The Tour de France is one of those events that transcends sport.

You can spend 11 months of the year ignoring what’s going on in the world of cycling and still become obsessed with it throughout July.

Unfortunately, it’s a little trickier to tune in this year. ITV’s broadcast deal ended in 2025, which means there is no English free-to-air TV coverage for the first time since the 1980s.

There is extensive coverage of all 21 stages on TNT Sports and HBO Max but what about viewers that are used to tuning in for free?

There is still a way to get your fill of pelotons, climbs, time trials, and various coloured jackets – and stay up to date with Tadej Pogačar’s quest for history.

Radio Times brings you all the details about how to watch the Tour de France 2026 for free.

Can I watch the Tour de France 2026 for free in the UK?

Yes, select stages are available on S4C and there is a daily highlights show on 5.

Fans can tune in to watch Welsh-language coverage of stages 1, 2, 3, 19, 20, and 21 on TV channel S4C, as well as online on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and on the S4C Chwaraeon YouTube channel, while stage 18 is only available online.

The other option for free-to-air coverage of the Tour de France is to tune into the hour-long daily highlights show on 5, which runs throughout the race at 7pm and is hosted by Rebecca Charlton.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Ned Holmes, smiling against a lime green background.

Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.