- Watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 free on- SBS on Demand- (Australia)
- Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save up to 75%)
- Stage 1 start time: Sat, Aug 22, 10.17am ET / 3.17pm BST / 12.17am AEST (Sun)
Vuelta a Espana 2026 is set to be one of the most mountainous Grand Tours ever contested, incorporating more than 58,000m of elevation gain collected over the Valdelinares, Aitana, Calar Alto, La Pandera, Penas Blancas and Collado del Alguacil. If that wasn't tough enough, 10 of the 21 stages run through baking Andalusia in southern Spain.
With these tribulations in mind, the last thing the riders need is a maverick with no regard for cycling customs or human limits. Enter Tadej Pogacar, who's out to complete the Grand Tour set less than a month after leading the peloton on a merry dance around France. He's participated in La Vuelta once before – in 2019, aged 20, on his Grand Tour debut during his maiden campaign as a pro. Pogi finished third, winning three stages and the young rider classification.
It was an extraordinary introduction, and he's since won almost every major prize going, including five Tour de France titles and a Giro d'Italia. Only eight riders in history have won all three Grand Tours, and just seven have more Grand Tour titles to their names than Pogacar, who looks destined to break every record going.
Richard Carapaz, Felix Gall and Enric Mas, however, should provide stiff competition over the coming three weeks. Carapaz is the one rider with the personality – and dogged stubbornness – to take on Pogacar, while both Gall and Mas have spent all year preparing for La Vuelta. All three have proven pedigree in this race.
Then there's Primoz Roglic, a four-time winner of this race who shares the record with Roberto Heras. At 36, he's unlikely to expand that haul, and being a compatriot of Pogacar is unlikely to ease that pain.
Here's how to watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 from anywhere in the world. We've also listed the schedule, route and recent GC winners below.
Can you watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 for free?
Yes. Vuelta a Espana 2026 is being shown on free-to-air SBS in Australia, with live streaming available through SBS on Demand.
The Grand Tour will also be available for free in Spain on RTVE and in Belgium on VRT and RTBF
Free highlights are available in the UK daily, courtesy of Channel 5 and 5.
Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch La Vuelta for free as if you were right at home.
Use a VPN to watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 live streams
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How to watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 live streams in the US
All 21 stages of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana are being shown on Peacock in the US.
The Peacock price starts at $12.99/month or $129.99/year for a plan that carries live sports. However, you can access Peacock virtually for free with a Walmart Plus 30-day trial for $1.
The 13 weekday stages are also being televised on NBCSN, which is available through Fubo and YouTube TV, each of which offers a free trial to new users.
If you're traveling outside of the US, you can make use of NordVPN to catch the action.
How to watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 live streams in the UK
In the UK, live coverage of every Vuelta a Espana stage is exclusive to TNT Sports channels.
You can add TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or get an HBO Max plan that includes TNT Sports. Prices start at £25.99/month if you commit to a year.
Alternatively, free-to-air Channel 5 will air a daily Vuelta a Espana highlights show each evening, with streaming available via the 5 platform.
If you're out of the UK but still want to tune in, explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your accounts from anywhere.
How to watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 live streams in Australia
Free-to-air SBS is showing Vuelta a Espana 2026 in its entirety in Australia, with live streaming available via SBS on Demand.
Just create an account, using a valid Australia postcode (e.g. 2042).
Not in Australia right now? You can use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action as if you were back home.
How to watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 in Canada
In Canada, FloBikes is showing every stage of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana.
A subscription costs CA$49.99/month or CA$216/year.
Visiting Canada from Australia? Use NordVPN to watch free-to-air La Vuelta coverage.
Vuelta a Espana 2026 Q&A
Vuelta a Espana 2026 route
What are the Vuelta a Espana 2026 start times?
Vuelta a Espana 2026 schedule
(All times BST)
Saturday, August 22, 3.17pm
Stage 1 (TTT) – Monaco to Monaco | 9.4km
Sunday, August 23, 11.42am
Stage 2 – Monaco to Manosque (France) | 214.3km
Monday, August 24, 12.21pm
Stage 3 – Gruissan (France) to Font Romeu (France) | 174km
Tuesday, August 25, 1.49pm
Stage 4 – Andorra La Vella (Andorra) to Andorra La Vella (Andorra) | 104.8km
Wednesday, August 26, 12.34pm
Stage 5 – Falset to Roquetes | 173.4km
Thursday, August 27, 12.11pm
Stage 6 – Alcossebre to Castellón | 177.4km
Friday, August 28, 12.40pm
Stage 7 – Vall d'Alba to Aramón Valdelinares | 149.8km
Saturday, August 29, 12.42pm
Stage 8 – Puçol to Xeraco | 171km
Sunday, August 30, 11.26am
Stage 9 – Villajoyosa to Alto de Aitana | 187.4km
Monday, August 31Rest
Tuesday, September 1, 12pm
Stage 10 – Alcaraz to Elche de la Sierra | 184.7km
Wednesday, September 2, 1.08pm
Stage 11 – Cartagena to Lorca | 151.3km
Thursday, September 3, 12.07pm
Stage 12 – Vera to Calar Alto | 166.6km
Friday, September 4, 11.41am
Stage 13 – Almuñécar to Loja | 192.8km
Saturday, September 5, 12.33pm
Stage 14 – Jaén to Sierra de la Pandera | 154.5km
Sunday, September 6, 11.46am
Stage 15 – Palma del Río to Córdoba | 189.7km
Monday, September 7Rest
Tuesday, September 8, 12.18pm
Stage 16 – Cortegana to Palos de la Frontera | 181.1km
Wednesday, September 9, 12.24pm
Stage 17 – Dos Hermanas to Seville | 185km
Thursday, September 10, 1.06pm
Stage 18 (ITT) – El Puerto de Santa María to Jerez de la Frontera | 32km
Friday, September 11, 11.06am
Stage 19 – Vélez-Málaga to Peñas Blancas | 210km
Saturday, September 12, 11.36am
Stage 20 – La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil | 186.8km
Sunday, September 13, 3.23pm
Stage 21 – Granada to Granada | 112km
Who are the recent Vuelta a Espana GC winners?
Recent La Vuelta GC champions
2025 – Jonas Vingegaard
2024 – Primoz Roglic
2023 – Sepp Kuss
2022 – Remco Evenepoel
2021 – Primoz Roglic
2020 – Primoz Roglic
2019 – Primoz Roglic
2018 – Simon Yates
2017 – Chris Froome
2016 – Nairo Quintana
2015 – Fabio Aru
2014 – Alberto Contador
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Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.