The 2026 Tour de France begins with its Grand Départ in Barcelona on Saturday, July 4, 2026 and finishes in Paris on July 26. Follow the time remaining on our live Tour de France countdown.
When does the Tour de France 2026 start?
The opening stage rolls out from Barcelona, Spain, on July 4, 2026 — a rare Grand Départ outside France. Over three weeks the race covers 21 stages and roughly 3,300 kilometres before reaching the finish in Paris on July 26.
The jerseys to watch
- Yellow jersey (maillot jaune) — worn by the overall race leader on cumulative time; the rider in yellow in Paris wins the Tour.
- Green jersey — the points classification, usually won by the best sprinter.
- Polka-dot jersey — the "King of the Mountains" for the best climber.
- White jersey — the best young rider under 26.
How to watch
The Tour is broadcast in dozens of countries every July, with daily live coverage of each stage through the Alps, the Pyrenees, time trials and sprint finishes. Check your local broadcaster or the official race coverage for start times in your timezone.
Count down to the Grand Départ
Open the live Tour de France countdown, explore more sports countdowns, or create your own countdown to stage one. The Days Until tool counts down to any date you like.