In the United States, stream Ken Burns’s The American Revolution through PBS.org or the PBS App. PBS says the six-part, approximately 12-hour series initially streamed without Passport, but PBS Passport became required for continued streaming after January 2, 2026. PBS has also identified the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel as an additional route.
How to watch The American Revolution in the U.S.
In the United States, the official place to watch Ken Burns’s The American Revolution is PBS.org or the PBS App. PBS says the six-part, approximately 12-hour documentary was initially available without Passport, but continued streaming access began requiring PBS Passport on January 2, 2026. If an episode is locked, sign in with an eligible PBS account or follow the membership instructions for your local PBS station.
PBS has also identified the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel as a distribution route after the initial free-streaming period. Catalogs, pricing, and access arrangements can change, so check the current listing before subscribing.
Quick answer
- Official U.S. streaming home: PBS.org and the PBS App.
- Series format: six parts totaling about 12 hours.
- Access: PBS Passport became required for continued U.S. streaming after January 2, 2026, according to PBS guidance.
- Other PBS distribution route: PBS has identified the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel.
- Outside the U.S.: availability depends on local rights; PBS says its online rights are generally limited to the United States.
Step-by-step: stream the documentary through PBS
- Open PBS.org or launch the PBS App.
- Search for The American Revolution.
- Select the official Ken Burns series page. This helps avoid similarly titled programs, including older documentaries and programs called The Revolution.
- Choose the episode you want to watch.
- If PBS requests authentication or shows a lock, sign in with an eligible PBS account or use the instructions to connect your local-station membership and Passport benefit.
Do not assume that the series is permanently free simply because it had an initial free-streaming window. The access status shown on the PBS episode page is the best indication of what your account currently needs.
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Do you need PBS Passport?
For U.S. viewers, PBS says episodes were initially available without Passport beginning November 16, 2025. Its published guidance says PBS Passport became required for continued streaming beginning January 2, 2026. That means the practical answer depends on when you are watching and whether the particular episode is currently unlocked.
Passport is a benefit connected to qualifying support of a local PBS station, rather than a separate universal streaming subscription that guarantees every PBS program in every location. If an episode is locked, follow PBS’s sign-in and local-station instructions. Before paying or joining, review the current terms presented by PBS, since station benefits, catalogs, and eligibility can vary.
Can you watch it through Amazon Prime Video?
PBS has announced the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel as another distribution route for the series after the free-streaming period. Search for the channel within Prime Video and verify that The American Revolution is included in the current catalog before starting any subscription or trial. The channel’s availability and price are separate from the documentary’s PBS.org access, and neither should be treated as permanent without checking the current listing.
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Watching on a TV
The PBS App is listed by PBS for iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio. The exact menus and playback experience can differ by device and app version.
If your television does not already support the PBS App, an Amazon Fire TV Stick is one compatible way to access it through Amazon Fire TV. It is optional: you do not need to buy streaming hardware if you already have a supported smart TV, streaming box, game console, phone, tablet, or computer. The device does not include PBS Passport, and buying it does not remove any account or membership requirement.
Watching outside the United States
PBS says its online rights are generally limited to the United States, and geo-filtering may prevent viewers in other countries from streaming the program. Do not assume that a PBS login, Passport benefit, or U.S. streaming link will work abroad.
Viewers in Canada may need an active Passport benefit through a participating local station, while viewers elsewhere should check the broadcaster or rights holder in their territory. Availability can differ by country and can change as distribution rights move. Use an authorized local service rather than unofficial uploads or restreams.
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What is the documentary about?
The American Revolution is Ken Burns’s six-part documentary series about the American War of Independence and the people, conflicts, and consequences surrounding it. The full series runs approximately 12 hours, so it is better approached as a multi-night watch than as a single feature-length film. The series is directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.
Because the title is shared by other historical programs, search using the full title and the Ken Burns name. Selecting the official PBS series page is the safest way to confirm that you have found the 2025 documentary rather than an unrelated production.
Read more after watching
Viewers who want maps, images, and more historical context can look for The American Revolution: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns. Penguin Random House describes it as an illustrated history that expands on the six-part PBS series. It is a companion to the documentary, not a prerequisite for watching it or a replacement for PBS access.
Common access problems
An episode is locked
Check whether you are signed in, whether your local-station membership includes Passport, and whether the episode is currently part of the benefit catalog. PBS’s post-release access rules mean that a program that was once freely streamable may later require authentication or Passport.
The PBS App is missing from your TV
Confirm that your television or streaming device is one of the platforms PBS lists as supported. If it is not, watch through a computer or mobile device, cast where supported by your equipment, or use a compatible streaming platform such as Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio, or Amazon Fire TV.
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This may be a rights or geo-filtering restriction rather than a problem with your account. Check the official broadcaster or rights holder in your country. Avoid unofficial streams, which may be removed and may not have permission to distribute the series.
Playback is buffering
First test another program, restart the PBS App or browser, and check your home connection. Update the app and device software if updates are available. If other services also buffer, troubleshoot the network or device; there is no reason to install PC-optimization software merely to access this documentary.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Ken Burns’s The American Revolution?
In the U.S., start at PBS.org or in the PBS App and open the official Ken Burns series page. PBS says Passport became required for continued streaming after January 2, 2026, so an episode may ask you to sign in or connect a qualifying local-station membership.
Is The American Revolution free to watch on PBS?
PBS says the series initially streamed without Passport beginning November 16, 2025, but continued U.S. streaming access began requiring Passport on January 2, 2026. Check the current episode page because access can change.
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PBS lists Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Vizio, iPhone, Android smartphones, and Amazon Fire Tablet among its supported platforms. Availability and app behavior can vary by device.
Can I stream The American Revolution outside the United States?
PBS says its online rights are generally limited to the United States. Canadian viewers and viewers in other countries should check their local broadcaster or rights holder rather than assuming a U.S. PBS link will work.
Is The American Revolution available on Amazon Prime Video?
PBS has identified the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel as a distribution route. Search the current Prime Video catalog and confirm that the series is included before subscribing, because channel catalogs and prices can change.
The Bottom Line
For U.S. viewers, start with the official PBS page or PBS App and select the Ken Burns series. PBS says Passport became necessary for continued streaming after January 2, 2026, while the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel is another route PBS has identified. Check the current episode listing, account requirement, and regional rights before assuming the series is free or available everywhere.
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