshark’s got 200+ servers in the UK. While not as many as NordVPN’s UK servers, this should prove to be more than enough for those who’ll use the BBC iPlayer to watch the Euro Games.

Screenshot of BBC iPlayer with Surfshark VPN connected to UK server
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3. CyberGhost: Hassle-free European Games streaming with dedicated servers

Screenshot of CyberGhost homepage, June 2023
  • 700+ servers in the UK
  • Dedicated IPs
  • Optimized streaming servers for BBC iPlayer and other Euro Games streams
  • Cheapest VPN on our list
  • Compatible with Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iPhone, routers, and more

CyberGhost might round off our list of the best Euro Games VPNs, but it’s a stellar option, nonetheless. What sets CyberGhost apart from many other VPNs, are its dedicated streaming servers. These are optimized for specific streaming services.

CyberGhost has, among others, dedicated servers for five of the Euro Games streams mentioned above: ORF, ARD, RAI, RTVE, and BBC iPlayer. CyberGhost’s optimized servers take the guesswork out of finding a compatible server for your favorite stream.

BBC iPlayer streamers will also be happy to know CyberGhost has 700+ servers in the U.K. alone. CyberGhost even outdoes NordVPN and Surfshark’s networks, offering a sprawling 9,500+ servers in 91 countries and dedicated IP addresses as well.

Screenshot of BBC iPlayer with CyberGhost VPN connected to UK server
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Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch the European Games?

We strongly advise not using a free VPN to watch the European Games. That’s because this will likely negatively impact your viewing experience. Most free VPNs have some disadvantages that make them unsuitable for streaming, much less for sports:

Infographic showing some of the disadvantages of using a free VPN service
  • Data or bandwidth limits: Most reliable free VPNs have a data or bandwidth limit that doesn’t allow for extensive streaming.
  • Low speeds: Almost all free VPNs have speeds lower than those offered by good premium VPNs. This might be due to speed restrictions, or due to server overcrowding.
  • Poor server network: Many free VPNs offer only a few server locations. These server locations might or might not cover the European Games stream you want to use.
  • VPN blocks: Generally, free VPN providers don’t offer advanced features to get around potential VPN blocks, such as dedicated IP addresses or well-maintained anonymous IP addresses.
  • Security: Some free VPNs are unsafe to use, or they might even steal your data or system resources. The best VPN providers — including NordVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost — have proven no-log policies, true anonymous IP addresses, and AES 256-bit encryption.

2023 European Games Schedule

The European Games officially kick offs on June 21, 2023, with the opening ceremony. However, some sports have events scheduled the day before, on June 20.

Check out the complete schedule of the 2023 European Games below.

DateSports that will be competed in
June 20, 2023Athletics
Beach Handball (not to be confused with Beach Volleyball)
June 21, 20233×3 Basketball
Artistic Swimming
Athletics
Beach Handball
Canoe Sprint
Cycling BMX Freestyle
Padel
June 22, 20233×3 Basketball
Artistic Swimming
Athletics
Beach Handball
Canoe Sprint
Cycling BMX Freestyle
Diving
Karate
Padel
Shooting
Sport Climbing
June 23, 20233×3 Basketball
Archery
Artistic Swimming
Athletics
Boxing
Canoe Sprint
Diving
Karate
Padel
Shooting
Sport Climbing
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
June 24, 20233×3 Basketball
Archery
Artistic Swimming
Athletics
Boxing
Canoe Sprint
Diving
Padel
Shooting
Sport Climbing
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
June 25, 2023Archery
Artistic Swimming
Athletics
Boxing
Cycling Mountain Bike
Diving
Fencing
Modern Pentathlon
Muaythai
Padel
Rugby Sevens
Shooting
Sport Climbing
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
June 26, 2023Archery
Badminton
Boxing
Breaking (breakdancing)
Diving
Fencing
Modern Pentathlon
Muaythai
Rugby Sevens
Shooting
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
June 27, 2023Archery
Badminton
Beach Soccer
Boxing
Breaking (breakdancing)
Diving
Fencing
Modern Pentathlon
Muaythai
Rugby Sevens
Shooting
Ski Jumping
Table Tennis
Triathlon
June 28, 2023Archery
Badminton
Beach Soccer
Boxing
Diving
Fencing
Modern Pentathlon
Shooting
Ski Jumping
Table Tennis
Teqball
Triathlon
June 29, 2023Archery
Badminton
Beach Soccer
Canoe Slalom
Fencing
Modern Pentathlon
Shooting
Ski Jumping
Table Tennis
Teqball
June 30, 2023Badminton
Beach Soccer
Boxing
Canoe Slalom
Fencing
Kickboxing
Shooting
Ski Jumping
Table Tennis
Teqball
July 1, 2023Badminton
Beach Soccer
Boxing
Canoe Slalom
Judo
Kickboxing
Modern Pentathlon
Shooting
Ski Jumping
Table Tennis
Teqball
Triathlon
July 2, 2023Badminton
Boxing
Canoe Slalom
Kickboxing
Shooting

Final Thoughts: Watch the European Games for Free From Anywhere

Icon showing different devices connected to a VPN

As we’ve shown you above, it’s easy to watch the Euro Games worldwide. You can even do so for free with the streams mentioned in this article. All you have to do is use a VPN to access any European Games stream you want, whether it’s based in your country or not.

A great VPN that we recommend for streaming the 2023 European Games is NordVPN. This VPN provider has a huge server network, dedicated IP addresses, a user-friendly interface, and great speeds to watch the Euro Games hassle-free. Just follow these steps:

  1. Get a NordVPN subscription.
  2. Connect to a UK server.
  3. Navigate to the BBC iPlayer or one of our alternative Euro Games Streams.

You now know how to watch the European Games, other European sports, and your favorite sporting events worldwide. You can easily do so with a VPN. Since there’s no excuse anymore to miss any sporting action, you might want to check out the following articles as well:

How to Watch the 2023 European Games for Free From Anywhere: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a specific question about the European Games or about how to watch them worldwide? Check out our FAQ below to see if we’ve already answered it. If we haven’t, be sure to  leave us a comment below.

Is the European Games every year?

The European Games are held once every four years, much like the Olympics. The first edition took place in 2015, the second in 2019, and the third will take place this year, in 2023, and so forth.

Can I watch the European Games online?

Yes, absolutely. You can watch the European Games online wherever you are. You can even do so for free, if you use the right European Games stream. To see which free streams you can use, and how to access them, check out our article on how to watch the European Games.

When are the European Games?

The 2023 European Games will start on June 20 and finish on July 2. For more information about the European Games, including what sports athletes will compete in, check out our article on how to watch the European Games.

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