Look, the NFL broadcast map is a mess. Trying to figure out how to watch the Dolphins game in 2026 shouldn't require a degree in logistics, but here we are. You've got local blackouts, rotating streaming rights, and those annoying "national" games that suddenly aren't on the channel you thought they were. It's frustrating. One minute you're ready to see Tyreek Hill blow past a secondary, and the next, you’re staring at a "not available in your area" screen that feels like a personal insult.
The reality is that Dolphins fans are scattered everywhere. If you're in South Florida, your life is relatively easy. If you're an expat living in Seattle or Chicago? It’s a battle.
Why local broadcasts are still king for Fins fans
Most of the time, your best bet is still the old-school way. If the Dolphins are playing a standard Sunday afternoon game and you live in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market, CBS (usually) or FOX will carry the game. It’s free. All you need is a $20 digital antenna from Amazon. Seriously. People forget that over-the-air signals are often higher quality than compressed cable feeds. No lag. No "spoiler" texts from your friend because their stream is thirty seconds ahead.
But things get weird when the Dolphins play a team from a different conference. Or when the game is cross-flexed. The NFL moved to a model where they can swap games between CBS and FOX to ensure the best matchups reach the widest audiences. This means you can't just assume "AFC equals CBS" anymore. You’ve got to check the weekly coverage maps. Sites like 506 Sports are basically the Bible for this—they release color-coded maps every Wednesday that show exactly which part of the country gets which game.
If you’re a cord-cutter, you’re probably looking at services like YouTube TV, FuboTV, or Hulu + Live TV. They all carry the local affiliates. They’re expensive though. Prices have crept up toward $75 or $80 a month, which is basically just cable with a different name. Fubo is generally the favorite for sports fanatics because it carries a wider array of regional sports networks, but for a Dolphins game specifically, any of the big three will get the job done as long as you’re in the local broadcast zone.
Navigating the nightmare of out-of-market games
This is where it gets expensive. If you live in New York and want to watch the Dolphins, you aren't getting them on local TV unless they're playing the Jets or the Giants. You have one official option: NFL Sunday Ticket.
Now that YouTube has the rights, the experience is better than the DirecTV days, but your wallet will feel it. They’ve started offering "Team Picks" occasionally, but usually, you’re stuck buying the whole package. It’s a lot of money to spend if you only care about one team.
There is a sneaky workaround if you’re tech-savvy: NFL+ Premium. It’s much cheaper. But—and this is a big "but"—it only allows you to watch out-of-market games as replays after the live broadcast ends. You can watch live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet, but you can’t cast them to your TV. It’s a mobile-only experience for live stuff. Honestly, watching a whole game on a six-inch screen is a special kind of torture, but if you're on a budget, it beats missing the game entirely.
The primetime scramble: Amazon, Peacock, and Netflix
The NFL has sold its soul to the streaming giants. It’s just the way it is now. If the Dolphins are on Thursday Night Football, you need Amazon Prime Video. Period.
Wait. There’s a catch.
If you actually live in the Miami market, the game is required by NFL rules to be broadcast on a local "free" station. Usually, that’s a local ABC or CW affiliate. So, locals don't need Prime, but everyone else does.
Then you have the "exclusive" streaming games. We saw this with the Dolphins-Chiefs playoff game on Peacock a while back. It made everyone furious. But it’s the future. In 2026, we’re seeing more games landing on Netflix and Peacock exclusively. If the Dolphins land a Christmas Day slot or a specific international game in London or Germany, you might find yourself signing up for a one-month subscription to a service you don’t even want. Just remember to cancel it the next day.
How to watch the Dolphins game if you’re international
For the fans in the UK, Mexico, or elsewhere, the NFL Game Pass International (now through DAZN) is actually way better than what we have in the States. You get every single game live. No blackouts. It’s a bit of a "grass is greener" situation, but the pricing varies wildly by country.
If you're traveling abroad during a game, don't expect your US-based streaming apps to work. They are geo-fenced. You’ll login to your YouTube TV account in London and see... nothing. This is where a VPN comes in, though most streaming services have gotten really good at blocking them. It’s a cat-and-mouse game that most fans lose.
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Bars and the social experience
Sometimes, the best way to watch is to just leave the house. Every city has a "Dolphins Bar." In NYC, it used to be Slattery’s. These places are lifesavers. You get the camaraderie of fellow fans, the game is guaranteed to be on, and you don't have to worry about your internet cutting out during a crucial fourth-down drive.
Plus, there’s something about being in a room full of people wearing aqua and orange when the Dolphins inevitably do something "Dolphins-y." You need that emotional support.
Technical tips for a better stream
If you are streaming, hardwire your connection. Seriously. Stop relying on Wi-Fi for live sports. An Ethernet cable plugged directly into your smart TV or Roku will shave seconds off your latency. There is nothing worse than hearing your neighbor scream because of a touchdown while your screen shows the team still lining up at the 20-yard line.
Also, check your resolution. Most "4K" sports broadcasts aren't true 4K; they’re upscaled 1080p. If your stream is buffering, manually drop it to 1080p. You won't notice the difference in quality, but the stability will improve drastically.
Final checklist for Sunday morning
Don't wait until 1:00 PM to figure this out. The apps always need an update. Your password always needs a reset.
- Check the 506 Sports map on Wednesday to see if you're in the "green" or "red" or whatever color the Dolphins are that week.
- Verify your login for whatever service has the rights that day (CBS, FOX, Amazon, or a streamer).
- If you're using an antenna, do a "channel scan" the morning of the game. Signals drift, and you don't want to be adjusting "rabbit ears" during the opening kickoff.
- Download the NFL app as a backup. Sometimes they stream local games for free if you have your location services turned on.
You've got the plan. Now you just have to hope the offensive line holds up long enough for the deep ball to develop. Fins up.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your subscriptions: Check if you’re already paying for a service like Paramount+ or Peacock that might carry the game before you buy something new.
- Test your hardware: Plug in your antenna or fire up your streaming box at least 30 minutes before kickoff to handle any forced software updates.
- Set a "Cancel" reminder: If you buy a service just for one game, immediately set a calendar alert to cancel it so you don't get billed for a second month.