Honestly, trying to figure out where to stream the Great British Baking Show in 2026 feels like you’re trying to bake a 12-tier wedding cake in a convection oven that only heats to 200 degrees. It shouldn't be this hard. You just want to see some nice people in a tent get stressed about sponges. But between the licensing deals and the fact that the show goes by a different name depending on which side of the Atlantic you’re on, it’s a total maze.
The name thing is still the biggest hurdle for newcomers. If you’re in the US, it’s "The Great British Baking Show" because Pillsbury owns the trademark for the word "Bake Off." If you’re in the UK, it’s "The Great British Bake Off," or GBBO.
Basically, where you live determines whether you’re getting the latest episodes or a curated "Collection" that might be years old.
The current streaming map for the Great British Baking Show
If you are in the United States, your primary home for the "new" stuff—anything from the Channel 4 era—is Netflix. They have what they call "Collections." Collection 13, which corresponds to the 2025 UK series, landed on the platform in September. If history repeats itself (and it usually does), the 2026 series will hit Netflix US on Fridays, roughly three days after the episodes air in Britain.
But Netflix doesn't have everything. They actually dropped the earlier seasons—the ones with Mary Berry and the original hosts Mel and Sue—a while back. It was a dark day for fans of "The Beginnings."
Where did those go?
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They migrated. The Roku Channel is now the exclusive (and free!) home for the first seven seasons of the show. This includes the "lost" seasons 1 and 2 that were barely available in the States for years. You don't even need a Roku device to watch it; you can just use the app or their website.
- Netflix: Best for the latest seasons (Collection 5 through the present).
- The Roku Channel: The only place for the "classic" Mary Berry years (Seasons 1-7).
- PBS: They used to be the kings of this show, but their rights have almost entirely dried up. You might find a stray special on a local station's Passport app, but don't count on it for a binge.
How it works in the UK (The Bake Off Home)
In the UK, it’s much simpler but also more fleeting. Channel 4 is the home of the show. You can stream everything from the current era (Series 8 through the upcoming Series 17 in 2026) for free on their streaming service, which used to be called All 4 but is now just "Channel 4."
The catch? The BBC seasons aren't there.
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Because the show moved networks in 2017, the rights are split. If you want to watch the old BBC episodes in the UK, you usually have to buy them on Prime Video or Apple TV. They aren't just sitting on a subscription service for free. It’s a bit of a bummer, really.
Why 2026 is going to be different
There is a big shift coming for the 2026 season. Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith recently announced an "Audience Choice Week." This is the first time in the show's history that fans are actually picking the challenges.
What does this mean for streamers? Expect higher demand and more spoilers on social media. Since the US gets the episodes a few days late on Netflix, you’re going to have to dodge Twitter and TikTok like a pro if you don't want to know who got the "Audience Choice" Hollywood Handshake before you even hit play on Friday night.
The VPN workaround
A lot of people get tired of the delay or the missing seasons and turn to a VPN. It’s a bit of a gray area, but using something like NordVPN or ExpressVPN allows people in the US to "appear" in the UK.
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Once your IP address says you’re in London, you can head over to the Channel 4 website and watch the episodes the second they air on Tuesday nights. You do have to deal with British commercials, though. Seeing ads for UK supermarkets and insurance companies is part of the "authentic" experience, I guess.
Canadian and Global viewing
In Canada, CBC Gem is the go-to. They usually get the seasons a few months after the US and UK. If you’re in Australia, Binge and Foxtel have traditionally held the rights, though the "Junior" and "Professional" versions of the show often pop up on different lifestyle channels.
Actionable steps to start your binge
Stop searching and just follow this checklist based on what you want to see:
- If you want the newest 2025/2026 episodes (US): Open Netflix and search for "Collection 13." Check back on Friday mornings for new 2026 drops.
- If you want the "Classic" Mary Berry era (US): Download The Roku Channel app. It’s free. Search for "The Great British Baking Show" and look for the earlier seasons.
- If you are in the UK: Go to the Channel 4 app. Everything from the Noel Fielding era is right there.
- If you want to watch the 2026 season live: Set up a VPN, point it to a UK server, and create a free account on Channel 4’s website before the premiere this autumn.
Getting your "Bake Off" fix shouldn't require a master's degree in international licensing, but here we are. Stick to Netflix for the new stuff and Roku for the nostalgia, and you'll be set for the 2026 season.