How to watch Tour de France 2026 FREE: live stream cycling online from anywhere

2025 Tour de France yellow jersey winner Tadej Pogacar leads the peloton through Paris in front of the Arc de Triomphe during the final stage/
(Image credit: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images)

Watch FREE 2026 Tour de France live streams to see the very best riders in the world battle it out over 21 stages from the crowded streets of Barcelona to the high passes of the Alps.

Tour de France 2026 live streams: TV schedule and dates

The 2026 Tour de France takes place between Saturday July 4 and Sunday July 26.
Stage start time: Start times vary each day
• FREE STREAMS SBS On Demand (Australia), FranceTV (France), RTBF VRT (Belgium), Rai (Italy), RTVE (Spain), TG4 (Ireland)
U.S. Peacock
U.K. TNT Sports / HBO Max
• Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN 100% risk-free

What all the fans are hoping for this year is a four way battle between Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Paul Seixas and Remco Evenepoel that runs right to the very end of the race. We have seen what shape Vingegaard is in thanks to his commanding win in the Giro d’Italia, and also seen Pogačar destroy the field at the Tour de Suisse with climbing speeds the human race has never witnessed before. The form of Seixas, who carries the hope of an entire nation on his 19-year-old shoulders is a little more unknown as he had to leave the Critérium du Dauphiné early, as it that of Evenepoel who has been hiding out at altitude for two months.

Throw into the mix Issac del Toro, Tom Pidcock and Florian Lipowitz, who could all win it, not to mention Jasper Philipsen, Mathieu van der Poel and Ben Healy, we are in for one hell of a three weeks of racing around France.

You’ll find a run down of the whole route in the preview below.

You can watch Tour de France 2026 live streams from anywhere with a VPN, and potentially for FREE.

Watch Tour de France 2026 live streams for free

FREE Tour de France 2026 streaming is available in France, Australia, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Ireland.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Country

Free Stream

France

FranceTV

Australia

SBS On Demand

Belgium

RTBF / VRT

Italy

Rai

Spain

RTVE

Ireland

TG4

Abroad? If you're based in any of these countries but aren't at home during the race, don't worry — you can unblock your usual local stream with a VPN. We'll show you how to do that below.

Watch Tour de France 2026 streams from abroad

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the cycling on your usual subscription service?

You can still watch Tour de France 2026 live streams thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software enables your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So, it's ideal for sports fans away on vacation or on business. Our favourite is NordVPN. It's the best in the field:

NordVPN Deal: Get up to 75% offNordVPN✅  3 Months Extra FREE✅  75% Off Now✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
Exclusive Deal

▶︎ NordVPN Deal: Get up to 75% off

Boasting lightning fast speeds, great features, streaming power, and class-leading security, NordVPN is our #1 VPN.

✅ 3 Months Extra FREE
✅ 75% Off Now
✅ 30-day money-back guarantee

Use NordVPN and unblock Tour de France wherever you are in the world.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Australian service, you'd select Australia from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to SBS On Demand or another streaming service and watch the action.

How to watch Tour de France 2026 live streams in the U.S.

US Flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Cycling fans in the U.S. can watch the 2026 Tour de France on Peacock who will have all the action from all 21 stages. You’ll need the Premium package to watch the action from the peloton — prices start at $10.99 per month.

If you're out of the US but still want to watch the 2026 Tour de France then don't forget to explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your subscriptions from anywhere.

How to watch Tour de France 2026 live streams in the U.K.

Tour de France 2026 live stream — British flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The Tour de France 2026 is streaming live each day on TNT Sports in the UK and there will also be a FREE highlights show on Channel 5 each day.

TNT coverage in the UK is on the HBO Max platform. It costs £30.99 per month, though there is a better value £25.99 "saver plan" available if you sign up for a 12-month term.

Streams will be spread out across the TNT Sports Channels.

Daily Highlights will be shown on Channel 5.

Live coverage of selected stages will also be available on Welsh language channel S4C, which you can watch via S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch your usual service from abroad.

How to watch Tour de France 2026 live streams in Canada

Tour de France live stream — Canada flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Fans in Canada can watch the Tour de France 2026 on FloBikes.

A subscription to Flobikes, which has pretty much every race you could wish to want for those in Canada, costs CA$39.99 a month or CA$215.88 for the year.

Not at home right now? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to trick your device into thinking you're still in Canada.

How to watch Tour de France 2026 live streams in Australia

Segment of Australian flag

Tour de France live stream — Australian flag (Image credit: Future)

Cycling fans in the Australia can watch the whole Tour de France 2026 for FREE on SBS On Demand.

Outside Oz? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to trick your device into thinking you're still in Australia.

Where to watch the 2026 Tour de France around the world

Global (Africa, Latin America, Middle East, North Africa, United States): TV5Monde

Austria: Servus TV

Basque Country: EITB

Belgium: RTBF, VRT

Caribbean: ESPN

China: CCTV, Zhibo TV

Colombia: Canal RCN, Caracol TV

Czech Republic: Czech TV

Denmark: DKTV2

Ecuador: ESPN, Disney+, Teleamazonas (highlights only)

El Salvador: ESPN, Disney+, TCS (highlights only)

Europe: Eurosport, HBO Max

France: Diverto, France Télévisions

Germany: ARD

Hungary: MTVA

Ireland: TG4

Italy: Rai Sport

Japan: J Sports, Wowow

Latin America: ESPN, Disney+, DirecTV Sports (highlights only), Claro Sports (highlights only)

Luxembourg: RTL

Middle East: Abu Dhabi Sports

Netherlands: NOS

North Africa: Abu Dhabi Sports

Norway: TV2 Norway

Portugal: RTP

Russia: Okko

Spain: RTVE

Slovakia: STVR

Slovenia: RTV Slovenija

Southeast Asia: Bein Sport Asia

South Korea: Coupang

Switzerland: SRG-SSR

Subsaharan Africa: Supersport

Taiwan: ELTA

Wales: S4C


Tour de France 2026 Preview

One of the most anticipated Tours in modern times kicks off in highly unusual fashion with a team time trial around the streets of Barcelona. This technical test will install a pecking order from day one and it’s very possible that some gaps created by having a weaker team may never be closed.

The race spends another day on the roads around Barcelona with a lumpy stage that includes three ascents of the famous Montjuïc climb then wastes zero time before it heads for the high mountains on Stage 3. Crossing the Pyrenees via the Col de Toses it returns to France to finish in Les Angles, then there’s another lumpy day on Stage 4 before finally on Stage 5 the sprinters will get a chance on the run into Pau.

Next up is what many people are saying is a stage that could decide the whole race, the 186-kilometer journey from Pau to the first summit finish at Gavarnie-Gedre via the twin horrors of the Col d’Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet. If a certain rider feels he needs to flex his dominance it could spell curtains for the rest so hopefully he keeps his powder dry to allow the battle to unfold later in the Tour.

Leaving the Pyrenees behind the race calms down for two nailed on sprint days into Bordeaux and Bergerac, then the hills return on Stage 9 as the race crosses the Massif Central from Malemort to Ussel.

Following the first rest day the race enters its second day in the Massif Central but it’s a far harsher affair as it crosses such legendary climbs as the Pas de Peyrol and the Col de Pertus. This will be another chance for the leaders to show their dominance before they can sit back and relax on another brace of sprint days on Stages 11 and 12, to Nevers and Chalon Sur Saone.

From now on the route sticks to the east of the country gradually working its way southward starting with two days in the Vosges, taking on the Ballon d’Alsace on stage 13. The same mountain will be climbed once again on Stage 14 together with the Grand Ballon, the Col du Page and the Col du Haag.

If the yellow jersey isn’t already secured then Stage 15 will surely make sure it is. The first proper summit finish on the climb to the Plateau de Solaison leaves nowhere to hide so you don’t want to miss a minute of this one.

After the second rest day comes the individual time trial, 26 km of rolling terrain from Evian to Thonon-les-Bains, a flat sprint day on Stage 17 and then it’s time for three more mountain days, back to back.

Stage 18 isn’t anything to be scared of, there are only two first cat climbs on the 185 kilometers between Voiron and Orcieres-Merlette but Stages 19 and 20 are EPIC.

Featuring two finishes in Alpe d’Huez the first takes the peloton there via the Col de Noyer and the Col d’Ornon before finishing up the most famous mountain in cycling. The second, the queen stage of the race crosses the Col de la Croix de Fer, the Col du Telegraph, the Col du Galibier before taking the hard route into Alpe d’Huez via the Col de Sarenne. Brutal.

If anyone is left standing the race then wraps up on Stage 21 with a day in Paris, once again returning to Montmartre for three ascents of the vicious climb before the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées.

Tour de France 2026 route map

(Image credit: A.S.O. Tour de France)

Tour de France 2026 stages

Stage 1 | Saturday July 4 | Barcelona - Barcelona, 19 Team time trial

Stage 2 | Sunday July 5 | Tarragona - Barcelona, 182km

Stage 3 | Monday July 6 | Granollers - Les Angles, 196km

Stage 4 | Tuesday July 7 | Carcassonne - Foix, 182km

Stage 5 | Wednesday July 8 | Lannemezan - Pau, 158km

Stage 6 | Thursday July 9 | Pau - Gavarnie-Gèdre, 186km

Stage 7 | Friday July 10 | Hagetmau - Bordeaux, 175km

Stage 8 | Saturday July 11 | Périgueux - Bergerac, 182km

Stage 9 | Sunday July 12 | Malemort - Ussel, 185km

REST DAY | Monday July 13      

Stage 10 | Tuesday July 14 | Aurillac - Le Lioran, 167km

Stage 11 | Wednesday July 15 | Vichy - Nevers, 161km

Stage 12 | Thursday July 16 | Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours - Chalon-sur-Saône, 181km

Stage 13 | Friday July 17 | Dole - Belfort, 205km

Stage 14 | Saturday July 18 | Mulhouse - Le Markstein, 155km

Stage 15 | Sunday July 19 | Champagnole - Plateau de Solaison, 184km

REST DAY | Monday July 20      

Stage 16 | Tuesday July 21 | Évian Les-Bains - Thonon Les-Bains, 26km ITT

Stage 17 | Wednesday July 22 | Chambéry - Voiron, 175km

Stage 18 | Thursday July 23 | Voiron - Orcières Merlette, 185km

Stage 19 | Friday July 24 | Gap - Alpe d’Huez, 128km

Stage 20 | Saturday July 25 | Le Bourg d’Oisans - Alpe d’Huez, 171km

Stage 21 | Sunday July 25 | Thoiry - Paris, 130km

More from Tom's Guide

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Simon Warren

Simon Warren has been obsessed with cycling since the summer of 1989 after watching Greg Lemond battle Laurent Fignon in the Tour de France. Although not having what it took to beat the best, he found his forte was racing up hills and so began his fascination with steep roads. This resulted in his 2010’s best-selling 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, followed to date by 14 more guides to vertical pain. Covering the British Isles, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain he has been riding and racing up hills and mountains for over 30 years now. He hosts talks, guides rides, has written columns for magazines and in 2020 released his first book of cycling routes, RIDE BRITAIN. Simon splits his time between working as a graphic designer and running his 100 Climbs brand and lives in Sheffield on the edge of the Peak District with his wife and two children.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.