The Giro d’Italia 2026 launches today, Friday, May 8, and runs through Sunday, May 31, showcasing elite cyclists battling for the iconic Maglia Rosa over three intense weeks. Jonas Vingegaard enters as the top favorite, aiming for a rare Giro-Tour double and completing the Grand Tour triple with the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. Without reigning champion Simon Yates, who retired unexpectedly at the start of 2026, challengers like his twin brother Adam Yates, former winners Egan Bernal and Jai Hindley, and Italian prospect Giulio Pellizzari step up. The last Italian victor was Vincenzo Nibali a decade ago.
The race opens in the Black Sea region with sprinter-friendly stages in Albania before shifting to Italy’s mountains, where climbers dominate. This season’s first Grand Tour promises high drama.
Free Streams for Giro d’Italia 2026
Live coverage streams free in select countries with English options in Australia.
- Australia: SBS On Demand (all stages)
- Italy: RaiPlay (all stages)
- Switzerland: RSI / SRF (all stages)
Traveling? A VPN lets you access these streams securely from anywhere.
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Watch Giro d’Italia 2026 in the US
HBO Max streams all stages. The Standard plan at $18.49/month includes live cycling (Basic at $10.99 does not). Outside the US? Connect via VPN to your account.
Watch in the UK
TNT Sports covers the Giro and most UCI World Tour races via HBO Max. A 12-month plan costs £25.99/month, adding Premier League, Champions League, Tour de France, and more. Use a VPN abroad.
Watch in Canada
FloBikes broadcasts the event and UCI races from CA$49.99/month or CA$215.88/year. A VPN helps access from outside Canada.
Watch in Australia
SBS On Demand provides free English-language coverage of all stages, plus events like Tour de France and Vuelta a España. VPN required overseas.
Giro d’Italia 2026 Stage Schedule
Friday, May 8: Stage 1: Durazzo – Tirana
Saturday, May 9: Stage 2: Tirana – Tirana
Sunday, May 10: Stage 3: Valona – Valona
Monday, May 11: Stage 4: Alberobello – Lecce
Tuesday, May 12: Rest day
Wednesday, May 13: Stage 5: Ceglie Messapica – Matera
Thursday, May 14: Stage 6: Potenza – Naples
Friday, May 15: Stage 7: Castel di Sangro – Tagliacozzo
Saturday, May 16: Stage 8: Giulianova – Castelraimondo
Sunday, May 17: Stage 9: Gubbio – Siena
Monday, May 18: Rest day
Tuesday, May 19: Stage 10 (ITT): Lucca – Pisa
Wednesday, May 20: Stage 11: Viareggio – Castelnovo ne’ Mont
Thursday, May 21: Stage 12: Modena – Viadana
Friday, May 22: Stage 13: Rovigo – Monte Berico
Saturday, May 23: Stage 14: Treviso – Nova Gorica
Sunday, May 24: Stage 15: Fiume Veneto – Asiago
Monday, May 25: Rest day
Tuesday, May 26: Stage 16: Piazzola sul Brenta – San Valentino
Wednesday, May 27: Stage 17: San Michele all’Adige – Bormio
Thursday, May 28: Stage 18: Morbegno – Cesano Maderno
Friday, May 29: Stage 19: Biella – Champoluc
Saturday, May 30: Stage 20: Verrès – Sestrière
Sunday, May 31: Stage 21: Rome – Rome
