The Party free on ITVX: stream now without a subscription

ITV’s new five-part drama The Party arrives on ITV1 and the broadcaster’s streaming hub this October, promising a tense unraveling of secrets that will flow beyond the finale. For viewers outside the UK, the launch raises immediate questions about access and the simplest ways to watch the series legally and in full.

What to know right now

The Party, adapted from Elizabeth Day’s best-selling novel by Sarah Solemani, stars Luke Evans and Tom Cullen in a story that pivots around a birthday celebration gone wrong. All five episodes premiere on Sunday 11 October 2026 on ITV1 and will be available on ITVX the same day.

For UK residents the show is available at no extra cost through ITVX, provided you hold a valid **TV licence** and register an account. International viewers will need to plan ahead if they want to stream the series the moment it drops.

How to watch — quick steps

• Sign up for a free ITVX account using an email address and confirm you hold a valid TV licence if you’re in the UK.
• Install the ITVX app on a compatible device or open it in a browser on desktop.
• If you are outside the UK, consider a reputable virtual private network (**VPN**) to connect to a UK server—only if doing so complies with ITVX’s terms of service and local law.

Access from abroad: what to consider

ITVX limits its free catch-up content to viewers in the UK. That means travellers, expatriates or international fans hoping to watch the show as it airs must address geo-restrictions before the launch date.

Using a **VPN** is a common technical route to appear as if you are browsing from the UK, but it carries a few caveats: read the streaming service’s terms, pick a widely reviewed provider with up-to-date server performance, and avoid any services that encourage or enable copyright infringement. This is about accessing region-locked, licenced content — not bypassing paid access or piracy.

Where and when episodes air

Episode 1 of The Party arrives on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 11 October 2026; subsequent episodes follow across the week, with immediate availability on ITVX for catch-up. For viewers relying on traditional scheduling, check local listings for airtimes on ITV1, STV or regional affiliates.

Compatible devices

ITVX supports a broad range of platforms and smart devices. If you plan to stream on a TV or mobile, confirm your device software is up to date before the premiere.

Platform	Examples / Notes
Mobile & tablet	iOS (iPhone & iPad, recent versions), Android (7.0+)
Smart TVs & set-top boxes	Samsung (2017+), LG (2016–2024 models), Apple TV (tvOS 14+), Android TV, Roku
Streaming sticks & devices	Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire devices (Stick, Cube), NOW/Smart sticks
Consoles	PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S
Satellite / set-top	Freeview Play, Freesat, Sky Q/Glass/Stream, YouView boxes (select models)

Key cast and characters

The series centres on two old friends whose tense history resurfaces over the course of one fateful party.

• Luke Evans as Martin Gilmour — a political journalist whose loyalty to an old friend masks deeper ties.
• Tom Cullen as Ben Fitzmaurice — a charismatic MP from a privileged background facing both ambition and fallout.
• Sarah Solemani, Joanna Scanlan and Lydia Leonard round out the principal ensemble, portraying family members and associates whose perspectives shape the unfolding drama.

Additional cast members include Lindsay Duncan, Douglas Hodge and several supporting players who populate the narrative world and its social fault lines.

Why this matters

The Party is timed to tap into contemporary conversations about power, loyalty and the media’s role in political life — themes that may resonate during a busy year for public affairs. For viewers, immediate availability on ITVX means a chance to watch and discuss the series in real time, but only if you can access the platform.

That logistical barrier is the practical story here: streaming rights and regional restrictions still shape who gets to join the cultural conversation as it happens. If you plan to watch from overseas, sort your access ahead of the premiere to avoid spoilers and to follow the series week-to-week.

Legal note: Always comply with the terms of the streaming service you use and with local copyright law. VPNs are legitimate tools for privacy and region-based access in many jurisdictions, but they should not be used to facilitate piracy or to breach a service’s user agreement.