In February 2026, Virgin Media continues to lead the UK market on pure speed. With their Gig2 (2,000 Mbps) service now available to over 5 million homes via the nexfibre network and the standard inclusion of Netflix in most bundles, Virgin is positioning itself as the ultimate “all-in-one” hub for high-usage households.
🚀 Virgin Media Broadband: 2026 Speed Tiers
Virgin Media has moved away from inflation-linked increases to a fixed-fee annual rise. For 2026, most new contracts are on the Hub 5 (Wi-Fi 6) or Hub 5x (for Gig2 customers).
| Package | Average Speed | Best For… | Current Monthly Deal |
| M125 Fibre | 132 Mbps | HD Streaming & Small Families | £16.99 |
| M250 Fibre | 264 Mbps | Gaming & working from home | £25.99 |
| M500 Fibre | 516 Mbps | Multiple 4K streams & heavy downloads | £20.99 – £31.00 |
| Gig1 Fibre | 1,130 Mbps | Smart homes & massive files | £23.99 – £34.00 |
| Gig2 Fibre | 2,000 Mbps | The absolute peak of home tech | £49.99 – £51.99 |
⚠️ Price Increase Alert: Contracts starting in early 2026 will see a flat £4.00 per month increase every April 1st.
📺 Virgin TV: Stream vs. 360
Virgin Media has followed the industry trend by making “streaming-first” the default for new customers.
1. Virgin TV Stream (The Default Choice)
This is now the standard box provided with most bundles. It is a small, 4K-ready puck that runs entirely over your broadband connection.
- Key Feature: You get 10% bill credit back on any streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) added via your Virgin bill.
- New for 2026: Three new Rakuten FAST channels (Drama, Comedy, and Sci-Fi) were added in February, available at no extra cost.
- Note: Unlike the older 360 box, the Stream puck does not have a hard drive for recording.
2. Virgin TV 360 (For Traditional Viewers)
While Stream is the default, the 360 box—which allows for physical recordings—is still available in older “coaxial” network areas or as a premium upgrade.
🎁 Top February 2026 Bundle Deals
Virgin is currently offering £0 Setup Fees on most 24-month contracts.
- The “Bigger Combo” (Movies): M350 Broadband + 200+ channels + Sky Cinema HD + Netflix for £44.99/month.
- The “Sports HD” Bundle: M500 Broadband + Sky Sports HD + Netflix for £54.99/month.
- The “Mega Volt” (Everything): Gig1 Broadband + 230+ channels + Sky Sports & Cinema + Netflix + Unlimited O2 SIM for £84.99/month.
- The “Volt” Advantage: If you have an O2 mobile plan, Virgin will double your broadband speed for free (e.g., M125 becomes M250).
💡 Key Terms & Pro-Tips
- Symmetrical Uploads: If you are in a Gig2 area (XGS-PON), you can add symmetrical upload speeds (2Gbps up AND down) for an extra £6/month.
- Sky Channels in HD: As of 2026, most Virgin TV bundles now include Sky Sports and Sky Cinema in Full HD as standard, rather than charging an extra fee for the HD pack.
- Social Tariffs: If you receive Universal Credit, you can access the Essential Broadband (15 Mbps) for £12.50/month, which is exempt from the annual £4 price rise.
