Watching the Tour de France at Home: Your Complete Viewing Guide

Every July, millions of us settle in to watch the Tour de France, and it's easy to see why. The race takes riders through some of the most stunning landscapes in Europe, from coastal roads to high mountain passes. It's three weeks of drama, unexpected twists, and edge-of-your-seat finishes that keep fans coming back year after year.

For the 2026 edition, whether you're a long-time cycling fan or just curious about what all the fuss is about, here's everything you need to know to follow the 113th Tour de France from the comfort of your own home.

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable three weeks of racing. The 113th edition of the Tour de France will run from Saturday, 4 July to Sunday, 26 July 2026. The race begins with the prestigious Grand Départ, which in 2026 will be hosted by the vibrant city of Barcelona, Spain. For the true enthusiasts, the excitement begins even earlier: be sure to tune in on 2 July for the official presentation of the teams, a grand ceremony that sets the stage for the drama to come.

Over the course of 21 stages, with two crucial rest days, the peloton will cover a staggering 3,333 kilometres. The journey will take them from the sun-kissed coast of Catalonia through all five of France's major mountain ranges: the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Vosges, the Jura, and finally, the Alps. This route continues until it reaches its traditional, glorious conclusion on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Each stage presents a unique challenge, ranging from flat, high-speed sprints to punishing mountain climbs that test the very limits of the riders' abilities.

The Tour de France is a truly global event, broadcast in 190 countries across more than 100 television channels, with 60 providing full live coverage from start to finish. This extensive network ensures that no matter where you are, you can find a way to stream Tour de France online or watch on traditional television.

You can watch the race on TNT Sports channels. For streaming, you can use Discovery+ if you have access to TNT Sports.

For other regions, it’s best to check your local sports television listings to find the official broadcaster in your country. With so many options, you’ll be able to follow every breakaway, attack, and sprint finish live as it happens.

Each stage of the Tour de France can last several hours, so a comfortable viewing setup at home makes all the difference. From screen placement to seating and sound, a few simple adjustments to your living room will help you and your guests enjoy every kilometre of the action.

The television is your portal to the action, so its placement is critical. Position your screen directly at eye level from your primary seating position. This simple ergonomic adjustment prevents neck strain and ensures comfortable viewing, even during the longest mountain stages. If you’re hosting a Tour de France watch party, consider the viewing angles for all your guests to ensure everyone has a clear view of the screen.

The Tour de France is an auditory experience as much as a visual one. The subtle click of a gear change, the whir of carbon wheels on tarmac, the excited shouts of the commentators, and the roar of the roadside crowds all contribute to the atmosphere. To capture this richness, consider enhancing your TV’s built-in speakers with a soundbar. It will bring the race to life, making you feel as though you’re right there on the roadside or inside the team car.

This is where you’ll be spending a lot of time, so make it count. Whether it’s your favourite armchair or a cosy corner of the sofa, transform it into a haven of comfort. Ample cushions for back support are a must, as is a soft throw blanket for those air-conditioned rooms.

To avoid missing a crucial attack while searching for the remote or a drink, set up a small "command centre" on a side table next to your seat. This is your mission control for the afternoon. Keep your remote controls, a second screen (like a tablet or phone for live data), and, of course, your drinks and snacks within easy arm's reach. This ensures you can stay settled and focused on the race without interruption.

Watching the Tour in July means you’re enjoying the race during the peak of summer. While the riders battle the elements outside, you can face your own indoor challenges: a stuffy room, an uncomfortable room temperature, and frustrating glare on your TV screen. Since we spend around 90% of our lives indoors, creating a healthy and comfortable living environment with plenty of fresh air is essential for our well-being. This comfort is also vital for the ultimate experience of watching the Tour de France. If your viewing sanctuary is an attic or a room with roof windows, managing daylight and fresh air is key to transforming it into your favorite place to watch the race.

There’s nothing worse than a key breakaway being obscured by a bright reflection on your screen. Sunlight, while beautiful, can be a major distraction. The solution is to control the light before it even becomes a problem. VELUX exterior anti-heat blinds block the sun's rays before they hit your window, reducing indoor temperature by up to 4 degrees¹ and minimising reflections on your screen. This innovative approach is incredibly effective, reducing solar heating and helping you maintain a pleasant room temperature. Their durable, transparent fabric ensures you can defeat the heat and glare without sacrificing your view or plunging the room into darkness. You maintain a connection to the outside while enjoying a perfectly comfortable, glare-free indoor climate.

For ultimate light control, you can pair an exterior blind with an internal VELUX translucent roller blind. This combination allows you to soften the incoming daylight to your exact preference, creating a calm, diffused light that’s easy on the eyes and perfect for a long afternoon of viewing.

As the hours tick by and the race tension builds, your room can become warm and stuffy from a build-up of CO₂. A lack of fresh air can lead to drowsiness and a lack of focus, causing you to miss the very moments you’ve been waiting for. Regular ventilation is crucial.

Studies show that people with VELUX electric or solar-powered roof windows tend to air out their homes twice as often², thanks to the ease and convenience. Using the VELUX App Control, you can open your windows with a single tap or even schedule regular ventilation periods throughout the day. Imagine setting your windows to automatically open for 15 minutes every hour, ensuring a constant flow of fresh air without you having to think about it.

For a truly effortless, hands-off experience, VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO is the ultimate solution. This smart home system uses sensors to continuously monitor the room temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels. It intelligently manages your VELUX electric or solar-powered roof windows, blinds, and shutters for you, automatically opening them to let in fresh air when needed or closing them to prevent the room from overheating. It’s like having your own personal climate control system, ensuring your viewing sanctuary remains fresh, cool, and comfortable from the Grand Départ to the final sprint in Paris.

No Tour de France viewing is complete without a spread of delicious snacks, themed snacks. With the 2026 race beginning in Spain and travelling through the heart of France, you have a fantastic culinary journey to explore right from your living room. If you're hosting guests and preparing food, don't forget to ventilate the room to keep your space fresh and comfortable. There's nothing worse than a stuffy kitchen when you're trying to enjoy the race.

Celebrate the Barcelona Grand Départ with a selection of classic Spanish tapas. These small plates are perfect for grazing during the race.

• Tortilla Española: A simple but hearty Spanish omelette made with thinly sliced potatoes and onions. It’s delicious served warm or at room temperature.
• Jamón Serrano with Melon: The classic combination of sweet, juicy melon wrapped in delicate, salt-cured ham is refreshingly simple and incredibly tasty.
• Gildas: For a true taste of Basque country, try this iconic pintxo. This skewer of an anchovy, an olive, and a pickled guindilla pepper provides a perfect salty, savoury, and slightly spicy bite.

As the peloton crosses into France, switch your menu to celebrate the host nation’s iconic cuisine. Here are a few ideas to try.

• Croissants and Pains au Chocolat: Start a morning mountain stage the French way with a flaky pastry and a strong coffee.
• Jambon-Beurre Baguette: The quintessential French sandwich. Simply a fresh, crusty baguette, slathered with good quality butter and filled with slices of high-quality ham. It’s simple, perfect, and easy to eat while glued to the screen.
• Crêpes: A fun and interactive treat. Make a batch of simple crêpes and let your guests choose their own toppings. Options can range from a classic sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lemon to fresh berries or whipped cream.

Set up a "hydration station" to keep everyone refreshed. Stock it with French classics like sparkling Perrier or citrusy Orangina. And for the final stage, as the riders circle the Champs-Élysées, pop open a bottle of Champagne or a fine French wine from a region the Tour has passed through, like Bordeaux or Burgundy, to toast the winner of the yellow jersey.

To truly elevate your experience of watching the Tour de France, go beyond the main broadcast and dive into the wealth of information and content that surrounds the Tour.

• Use a second screen: The official Tour de France mobile app is your essential companion. During the 2025 Tour, fans logged 39 million sessions on the app, and for good reason. It offers live GPS tracking of every rider, interactive maps, detailed stage profiles, and real-time data on breakaways and time gaps. It's a fantastic tool to use while you stream Tour de France online.
• Get behind-the-scenes access: Follow the official @LeTour and @velux social media accounts, which boast a community of over 14.9 million fans. You'll get incredible content, including live updates, rider interviews, and stunning photography. Also, follow your favourite teams and riders on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) for a personal look inside the team bus and a glimpse into their daily lives on the Tour.
• Know your jerseys: Understanding the main competitions  within the race adds another layer of excitement.
  • Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune): Worn by the overall race leader with the lowest cumulative time. This is the most prestigious jersey in cycling.
  • Green Jersey (Maillot Vert): Awarded to the leader of the points classification. Points are won at stage finishes and intermediate sprints, making this the sprinters' jersey.
  • Polka Dot Jersey (Maillot à Pois Rouges): The "King of the Mountains" jersey, worn by the leader of the climber's classification. Points are awarded for being the first to the top of designated climbs.
  • White Jersey (Maillot Blanc): Worn by the best-placed young rider in the general classification who is under the age of 26.
• Download your personalised bib number: Fully embrace the spirit of the race and feel like part of the peloton. Use our official bib generator to create your own personalised race number to share with friends and family.
• Create your own team: Step into the shoes of a directeur sportif and test your cycling knowledge in the official Tour de France Fantasy Game by Tissot³. Build your dream team of riders and compete against friends and fans from around the world.