Tour de France 2026 day-by-day - tips to watch and does it pass near you?

The 2026 Tour de France sets off from Barcelona (Spain) on July 4.

The 113th edition of the men’s race will cover 3,333 km over three weeks

After 2025's race was held exclusively in France, the first three stages of this year’s race will pass through Catalonia before heading north through the French Pyrénées. 

The final stage will take place on July 26, when cyclists will once again pass through the Montmartre district of Paris - a popular location during the 2024 Olympic cycling events - before reaching the finish line on the Champs-Elysées.

The full route can be seen in the main image above.

It was also confirmed that the 2027 men’s Tour de France will begin in the Scottish city of Edinburgh.

From the Pyrénées to the Alps

Early stages of the route feature arrivals in sites including Foix (Ariège), Gavarnie-Gèdre (Hautes-Pyrénées), and Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). 

The race will then pass diagonally from Bordeaux through the Massif Central, with the 10th stage heading towards mountain resort Le Lioran (Cantal) and the Col de la Griffoul. 

Stage 14 finishes in the Markstein ski station (Haut-Rhin), after crossing the Vosges mountains in eastern France.

The riders will head to the Alps for the race’s final week, featuring a 26-km individual time trial between Evian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie).

Difficult mountain passes include the Col de Sarenne (on a 7.3% gradient) and the legendary Alpe d'Huez (Isère), which will be scaled twice, back-to-back, on stages 19 and 20.

How to watch

The Tour de France will be broadcast on France 2 and France 3, with live race coverage every day, as well as the traditional pre- and post-race programmes. The tour will also be broadcast live on Eurosport, however you need a subscription to watch. 

If going to watch a stage of the race in person, the official Tour de France website offers several helpful tips, including a map and timetable to plan the day. 

Some popular spots can get crowded, so take this into consideration when deciding where to set-up for the day, and how early to arrive. Hills are generally busier as spectators can watch the cyclists pass at a slower pace, the finish line will have a lively atmosphere, and it will be quieter near the starting line. 

On the day itself, the Tour de France Race Centre lets you follow the progress of the race live so you can see when it is nearing your chosen spot.

Don't forget to arrive in advance to see the opening parade known as la Caravane publicitaire, which passes before the cyclists. The show lasts for at least 30 minutes with partnering organisations and sponsors throwing free gifts into the crowds.

Note that in certain Natura 2000 protected areas, distributing gifts is forbidden due to environmental risks, and sound equipment may be turned off so as not to disturb animals.

Remember to stay behind any safety barriers and do not step onto the road. 

Women’s route

The women’s competition will run from August 1-9.

The cyclists will leave from Lausanne (Switzerland), before covering a total of 1,175 km through Franche-Comté, Burgundy, Rhône-Alpes and Provence, finishing on Nice’s seafront walkway, the Promenade des Anglais. 

The tour is split into nine stages with no rest days.

See the full route in the main image above.