Few football rivalries stir up as much passion as Crystal Palace vs Brighton. Whether you’re planning to watch the next derby or just curious about the history, we’ve got the essential facts on TV channels, head-to-head stats, and the story behind the A23 derby.

4 related posts

Total meetings: 93 (all competitions) · Crystal Palace wins: 52 · Brighton wins: 51 · Draws: 42 · Biggest win: Crystal Palace 6–0 Brighton (1978) · Most recent meeting: 8 Feb 2026 – Crystal Palace 1–0 Brighton (Premier League)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact date of the first meeting is sometimes disputed
  • Future broadcast rights may change
  • Precise cause of the rivalry’s intensity is debated among fans
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Next fixture to be confirmed
  • Broadcast details announced before matchday
  • Check club pages for international streaming options

Six facts that define the rivalry at a glance.

Fact Value
Total meetings 93
Crystal Palace wins 52
Brighton wins 51
Draws 42
Biggest win Crystal Palace 6–0 Brighton (1978)
Most recent result Crystal Palace 1–0 Brighton (8 Feb 2026)

Is Crystal Palace v Brighton on TV?

Which TV channels broadcast Crystal Palace vs Brighton?

  • The 8 February 2026 match was broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event in the United Kingdom (Crystal Palace FC, official club website).
  • Coverage began at 13:00 GMT, one hour before the 14:00 GMT kick-off at the Amex Stadium (Crystal Palace FC).
  • In the United States the match was available on Peacock, in India on Jio Hotstar, and in Australia on Stan Sport (ESPN, sports news outlet).

How to watch Crystal Palace vs Brighton online

  • Supporters outside the UK can find local broadcasters using the country dropdown on the club’s official information page (Crystal Palace FC).
  • Club-specific streaming services such as Palace TV+ and Brighton TV also offer selected coverage.
  • Referee Thomas Bramall and VAR James Bell were appointed for the 8 February 2026 fixture (ESPN).

Bottom line: For the most recent derby, UK viewers needed a Sky Sports subscription; international fans had multiple streaming options. For future matches, checking the club’s official page is the surest way to avoid missing kick-off.

Why are Brighton and Crystal Palace big rivals?

Origins of the rivalry in the 1970s

  • The rivalry emerged in the 1970s rather than from traditional geographic proximity, according to VIP Football Hospitality (hospitality analysis site).
  • An early flashpoint came during the 1976/77 season when both clubs were pushing for promotion from the Third Division (VIP Football Hospitality).
  • The following season’s FA Cup match in 1977, which featured a disputed penalty, is widely credited with igniting the modern animosity (VIP Football Hospitality).

Key matches that intensified the rivalry

  • 1978 – Crystal Palace 6–0 Brighton, the biggest win in the fixture’s history.
  • 2013 – Brighton’s promotion to the Premier League renewed regular meetings.
  • 8 February 2026 – Crystal Palace 1–0 Brighton, a result that ended Palace’s winless run (ESPN).
Why this matters

The 1977 FA Cup match turned a routine league rivalry into a bitter grudge. For both fanbases, that disputed penalty still frames every derby as unfinished business.

The implication: for fans, every encounter carries the weight of that unfinished business.

Who is Crystal Palace’s biggest rival?

Brighton & Hove Albion as primary rival

  • Brighton is considered Crystal Palace’s main rival, a derby often nicknamed the A23 derby or M23 derby in reference to the road connecting London and the South Coast (Wikipedia, encyclopedia entry).
  • Geographic proximity (roughly 40 miles) and competing in the same divisions for decades have sustained the tension.

Other rivalries: Millwall, Wimbledon

  • Palace also has historic rivalries with Millwall and AFC Wimbledon, but none carry the same weight as the Brighton fixture.

Bottom line: Brighton tops the list because of the 1970s flashpoint and the fact they have been direct competitors in the Premier League and lower divisions. Millwall and Wimbledon are secondary by comparison.

Who is better, Brighton or Crystal Palace?

Head-to-head record comparison

Four numbers, one story: Palace holds the narrowest edge.

Category Crystal Palace Brighton
Total meetings 93 93
Wins 52 51
Draws 42 42
Biggest win 6–0 (1978) –

Recent form and league positions

  • Before the 8 February 2026 match, Brighton had 31 points from 24 games and sat 13th in the Premier League (ESPN).
  • Crystal Palace’s 1–0 win moved them up the table, ending a run of poor form.
  • Over the past five seasons, Brighton has generally finished higher, but Palace’s head-to-head lead remains intact.

Bottom line: Palace has the historical edge by one win, but Brighton has been the stronger side in recent Premier League campaigns. The derby remains too close to call a clear winner.

What channel can I watch the Crystal Palace game on?

Premier League broadcast rights

  • Sky Sports holds the majority of Premier League UK rights; the 8 February 2026 derby aired on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event (Crystal Palace FC).
  • BT Sport and Amazon Prime also show selected Premier League matches each season.

FA Cup broadcast rights

  • FA Cup matches involving Crystal Palace are broadcast on BBC and ITV in the UK.

International viewing options

  • US: Peacock (ESPN)
  • India: Jio Hotstar (ESPN)
  • Australia: Stan Sport (ESPN)
The trade-off

UK fans must juggle three different broadcasters for Premier League games, while international viewers often need just one streaming service per region. The price of a full season’s coverage can vary by hundreds of pounds.

The catch: UK fans need to keep track of multiple broadcasters, while international viewers benefit from simpler options.

Timeline

  • 1977 – FA Cup match that sparked the modern rivalry (VIP Football Hospitality)
  • 1978 – Crystal Palace 6–0 Brighton – biggest win in the fixture (VIP Football Hospitality)
  • 2013 – Brighton promoted to Premier League, renewing regular meetings (Wikipedia)
  • 8 Feb 2026 – Crystal Palace 1–0 Brighton – Sarr goal ends Palace’s winless run (ESPN)

The pattern: the rivalry has been punctuated by moments of high drama and shifting fortunes.

Clarity: confirmed vs unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Crystal Palace leads head-to-head 52-51 (Wikipedia)
  • Rivalry intensified after 1977 FA Cup match (VIP Football Hospitality)
  • Premier League matches are broadcast on Sky Sports, BT Sport, and Amazon Prime in the UK (multiple sources)

What’s unclear

  • Exact date of the first meeting sometimes disputed
  • Future broadcast rights may change
  • Precise cause of the rivalry’s intensity is debated among fans

What this means: while the head-to-head record is clear, the exact origins remain a point of debate among historians.

Quotes from the rivalry

The rivalry between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace is sometimes nicknamed the A23 derby or the M23 derby by the media.

Wikipedia, Brighton & Hove Albion–Crystal Palace rivalry

Crystal Palace ended their winless run with a 1-0 victory at Selhurst Park.

ESPN report, 8 February 2026 match coverage

For Premier League fans planning to catch the next derby, the key is to check Sky Sports or the club’s official pages early, or risk missing a match that could shift the balance of the rivalry once again.

Related reading: Brighton & Hove Albion–Crystal Palace rivalry · Brighton Crystal Palace rivalry

Additional sources

youtube.com, access.historyhit.com, tiktok.com

Fans eager for a deeper dive can explore the Brighton vs Crystal Palace rivalry page on Dublin Observer, which traces how the A23 derby became one of the Premier League’s most intense local grudges.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Crystal Palace vs Brighton on TV today?

Check the Premier League broadcast schedule. Recent matches have aired on Sky Sports in the UK and on various international platforms such as Peacock (US) and Stan Sport (Australia).

What channel is the Crystal Palace vs Brighton match on?

In the UK, the match is typically on Sky Sports Premier League or Sky Sports Main Event. International channels vary by region.

Can I stream Crystal Palace vs Brighton online?

Yes. UK viewers can stream via Sky Go; US viewers via Peacock; India via Jio Hotstar; Australia via Stan Sport. Club streaming services may also offer coverage.

Why do Crystal Palace and Brighton hate each other?

The rivalry intensified after a 1977 FA Cup match featuring a disputed penalty. Both clubs were also competing for promotion in the 1970s, adding fuel to the fire.

Who has won more matches between Crystal Palace and Brighton?

Crystal Palace leads overall with 52 wins to Brighton’s 51, across 93 meetings in all competitions (as of February 2026).

What is the biggest win in Crystal Palace vs Brighton history?

Crystal Palace’s 6–0 victory in 1978 remains the largest margin of victory in the fixture.

Where can I watch highlights of Crystal Palace vs Brighton?

Highlights are available on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel, BBC Sport (for FA Cup matches), and the clubs’ official websites shortly after full-time.