- Watch Vuelta a Espana 2026 free on SBS on Demand (Australia)
- Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save up to 75%)
- Stage 16 start time: Tue, Sep 8, 7.05am ET / 12.05pm BST / 9.05pm AEST
Vuelta a Espana 2026 rolls forth with Stage 16, a bumpy 181.1km ride through Huelva, from Cortegana southwards to Palos de la Frontera. The route incorporates 2,256m of elevation gain, collected almost entirely at the beginning of the stage. It's virually all downhill once the peloton passes through Fuenteheridos. The riders are expected to finish at around 11.19am ET / 4.19pm BST.
The 81st edition of La Vuelta is one of the most mountainous Grand Tours ever contested, incorporating more than 58,000m of climbing 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. The Slovenian had built an enormous lead before the race had even touched Spanish soil, only to clip a loose stone during Stage 8 and break his collarbone in the resulting crash.
It's blown the race wide open, bringing Enric Mas, Primoz Roglic, Felix Gall and Richard Carapaz into contention. Gall and Mas have spent all year preparing for La Vuelta, while Carapaz is the one rider with the personality – and dogged stubbornness – to fill the void left by Pogacar. All three have proven pedigree in this race.
Roglic is a four-time winner of this race who shares the record with Roberto Heras. At 36 and with Pogacar on the scene, it had looked as if his best chance of expanding that haul had gone, but Rogla is very much back in the game now.
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.
Vuelta a Espana 2026 General Classification standings
- Enric Mas – 52h 5m 56s
- Felix Gall – +2m 6s
- Primoz Roglic – +2m 10s
- Richard Carapaz – +4m 24s
- Oscar Onley – +5m 44s
- Jakob Omrzel – +6m 14s
- Mattias Skjelmose – +6m 49s
- Cristian Rodriguez – +7m 1s
- Clement Berthet – +7m 19s
- Sepp Kuss – +8m 55s
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
A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.
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 (ITT) – Won by Tadej Pogacar
Sunday, August 23, 11am
Stage 2 – Won by Mathew Brennan
Monday, August 24, 12.21pm
Stage 3 – Abandoned
Tuesday, August 25, 1.49pm
Stage 4 – Won by Tadej Pogacar
Wednesday, August 26, 12.34pm
Stage 5 – Won by Mathew Brennan
Thursday, August 27, 12.11pm
Stage 6 – Won by Tadej Pogacar
Friday, August 28, 12.40pm
Stage 7 – Won by Andreas Leknessund
Saturday, August 29, 12.42pm
Stage 8 – Won by Bryan Coquard
Sunday, August 30, 11.26am
Stage 9 – Won by Enric Mas
Monday, August 31
Rest
Tuesday, September 1, 11.45am
Stage 10 – Won by Bastien Tronchon
Wednesday, September 2, 12.50pm
Stage 11 – Won by Matthew Brennan
Thursday, September 3, 12.07pm
Stage 12 – Won by Jakob Omrzel
Friday, September 4, 11.20am
Stage 13 – Won by Wout van Aert
Saturday, September 5, 12.15pm
Stage 14 – Won by Marco Brenner
Sunday, September 6, 1.50pm
Stage 15 – Won by Wout Van Aert
Monday, September 7
Rest
Tuesday, September 8, 12.05pm
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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