Does iptv-org include EPG (TV guide) data?

Yes. iptv-org/epg publishes XMLTV guide data for thousands of public channels at iptv-org.github.io/epg/guides/all.xml. Add that URL as an EPG source in TiviMate, IPTV Smarters or Kodi and channels match by their tvg-id.

Updated 2026-10-18 • open-source • free-to-air only

IPTV-org GitHub Playlist Free M3U List & VLC Setup

By Daniel Reed, Streaming Technology Specialist Updated October 18, 2026 How we test

Everything about the iptv-org GitHub playlist — the project behind most "free IPTV playlist" links. Get the index.m3u URL, open the GitHub TV playlist in VLC in three steps, and use country or category slices, the JSON API and EPG. Free-to-air only.

upgrade Need premium channels? iptv-org won't have them.

iptv-org lists free-to-air channels only — no Sky Sports, no DAZN, no HBO, no PPV. If you need premium sports, live events or stable 4K VOD, that requires a paid IPTV subscription. Both services below offer a free trial — test before you pay.

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iptv-org GitHub playlist — free M3U TV list loaded from iptv-org.github.io with worldwide free-to-air channels in 2026 — The iptv-org playlist is a public GitHub project — load it by URL so your player auto-updates.

content_copy Quick Answer — Copy-Paste URLs

Paste one of these into VLC (Media → Open Network Stream) or any player's Add playlist → URL. Prefer a slice over the full file.

https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/index.m3u              # Everything (~10k+)

https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/countries/us.m3u       # USA only

https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/categories/news.m3u    # News only

https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/languages/eng.m3u      # English only

These are public/free-to-air links. Legality → • Open in VLC → • All slices →

Why a slice? index.m3u contains 10,000+ entries and loads slowly. A country or category slice such as countries/us.m3u loads in seconds, has fewer dead channels, and is far easier to review in an M3U checker. New here? Read the public IPTV playlist guide first.

What Is iptv-org?

iptv-org is an open-source project on GitHub (iptv-org/iptv) that collects publicly available, free-to-air IPTV streams and arranges them into M3U playlists. Its maintainers and contributors verify that a stream appears to be broadcast openly, then publish the links — split by country, language, category and region — as static files on iptv-org.github.io.

The project hosts no video itself. It is a directory of links, updated daily by GitHub automation, and honours removal requests from rights holders.

What it is

A daily-updated, open directory of free-to-air M3U links, split by country / category / language.

What it isn't

No premium pay-TV. No Sky, DAZN, HBO or PPV. No guarantee every link stays online.

Why people use it

It is the most-linked "free IPTV playlist" source and the basis of most free M3U lists online.

The one link everyone copies

https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/index.m3u

This is the seeker's "iptv-org" link. It is the global playlist; the slices below are the same data, filtered. Full breakdown of the format in the M3U Playlist Guide.

How to Open the iptv-org GitHub Playlist in VLC

VLC is the fastest way to test the iptv-org link — no account, no setup. Copy a URL above, then:

1
Open Network Stream
In VLC go to Media → Open Network Stream (or press Ctrl+N).
2
Paste the playlist URL
Paste the iptv-org URL (e.g. .../iptv/index.m3u) into the "Please enter a network URL" field and click Play.
3
Browse channels
Open the Playlist view (Ctrl+L) to see every channel VLC loaded and switch between them.

VLC has no EPG and no remote-friendly grid, so it is best for testing a link. For everyday TV, load the same URL in TiviMate or Kodi. Detailed steps: VLC IPTV setup guide.

"iptv github vlc link" searches usually mean exactly this: load the iptv-org GitHub playlist in VLC. The URL above is that link — paste it straight into Open Network Stream.

The Playlist: index, Countries, Categories & Languages

Every file below comes from the same iptv-org dataset, filtered differently. Swap the last path segment to change the slice.

Slice	URL pattern	Example
Everything	/iptv/index.m3u	iptv-org.github.io/iptv/index.m3u
By country	/iptv/countries/{cc}.m3u	…/countries/uk.m3u
By category	/iptv/categories/{name}.m3u	…/categories/sports.m3u
By language	/iptv/languages/{iso}.m3u	…/languages/eng.m3u
By region	/iptv/regions/{region}.m3u	…/regions/eur.m3u

The full index of every available slice is in PLAYLISTS.md. Country slices also line up with our regional guides: USA, UK, Germany.

The iptv-org API

iptv-org also publishes its data as JSON, so developers can build playlists, apps and channel directories without parsing a huge M3U file. Base URL: https://iptv-org.github.io/api/

https://iptv-org.github.io/api/streams.json      # stream URLs + channel ids

https://iptv-org.github.io/api/channels.json     # channel metadata

https://iptv-org.github.io/api/countries.json    # country codes & names

https://iptv-org.github.io/api/guides.json       # EPG guide sources

Filter streams.json by country or category and write your own M3U. Good for building custom playlists.

Add EPG (TV Guide)

iptv-org pairs its playlists with a separate XMLTV guide. Load one EPG URL and your player matches channels by tvg-id.

https://iptv-org.github.io/epg/guides/all.xml

In TiviMate / Smarters: Settings → EPG → Add source, paste the XMLTV URL, then refresh.
Let the guide download finish (a few minutes), then restart the player if logos stay empty.
Many iptv-org playlists already embed a url-tvg header pointing at the guide.

Deep dive: EPG Guide • Guide not showing? EPG Not Working fix.

Load It in TiviMate, Smarters & Kodi

Always add the playlist by URL — never download the file once — so your player picks up iptv-org's daily rebuild automatically.

TiviMate (Android TV / Fire TV)

Settings → Playlists → Add playlist
Choose Enter URL
Paste the iptv-org URL → Next → let channels load

Full setup: TiviMate review.

IPTV Smarters Pro

Add Playlist → Login with M3U URL
Any name + any user/pass → paste the M3U URL → Add User

Tips: IPTV Smarters Pro • Compare: Best IPTV Players.

Kodi (PVR IPTV Simple Client)

Add-ons → PVR IPTV Simple Client → Install & Enable
Configure → General → M3U Playlist URL → paste → Enable

Restart Kodi; guide data comes from your EPG setup.

VLC (Windows / Mac / Linux)

Media → Open Network Stream (Ctrl+N)
Paste the URL → Play → browse in the Playlist view (Ctrl+L)

Detail: VLC IPTV Setup.

Fixing the iptv-org Playlist

Public streams rotate CDN paths, go offline or become geo-blocked. That is normal for any free list — here's how to fix the common cases.

error

Playlist won't load at all

Usually a missing #EXTM3U header, wrong encoding, or a 404. Test the URL in a browser first. Details → M3U Not Loading.

playlist_remove

Some channels are dead

Inevitable in a 10k+ list. Switch to a smaller slice, or point at the auto-verified list. See Playlist Error.

language

Channel plays elsewhere but not for you

Geo-block. Try another country's slice, or a VPN to a nearby server — see VPN for IPTV.

hourglass

Endless buffering

Free streams are often low-bandwidth and oversubscribed. Prefer smaller slices and see our Buffering Fix.

Legal & Safety

IPTV as a technology is legal. Whether a specific iptv-org stream is legal where you live depends on whether it is genuinely free-to-air and licensed for your region.

iptv-org links only to streams its maintainers believe are broadcast openly, hosts no video, and honours removal requests.
Check each channel's rights in your country — a free feed in one region can be licensed-only in another.
We host no streams. See Is IPTV Legal? and our DMCA page.

Disclaimer: This page links to third-party public sources for information and testing only. It is not a broadcast provider. If you redistribute a filtered copy commercially, do your own rights review.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is iptv-org?

iptv-org is an open-source GitHub project that collects publicly available, free-to-air IPTV streams and arranges them into M3U playlists you can load in any player. It hosts no video itself — it links to streams its maintainers believe are broadcast openly, updates the lists daily via GitHub automation, and publishes them at iptv-org.github.io/iptv/.

Is the iptv-org playlist legal?

iptv-org only lists streams it believes are free-to-air and publicly broadcast, hosts no content, and removes channels on request. Watching free-to-air feeds is legal in most countries, but rights differ by region, so check your local rules.

How do I open the iptv-org GitHub playlist in VLC?

Copy https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/index.m3u, open VLC and go to Media → Open Network Stream (Ctrl+N), paste the URL and click Play. Channels appear in the Playlist view (Ctrl+L). VLC has no EPG, so use TiviMate or Kodi for a TV guide.

What is the difference between index.m3u and the country or category files?

index.m3u contains every channel iptv-org has (~10,000+). The countries/, categories/ and languages/ files are smaller slices of the same data — for example countries/us.m3u, categories/news.m3u or languages/eng.m3u. Slices load faster, have fewer dead links, and are easier to review.

Does iptv-org have an API?

Yes. iptv-org publishes the underlying data as JSON at iptv-org.github.io/api/ — streams.json, channels.json, categories.json, countries.json, languages.json and guides.json — so developers can build their own playlists and apps.

Why is the iptv-org playlist not loading?

Common causes are a missing #EXTM3U header, loading a downloaded file instead of the URL, a geo-blocked stream, or a dead entry. Load the playlist by URL, test it in a browser, and try a smaller slice. See our M3U not loading fix.

Does iptv-org include EPG data?

Yes. iptv-org/epg publishes XMLTV guide data for thousands of public channels at iptv-org.github.io/epg/guides/all.xml. Add it as an EPG source and channels match by tvg-id.

Is iptv-org free?

Yes. iptv-org is a free, open-source community project with no ads, accounts or payment. It covers free-to-air channels only — it does not include premium pay-TV channels such as Sky Sports, DAZN or HBO, which require a licensed subscription.