How to watch Italian TV in the USA in 2026
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Missing Italian TV while you’re in the US? Whether you’re traveling, studying, or living abroad, it’s frustrating when RaiPlay, Mediaset Infinity, Sky Italia, or your usual shows suddenly stop working. Most of the time, this happens because streaming platforms can see your IP address and limit your access outside Italy.
A VPN can help with that. It lets you connect to a server in Italy, which gives you an Italian IP address. That way, streaming sites are more likely to show the same content you’d get back home – though an IP address is only part of the picture. In this guide, I’ll show you how to watch Italian TV in the USA with a VPN, how to set it up, what a VPN can't do on its own, and what to look for when choosing a VPN service.
A VPN only changes the IP address your device shows – it can't create a local account, verify a Codice Fiscale, or supply an Italian payment method for you. So if the platform you're after requires any of that at sign-up (like Sky Italia requiring Codice Fiscale for registration), you'll need to handle it separately before a VPN can help. It's also worth checking the streaming service's terms of service first: connecting from an unexpected location can flag your account, and in some cases, lead to a suspension.
What Italian TV can I watch in the USA without a VPN?
Not everything Italian is geo-blocked. Before setting up a VPN, it's worth checking whether the content you're after is already available to you legally. For instance, if you're mostly after Italian news, culture, or a taste of home, Rai Italia USA is RAI's official channel for Italian communities in the Americas. It's distributed legally in the US through licensed providers, so no VPN or workaround is needed, just a subscription.
Alternatively, there is Il Globo TV – the largest Italian TV provider outside Italy – which offers an Italian TV package covering Rai Italia, Mediaset Italia, TGCOM24, LA7 Italia, KidsMe, A Tavola, Inter TV, Telepace, Rete Italia TV, and more for $21.95/month.
It's also worth checking your existing US streaming subscriptions first. Some Italian series already have official US distribution deals: My Brilliant Friend is on HBO Max, while Suburra and Curon are on Netflix – all available through the standard US library, with no VPN required.
How to watch Italian TV with a VPN
- Pick a fast, trustworthy VPN that offers multiple servers in Italy
- Install the VPN app on the device you plan to use for streaming, then sign in or create an account
- Enable the VPN's security features, such as the kill switch
- Connect to an Italian server and confirm that your IP address has changed to Italy using an online IP checker to avoid location issues
- Go to your chosen streaming app or platform, such as RaiPlay, and sign in to your account (note that if you're a new user, any required registration, identity verification, or payment steps must be completed separately – a VPN can't bypass those requirements)
- Start streaming Italian TV channels and on-demand content – for the most reliable experience, I recommend watching in a desktop browser, as some mobile apps perform additional location checks
Why do you need a VPN to watch Italian TV online?
Italian streaming and online TV services aren’t accessible from the US because of geo-restrictions, licensing agreements, copyright laws, and distribution rights.
Try to connect to Italian TV in the US without a VPN, and you’ll get an error message saying the content is blocked or unavailable. For example, Rai Italia’s message states the following: “The streaming of this content is available in Italy only. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
A high-quality VPN can help with the IP address part of that by connecting you to a server in Italy, which makes it look like you're browsing from there. Still, it won't handle everything a platform might ask for.
| What you need to watch | What it requires | Can a VPN help? |
| Italian-based connection | An Italian IP address | ✅ Yes |
| Italian streaming login and active subscription | A subscription to the Italian provider (e.g., RaiPlay, Mediaset Infinity, Sky Italia) that carries the content | ❌ No |
| Account registration location | An Italian-based account, sometimes requiring a Codice Fiscale or Italian payment method | ❌ No |
| App access on a mobile device | An Italian-based App Store/Google Play account to download the Italian app | ❌ No |
Best VPNs to watch Italian TV online in 2026
Not every VPN handles Italian geo-restrictions equally well – some don't have enough servers in Italy, and others get detected and blocked by platforms like RaiPlay or Mediaset Infinity. Based on our in-house testing, here are the three that held up most consistently for accessing Italian TV from the US:
- NordVPN – best overall VPN to watch Italian TV in the US
- Surfshark – best VPN for watching Italian TV on unlimited devices
- PureVPN – fast VPN for streaming Italian TV channels
Italian TV channels you can watch with a VPN
Here’s a list of the most popular Italian TV channels and streaming services you can watch with a VPN:
- RAI 1, RAI 2, RAI 3 (RAIPlay)
- Canale 5
- Italia 1
- Mediaset Infinity
- Rete 4
- La7
Mediaset Infinity gives you access to live Mediaset channels – including Canale 5, Italia 1, and Rete 4 – as well as a large library of on-demand Italian shows and movies.
With a VPN connected to an Italian server, you can also access the Italian content libraries of popular streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, and NOW, provided your subscription includes access to those regional catalogs.
What Italian TV shows can I watch online?
The table below features a mix of acclaimed classics, recent releases, and popular favorites. Streaming platforms are based on the primary Italian services where the titles are available.
| Show | Type | Year | Streaming platform |
| My Brilliant Friend (L’amica geniale) | Series | 2018–2024 | RaiPlay, HBO Max, Prime Video |
| The Law According to Lidia Poët (La legge di Lidia Poët) | Series | 2023–present | Netflix |
| The Lions of Sicily (I Leoni di Sicilia) | Series | 2023 | Disney+ |
| A Doctor in the Family (Un medico in famiglia) | Series | 1998–2016 | RaiPlay |
| Suburra: Blood on Rome | Series | 2017–2020 | Netflix |
| Curon | Series | 2020 | Netflix |
| Everything Calls for Salvation (Tutto chiede salvezza) | Series | 2022 | Netflix |
| The Pupil (L’allieva) | Series | 2016–2020 | RaiPlay |
| Catturandi – Nel nome del padre | Mini series | 2015–2016 | RaiPlay |
| Viola (Viola come il mare) | Series | 2022–present | Mediaset Infinity, Netflix (select regions) |
| Blanca | Series | 2021–present | RaiPlay, PBS |
| Buongiorno, mamma! | Series | 2021–2023 | Mediaset Infinity |
| Call My Agent – Italia | Series | 2023–present | NOW, Sky |
| Dinner Club | Series | 2021–present | Prime Video |
| We Still Talk (Lei mi parla ancora) | Movie | 2021 | NOW, Sky |
How to watch Italian TV on a smartphone
Sometimes you’re not at home and want to watch your Italian TV shows on your smartphone. Whether you have an Android or an iPhone, the process is mostly the same.
If possible, I suggest downloading and signing in to your Italian streaming app before you travel abroad. That way, you'll already have it installed and won't need to change your app store's region – which requires a local Italian payment method and billing address that a VPN can't provide.
Here are the setup steps for your smartphone:
- Download and install your chosen VPN app on your smartphone from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
- Sign in to your account and connect to a server in Italy.
- In your phone Settings, find the streaming app under Apps (or Privacy > Location, depending on your device) and turn off its Location/GPS permission. Some streaming apps check your device's GPS location in addition to your IP address.
- Open your Italian streaming app if you already have it installed. If you don't and it's not available in your current app store region, you'd need to create a new Apple ID or Google account set to Italy.
- Sign in to your streaming account, select the content you want to watch, and enjoy.
Changing your Apple ID or Google account's country requires a local Italian payment method and billing address — something a VPN can't provide on its own. Apple also only allows you to change your Apple ID country/region once every 90 days once your active subscriptions are canceled, so this isn't something you can switch back and forth easily.
Watch Italian TV online for free
If you want to watch Italian TV online for free from the US, you can use a free service like RaiPlay. Other options include accessing Italian broadcast channels, such as LA7 and DMAX Italia, online. But you need a strong VPN with servers based in Italy to do this – and the VPN itself isn’t free.
Many free VPN services don’t have servers based in major Italian cities like Milan or Rome. With a free VPN, you’re also risking the security and privacy of your personal data. In exchange for free service, many of these providers sell your information.
Instead, you can use free trials of premium providers like NordVPN, Surfshark, and PureVPN. Here’s how much they cost you once the trial period is over:
- NordVPN – offers a 3-day free trial, after that, it unblocks Italian streaming services for only $3.49/month
- Surfshark – has a 7-day free trial for up to 3 devices, then just $2.49/month to watch your favorite Italian content online
- PureVPN – super affordable solutions for just $2.15/month after its premium 7-day trial for $0.99 is over
The final word
Watching Italian TV in the US or while traveling anywhere outside Italy means dealing with location restrictions. A secure VPN with servers based in Italy can help with the IP address side of that. NordVPN is the best solution here, with 60+ servers in Milan, Palermo, and Rome and strong security credentials.
Once your VPN is connected to an Italian server, you can log in to your Italian TV streaming services. Your IP address will be shown as Italian, which should get you past the geo-restriction error messages in most cases. However, keep in mind that a VPN won’t clear every barrier, like account registration or app store region.
FAQ
Can I watch Italian TV in the UK?
Yes, you can watch most Italian TV channels from the UK with a VPN service. The VPN provider you choose must have secure servers based in Italy that you can connect to. Otherwise, you’ll run into error messages that say the content is not available in your country or location. I recommend using NordVPN.
How to watch Italian TV for free?
Many broadcast channels and streaming services like RaiPlay are free, just geo-restricted. So you need a VPN with servers based in cities like Milan, Palermo, and Rome to unblock Italian content from anywhere. Once you connect to a VPN server with an Italian location, you can watch content from Italian TV channels online.
What is the best Italian streaming channel?
RaiPlay is the best Italian streaming channel because it offers exclusive TV series and Italian broadcast TV channels. You can also watch popular movies and live sports events. Best of all, you don’t have to pay to register or use RaiPlay.
