If you’ve turned on your Sky box recently and found that your go‑to channel has moved — or simply isn’t where it used to be — you’re not alone. February 2026 brought the biggest reshuffle to the Sky electronic programme guide in years, headlined by the return of Sky One and a wave of renumbering that touches every one of the 6.3 million Sky Q households in the UK and Ireland.

4 related posts

Channel changes in 2026: 108 confirmed moves, adds, renames as of February 2026 ·
Sky Q users affected: 6.3 million households in UK and Ireland ·
New Sky One relaunch date: 24 February 2026 ·
Sky channel lineup size: 300+ standard channels across all packages

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • More channel movements expected around June 2026 (Sky Community (future changes thread))
  • Sky Glass and Stream become the default platforms for new customers (Sky Community (future changes thread))

Four key figures capture the pulse of this year’s EPG reset:

Sky Q discontinuation New Sky Q subscriptions halted late 2025 (Sky Group)
Sky One relaunch date 24 February 2026 (Broadband TV News (industry trade))
Channel moves in 2026 108 so far (aggregated by Sat & PC Guy (EPG tracker))
Sky Essential TV monthly fee £15 as of February 2026

Are Sky discontinuing Sky Q?

  • Sky stopped offering Sky Q to new customers in late 2025 (Sky Group).
  • Existing Sky Q subscribers can continue using the service — no immediate switch is forced.
  • Sky Glass (integrated TV) and Sky Stream (puck‑based streaming) are the official replacement platforms.

Why is Sky phasing out Sky Q?

Sky is moving to a streaming‑first future. Sky Glass and Sky Stream allow software updates without needing a new set‑top box, making it easier to roll out EPG changes. The shift was confirmed by a Sky Group statement that highlighted the need for “a simpler, more agile platform”.

Will my Sky Q box stop working?

There is no announced cut‑off date for existing Sky Q boxes. Sky Community moderators have said that current customers “can continue using Sky Q for the foreseeable future”. However, new features and channel updates will increasingly target Glass and Stream.

Why this matters

For the 6.3 million Sky Q households, the phase‑out means you won’t be forced to upgrade today — but you won’t see any new platform features either. The trade‑off: stick with what you know, or move to Glass/Stream for future‑proofing.

The pattern: Sky Q users have time to adapt, but the eventual migration to streaming platforms is inevitable.

What are the new Sky channels?

What new channels are coming to Sky in 2026?

The headline addition is the return of Sky One, which will occupy channel 106 from 24 February 2026 (Advanced Television). Alongside that, several existing channels were renumbered to make room:

  • Sky Comedy: moves to 113 (Sky Group)
  • Sky Documentaries: moves to 114 (Sky Group)
  • Sky Crime: moves to 121 (Sky Group)
  • Sky Arts: moves to 123 (Sky Group)

Broadband TV News reported that Sky Showcase and Sky Max are folded into the new Sky One channel, effectively merging three brands into one.

Sky One relaunch details

Sky One returns to its original EPG slot 106, the same position it held before being replaced by Sky Showcase in 2021 (The Desk (US media outlet)). Programming includes new shows such as The Dyers’ Caravan Holiday (ISPreview (broadband news)). No +1 variant has been announced (Sky Community).

“Sky One is coming back as the new home of Sky’s unmissable entertainment.”

— Sky Group, 3 February 2026

Why have I lost channels on Sky?

If some channels disappeared from your guide, the most likely cause is the January‑February 2026 renumbering. Sat & PC Guy documented multiple closures and number changes during that period. A retune usually restores missing entries.

How to fix missing channels on Sky Q

  1. Press Home on your Sky Q remote.
  2. Go to Settings → Signal & Network → Retune.
  3. Follow the on‑screen prompts to rescan channels.

This will rebuild your channel list. If channels remain missing, check the Sky Community changes thread for the latest EPG updates.

Channel number changes on Sky Glass and Stream

Sky Glass and Stream users also saw the February shake‑up, but with a slightly different numbering set. Sky Group’s announcement confirmed that the same channel names moved but the EPG layout on those platforms follows a streaming‑first logic (fewer numbers, more discovery grids).

The upshot

For Glass and Stream owners, a missing channel usually just means it relocated to a different category tab — there’s rarely a full retune needed. But if you still can’t find a channel, Sky’s Community forum is the fastest source of live updates.

The implication: Glass and Stream users face less friction during EPG reshuffles than Sky Q households.

What will replace Sky Q?

Sky Glass vs Sky Q vs Sky Stream

Three platforms, one trade‑off: hardware ownership vs. streaming flexibility.

  • Sky Q: set‑top box with satellite dish, no longer sold to new customers.
  • Sky Glass: all‑in‑one 4K TV with built‑in Sky streaming, no dish required.
  • Sky Stream: small streaming puck that plugs into any TV, also dish‑free.

Broadband TV News noted that Sky is “aggressively pushing” Glass and Stream as the default options for any new subscription.

Cost comparison of Sky platforms

Sky hasn’t published a full price table for 2026, but typical monthly costs (as of February 2026) are:

Platform Upfront cost Monthly fee (Ultimate TV) Contract
Sky Q £0 (discontinued for new sign‑ups) £46 18‑month
Sky Glass £0 or £10‑£20/month for TV hardware £44‑£60 (depending on TV size) 24‑month
Sky Stream £0 £29‑£46 None (rolling monthly)

Prices from Sky Group and aggregator reports. The shift to streaming removes the need for a satellite dish but ties you to broadband.

Upsides of Sky Q

  • No broadband dependency for core channels
  • Existing hardware works without further cost
  • Familiar interface for long‑time users

Downsides of Sky Q

  • Discontinued for new customers
  • No new platform features
  • Requires satellite dish installation

Upsides of Glass/Stream

  • No dish required
  • Software updates without new hardware
  • Rolling contract options (Stream)

Downsides of Glass/Stream

  • Dependent on reliable broadband
  • Higher upfront cost for Glass TV
  • Longer contract for Glass

The catch: choosing Glass or Stream now locks you into Sky’s streaming ecosystem, but ensures you receive future EPG updates without hardware swaps.

What channels are on the basic Sky TV package?

Sky Essential TV channel list

Sky’s entry‑level linear package, Sky Essential TV, costs £15/month as of February 2026 and includes around 30 channels:

  • BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5
  • Sky One (from 24 February)
  • Sky News, Sky Arts (channel 123)
  • Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Discovery, and others

A full PDF channel list is maintained on Sky Community. Note that Sky Essential TV does not include sports, movies, or the full Sky Atlantic lineup. For those interested in future gaming consoles, you can find information on the PS6 release date.

Sky Q channels list free

The “free” channels on Sky Q (i.e., those included without a subscription after the Freesat‑style card) mirror the Free‑to‑Air lineup: BBC, ITV, C4, C5, and a handful of others. Sat & PC Guy listed the full January 2026 free‑to‑air roster.

“Sky Essential TV is the most affordable way to get Sky’s linear channels without committing to a full sports or cinema bundle.”

— Advice from Sky Group

What is happening in Sky in 2026?

Sky channel changes February 2026

February 2026 was the busiest month for Sky EPG moves in years. The confirmed changes, as per Sky Group and Advanced Television, include the Sky One relaunch and the renumbering of four Sky‑branded channels. Aggregator Sat & PC Guy counted 18 changes in January alone and a further 90 in February.

Sky channel changes June 2026

Sky has not published a fixed schedule, but a Sky Community thread on April 2026 changes signals that summer moves are likely. The thread mentions Sky Family HD moving from 306 to 304 and Sky Action HD from 307 to 306, with Sky Animation HD closing permanently. Expect a similar pattern of consolidation through the year.

Bottom line: 2026 is a transitional year for Sky. Existing Sky Q users can stay put but won’t get new platform features. New subscribers should pick Sky Glass or Stream. The EPG will continue to shift as Sky streamlines its channel lineup.

The pattern: Sky is systematically reducing channel overlap and moving to a streaming‑first grid.

Timeline: key Sky channel changes in 2026

  • January 2026 — First wave of EPG changes; some channels renumbered (Sat & PC Guy)
  • 28 January 2026 — Sky publishes weekly changes list on Community forum (Sky Community)
  • 24 February 2026 — Sky One relaunches on channel 106; Comedy, Documentaries, Crime, Arts move (Sky Group)
  • February 2026 — Multiple channel number updates across Sky Glass/Stream (Advanced Television)
  • June 2026 (expected) — Next batch of channel changes, with at least two moves and one closure confirmed (Sky Community)

The implication: the EPG reshuffle is not a one‑off but part of a broader realignment that will continue through the year.

What’s clear and what’s not

Confirmed facts

  • Sky One returns on 24 February 2026 at channel 106 (Sky Group)
  • Sky Q stopped being sold to new customers in late 2025 (Sky Group)
  • Sky Comedy to 113; Sky Documentaries to 114; Sky Crime to 121; Sky Arts to 123 (Sky Group)

What’s unclear

  • Exact date of final Sky Q sunset for existing users
  • Scope and exact date of June 2026 changes
  • Future pricing for Sky Essential TV beyond 2026
  • Total number of channel changes in 2026 – aggregator data may not be final
  • Closure of Sky Animation HD – reported in community thread but not officially confirmed

The pattern: most confirmed changes come from official Sky sources, while timeline details rely on community and aggregator reports.

Quotes from the experts

“Sky One is coming back as the new home of Sky’s unmissable entertainment.”

— Sky Group (official announcement)

“At least one channel closure and several numbering moves have already been confirmed for the summer, suggesting the reshuffle isn’t over.”

— Sky Community (moderator post)

What this means for you

For the average Sky Q household, the 2026 changes are manageable — a retune fixes most lost channels, and Sky One’s return is a positive. But the bigger story is Sky’s strategic pivot: the satellite dish is being phased out in favour of IP‑based boxes. If you’re a Sky Q user who plans to stay put, expect yearly EPG shuffles. If you’re shopping for a new subscription, Sky Glass or Stream are the only options. For the 6.3 million households on Sky Q, the choice is clear: adapt to the new numbering, or prepare to migrate to a streaming platform within the next 18 months.

Additional sources

youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, tvchannellists.com, evrimagaci.org

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a new Sky box if I have Sky Q?

No. Existing Sky Q boxes continue to work. However, Sky no longer sells Sky Q to new customers. If you want to upgrade, you’ll be moved to Sky Glass or Sky Stream.

How do I retune my Sky Q box after channel changes?

Press Home → Settings → Signal & Network → Retune. Follow the prompts. This rebuilds your channel list.

Will Sky Q still work after the phase-out?

Yes, there is no announced cutoff date for existing boxes. Sky Community moderators have said it will continue to work “for the foreseeable future.”

What is the cheapest Sky TV package in 2026?

Sky Essential TV at £15/month offers 30+ channels including BBC, ITV, C4, and Sky One. It does not include sports or movies.

Can I get Sky channels without a dish?

Yes. Sky Glass and Sky Stream both stream channels over broadband — no satellite dish required.

Is Sky Glass the same as Sky Q?

No. Sky Glass is an all‑in‑one TV with integrated streaming; Sky Q is a satellite set‑top box. Both access the same Sky content, but the hardware and delivery method differ.

How often does Sky change channel numbers?

Sky typically updates its EPG two to three times a year. 2026 saw a major reshuffle in February, with another wave expected in June.

The implication: most concerns about the Sky Q phase-out are addressed by straightforward retunes and clear package options.

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