Looking to access BBC 6 Music – the Beeb’s dedicated alternative music station – from outside the UK? You can use a VPN – NordVPN works better – to unblock 6 Music via BBC Sounds and listen normally, despite the latter’s international ban.
There are good reasons why you might want that too. 6 Music is the UK’s largest digital-only radio station and has built a dedicated audience over the years. It even survived a planned closure in 2010 and now has 2.7 million monthly listeners.
Although guitars loom large, there’s no genre that 6 Music doesn’t touch – from folk to jazz, dance, grime and beyond, they play anything that taps into the creativity of established bands or new artists.
How to listen to BBC 6 Music
To access BBC 6 Music’s eclectic output, you have a few different options. A digital radio is of course a possibility, but if you don’t have one, the BBC Sounds website, BBC Sounds app (iOS/Android) and BBC 6 Music website are also available.
To listen you’ll need a BBC account – sign up here.
And if you miss your favorite show, don’t worry. You can listen again via BBC Sounds, with the majority of shows available as podcasts. There are also specially curated BBC 6 Music playlists available on the BBC Sounds website and app.
Remember though, in July 2025, international access to BBC Sounds was closed. While the decision was met with disbelief, there are still ways to access the platform if you’re abroad. Read on to find out how.
Can I access BBC 6 Music on BBC Sounds from abroad or on holiday?
Yes. UK residents wanting to listen to BBC 6 Music while traveling abroad can still access the BBC Sounds app via a VPN. We recommend NordVPN, which is offering 75% off and an extra 3 months free this Black Friday…
How to unblock BBC 6 Music on BBC Sounds with a VPN
If you’re currently outside the UK and unable to use BBC Sounds, you can still access the app through the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
The software allows your devices to appear as if they are back in your home country, no matter where you are in the world. Ideal for listeners traveling to work or on vacation who want a taste of home.
NordVPN is our favorite:
BBC Sounds Troubleshooting Tips
If you always You can’t access BBC 6 Music through BBC Sounds, even with the help of a VPN, there are a few other things you can try.
Make sure your BBC account is linked to a valid UK postcode, such as W1A 1AA.
The BBC Sounds app (iOS/Android) will not appear in the Play Store or App Store outside the UK, but you may be able to work around this by changing your phone’s region in the settings menu.
The BBC, like most broadcasters and networks, is engaged in a never-ending cat-and-mouse battle with VPN providers.
Although we have ranked the best iPlayer VPNs, which we have developed through extensive testing, if one of them works today, there is no guarantee that it will work the same tomorrow, in which case you can raise the issue with your VPN provider’s customer support team and ask them to recommend the best server to connect to.
Can I listen to BBC 6 Music from outside the UK without BBC Sounds?
You absolutely can. Listeners based outside of the UK can now access a limited selection of BBC audio programming via the BBC.com website and the BBC app (iOS/Android). And the good news is BBC 6 Music is one of them!
Although you can listen via BBC.com and the BBC app without an account, you need to log in if you want to download, follow and record shows.
Visit the website linked above directly through a web browser and it works. This is a rudimentary workaround that doesn’t include key features available on BBC Sounds, but you can listen to BBC 6 Music.
Additionally, only certain radio content will be available on demand via the BBC 6 Music website.
What are the highest rated shows on BBC 6 Music?
As the UK’s largest digital-only radio station, with 2.7 million listeners, BBC 6 Music has never been more popular thanks to its exceptional line-up of shows.
Nick Grimshaw’s breakfast show has a weekly audience of 1.3 million people and is the perfect way to prepare yourself for a new day.
Grimshaw’s long-time weekend counterparts Radcliffe and Maconie – Nordic duo presenter Mark Radcliffe and writer/broadcaster Stuart Maconie – are also among the station’s most listened to shows. It features intelligent music and many special guests from the world of music and entertainment.
Craig Charles presents the weekday afternoon show, but its Funk and soul show is also not to be missed. If it’s electric music, from blues to beats, then you’re looking for Cerys MatthewsThe weekly show is made for you. The former lead singer of Welsh alternative band Catatonia is also known for his poetry and reflections on how music affects our daily lives.
Another Welshman, Huw Stephens presents their show Tuesday to Friday live from Cardiff with a combination of top-notch guests and music. Friday is “Music Sounds Better with Huw” and the on-demand show.
Marie-Anne HobbsThe Sunday show features musical journeys with a few more left-field artists, as well as some actual art. Fellow 6 Music Presenter Royalty Steve Lamacq has a show that comes out every Monday and features the veteran’s usual mix of new music and classics from established artists.
What will be featured in BBC 6 Music’s Albums of the Year 2025?
Each BBC 6 Music DJ has selected what they consider to be the album of the year and from Friday 21 November, Matt Everitt’s weekly show New Album Fix (broadcast on BBC Sounds every Friday morning) will explore each of those shortlisted in detail.
There will be five selected each week, with the latest from CMAT, Sam Fender’s winning effort for Mercury and the epic Perfume Genius all in the running.
One track from each album will be added to the 6 Music playlist for one week between Monday November 17 and Sunday December 21.
New Music Fix: Albums of the Year – Episode 1
On BBC Sounds from Friday November 21
• EURO-COUNTRY by CMAT (selected by Chris Hawkins)
• Glory by Perfume Genius (selected by Huw Stephens)
• Lifetime by Erika de Casier (selected by SHERELLE)
• LSD by Cardiacs (selected by Marc Riley)
• Warsaw 480 km by pot (selected by Deb Grant)
New Music Fix: Albums of the Year – Episode 2
On BBC Sounds from Friday November 28
• Hardpost Hymn by Proc Fiskal (selected by AFRODEUTSCHE)
• Devotion & The Black Divine by Anaiis (selected by Zakia)
• In Limerence by Jacob Alon (selected by Guy Garvey)
• Private Deftones music (selected by Huey Morgan)
• viagra boys by Viagra Boys (selected by Nathan Shepherd)
New Music Fix: Albums of the Year – Episode 3
On BBC Sounds from Friday December 5
• Last night I heard The Dog Star Bark by Gwenifer Raymond (selected by Gideon Coe)
• Joseph, what have you done? by Rainy Miller (selected by Mary Anne Hobbs)
• People Watching by Sam Fender (selected by Stuart Maconie)
• Teeth of Time by Joshua Burnside (selected by Emily Pilbeam)
• The Bad Fire by Mogwai (selected by Iggy Pop)
New Music Fix: Albums of the Year – Episode 4
On BBC Sounds on Friday December 12:
• Crooked Wing by These New Puritans (selected by Mark Radcliffe)
• LUX by Rosalía (selected by Nick Grimshaw)
• Map of a blue city by Marc Ribot (selected by Cerys Matthews)
• Tether by Annahstasia (selected by Jamz Supernova)
• we are having a dance in the barn by the lavender (selected by Don Letts)
New Music Fix: Albums of the Year – Episode 5
On BBC Sounds from Friday December 19
• A woman complicated by self-esteem (selected by Steve Lamacq)
• AOEIU by Florence Adooni (selected by Gilles Peterson)
• Getting killed by geese (selected by Lauren Laverne)
• Sad and Beautiful World by Mavis Staples (selected by Beth Ditto)
• Teal Dreams by Yazmin Lacey (selected by Craig Charles)
• Who Let the Dogs Out by Lambrini Girls (selected by Amy Lamé)
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Access a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy abroad. We do not support or condone illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consumption of paid pirated content is not endorsed or endorsed by Future Publishing.
