The 109th Giro d’Italia takes place from Friday 8 May to Sunday 31 May 2026, starting with a historic Grand Partenza in Bulgaria before 18 stages across Italy, finishing in Rome. Jonas Vingegaard headlines the field as the pre-race favourite, with the Danish rider targeting a Giro-Tour double that would rank among the greatest achievements in modern cycling.
What to Expect
The 2026 Giro d’Italia begins with three stages in Bulgaria, marking the first time the race has visited the country. Stage 1 starts in the historic town of Nessebar on the Black Sea coast and finishes in Burgas. After the Bulgarian stages, the race transfers to southern Italy and works its way north through Naples, the Apennines, Milan, and into the Alps and Dolomites. The route covers 3,459 kilometres with approximately 50,000 metres of total elevation gain across 21 stages.
Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) arrives as the clear favourite following a dominant Volta a Catalunya performance. His stated ambition of completing a Giro-Tour double places enormous significance on this race. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), a consistent Grand Tour performer and former Giro podium finisher, is among the strongest challengers. Richard Carapaz, the 2019 Giro champion, brings invaluable experience, while Giulio Pellizzari and former winner Jai Hindley add further depth to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe’s challenge. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step), the 2022 Vuelta winner, has also identified the Giro as a primary target, with his time trialling ability a significant weapon on a route that includes a 40-kilometre individual time trial.
The race builds towards a demanding final week in the Alps and Dolomites. The Blockhaus provides the first major mountain test in the opening week, while stages in the Aosta Valley and a Swiss excursion shape the second week. The steep finish at Piani di Pezze in the final days could prove decisive for the general classification.
How to Watch
Warner Bros. Discovery holds global broadcast rights. In the United Kingdom, the Giro is available on TNT Sports and Discovery+. In the United States, coverage is on HBO Max. RAI provides free-to-air coverage in Italy, while SBS offers free coverage in Australia. Eurosport carries the race across most of Europe, with free-to-air options also available via VRT and VTM in Belgium and SRG in Switzerland. In Canada, FloBikes streams all stages. DirecTV covers Latin America, with Caracol TV and RCN providing additional coverage in Colombia. J Sport carries the race in Japan, and SuperSport broadcasts across Africa.
Venue and Tickets
Like all major professional cycling stage races, the Giro d’Italia is free to watch from the roadside. Spectators can position themselves at any point along the route, with mountain stages and summit finishes drawing the largest crowds. The Dolomite stages in the final week traditionally attract tens of thousands of fans. VIP hospitality packages are available through official tour operators, offering premium viewing positions at key stages, transfers, and accommodation. The race finishes in Rome on 31 May, with the traditional final stage offering a processional ride into the Italian capital.