Grand National 2026: How to Watch, TV Schedule and Everything You Need to Know
Complete guide to watching the 2026 Grand National at Aintree. Full three-day race schedule, TV coverage on ITV, streaming on ITVX, and what makes the race so special.
By David WhiteGrand National 2026: The Complete Viewing Guide
The Grand National is the most famous horse race in the world. Watched by an estimated 500 million people globally, it is the one race that captures the attention of people who never normally follow horse racing. The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday 11 April at Aintree Racecourse ↗ in Merseyside, near Liverpool.
The race itself is the centrepiece of a three-day festival running from Thursday 9 April to Saturday 11 April. Every race across all three days is broadcast live and free on ITV, with full coverage also available to stream on ITVX at no cost. Here is everything you need to know about watching the 2026 Grand National.
If you enjoyed the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year, check out our Cheltenham Festival viewing guide for a look back at the action.
TV Coverage: Where to Watch the Grand National
The Grand National remains one of the crown jewels of free-to-air sport in the UK. ITV holds exclusive terrestrial rights to the entire three-day festival, meaning you do not need any subscription to watch the biggest race of the year.
ITV's coverage typically starts at 1:00pm and runs until approximately 5:40pm each day, with expert analysis, previews, and paddock reports between races. The Grand National race itself goes off at approximately 5:15pm on Saturday.
| Channel | Coverage | How to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| ITV1 | All races live across all three days, plus build-up and analysis | Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat |
| ITVX | Full live stream of all ITV coverage | Free (itvx.com or ITVX app) |
| Racing TV | Additional paddock analysis, post-race interviews, morning previews | Subscription (racingtv.com) |
| Sky Sports Racing | Supplementary coverage and previews | Sky subscription or NOW Sports add-on |
For the vast majority of viewers, ITV1 and ITVX provide everything you need. Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing offer extras for dedicated racing fans, but the races themselves are all on ITV.
The Three-Day Festival: Full Schedule
The Randox Grand National Festival ↗ is not just about the big race on Saturday. It is a three-day celebration of jump racing with quality contests throughout. Here is what to look out for each day.
Thursday 9 April: Opening Day
The festival gets underway on Thursday with a card that sets the tone for the weekend. Opening Day features competitive handicaps alongside some high-quality Grade 1 action.
| Approx. Time | Race Highlights | Key Info |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30pm | Opening race | The festival kicks off with a competitive handicap |
| 2:50pm | Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1) | Top-class novice chasers, often future Grand National contenders |
| 3:25pm | Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) | The feature race: a championship-calibre hurdle over two and a half miles |
| 5:15pm | Closing handicap | Competitive finale to the opening day |
ITV coverage runs from approximately 1:00pm to 5:40pm. The Aintree Hurdle at 3:25pm is the standout contest, regularly attracting Cheltenham Festival winners looking for a second big prize of the spring.
Friday 10 April: Ladies' Day
Ladies' Day is famous for fashion as much as racing, but the quality on the track is superb. The card features two races over the Grand National fences, giving viewers a preview of the course ahead of Saturday's big race.
| Approx. Time | Race Highlights | Key Info |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30pm | Opening race | Ladies' Day gets underway |
| 2:50pm | Topham Chase (Grade 1) | Run over the Grand National fences; a thrilling spectacle and a pointer for Saturday |
| 3:25pm | Melling Chase (Grade 1) | The feature race: two-mile chasing at its best, often a rematch of the Champion Chase |
| 4:40pm | Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) | Top novice hurdlers over three miles |
The Topham Chase over the National fences is a particular highlight. It gives viewers the chance to see how horses handle Becher's Brook, The Chair, and Canal Turn before the Grand National itself. The Melling Chase is often one of the highest-quality races of the entire festival.
Saturday 11 April: Grand National Day
This is the day everyone has been waiting for. Grand National Day ↗ builds through an afternoon of quality supporting races before the main event goes off at approximately 5:15pm.
| Approx. Time | Race Highlights | Key Info |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30pm | Opening race | The afternoon's action begins |
| 2:25pm | Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1) | Fast two-mile novice chase |
| 3:00pm | Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) | Staying hurdle for top-class performers |
| 3:35pm | Handicap chase | Competitive supporting race |
| 5:15pm | The Randox Grand National | The main event: approximately 4 miles 2.5 furlongs, 30 fences, up to 40 runners |
If you can only tune in for one moment, make sure you are watching by 5:00pm on Saturday. The build-up to the Grand National is one of the great occasions in sport, with the parade of runners, the mounting tension, and the incredible atmosphere at Aintree all coming through brilliantly on the ITV coverage.
Understanding the Grand National Race
The Grand National is unlike any other race in the world. It is the ultimate test of horse and jockey, combining stamina, jumping ability, and courage over a unique and demanding course. Here is what makes it so special.
The Course
The Grand National course at Aintree covers approximately 4 miles and 2.5 furlongs, making it by far the longest race most of the runners will ever face. The field of up to 40 runners (the largest in British racing) completes two circuits of the course, jumping 30 fences in total. The race typically takes around eight to ten minutes to complete.
The course is separate from the standard Mildmay course used for other races at Aintree. It has its own character, with undulations, tight turns, and the famous spruce-topped fences that have tested generations of horses and jockeys.
The Famous Fences
The Grand National fences are legendary. While all 16 individual fences (some jumped twice on the two-circuit course) present a challenge, four are particularly renowned:
| Fence | Number | What Makes It Famous |
|---|---|---|
| Becher's Brook | 6th (and 22nd) | The most famous fence in racing. The landing side drops away sharply, meaning horses land much lower than where they took off. Named after Captain Martin Becher, who fell here in the first Grand National in 1839. |
| The Chair | 15th | The tallest fence on the course at 5 feet 2 inches, with a 6-foot open ditch in front of it. Only jumped once as it sits in front of the grandstands. A real test of a horse's bravery. |
| Canal Turn | 8th (and 24th) | Requires a sharp 90-degree left turn immediately after landing. Jockeys aim for the inside to save ground, but the angles make it one of the trickiest obstacles on the course. |
| Valentine's Brook | 9th (and 25th) | Similar to Becher's Brook with a significant drop on the landing side, plus a brook to clear. Named after a horse called Valentine who reportedly jumped it with incredible agility in the early years of the race. |
The Field: Up to 40 Runners
No other major race in British or Irish racing features anything close to 40 runners. The sheer size of the field is part of what makes the Grand National so unpredictable and so exciting. Horses that have never won a Grade 1 race can triumph here, and shock results are a regular occurrence.
The field is determined by a handicap rating system, with the top-weighted horses carrying more weight to level the playing field. Entries are whittled down through a ballot process if more than 40 horses are declared.
Safety Improvements
Aintree has invested significantly in horse safety in recent years. Fences have been modified with more forgiving cores, the landing areas at Becher's Brook and other fences have been levelled, bypass fences allow loose horses to be directed away from the course, and veterinary care is positioned at key points around the track. These changes have made the race safer while preserving the challenge and spectacle that makes the Grand National unique.
Watching From Outside the UK
The Grand National's global audience means coverage is available in many countries. Here is a guide to international viewing options:
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Ireland | RTE (free-to-air) |
| United States | FanDuel TV / NBC Sports |
| Australia | Sky Racing |
| Worldwide | Racing TV International (subscription) |
Irish viewers enjoy excellent coverage on RTE, which typically sends a full team to Aintree and covers the big race live with dedicated build-up programming.
ITVX is available within the UK and may be accessible to viewers in some other territories. If you are outside the UK, check the ITVX website for availability in your region.
The Grand National as a Cultural Event
The Grand National is far more than a horse race. It is a national tradition that has been part of British life since the first running at Aintree in 1839, making it one of the oldest and most storied sporting events in the world.
A Race for Everyone
For many people, the Grand National is the only horse race they watch all year. It is the race that brings families together around the television, prompts office sweepstakes up and down the country, and gets people who know nothing about racing passionately cheering home a horse whose name they picked out of a hat five minutes before the off.
That broad appeal is what sets the Grand National apart. It crosses every demographic and every age group. It is as much a part of the spring calendar as the FA Cup Final or Wimbledon is in summer.
A History of Unforgettable Moments
Over nearly two centuries of racing, the Grand National has produced countless memorable stories. There have been shock results where huge outsiders have triumphed against all odds. There have been emotional victories, with jockeys and trainers achieving lifelong dreams. There have been dramatic finishes decided by the narrowest of margins, and there have been extraordinary tales of horses returning year after year, building up devoted followings among the public.
The race has a unique ability to create sporting legends. Horses that win the Grand National become household names in a way that winners of other races rarely do. The combination of the extreme distance, the famous fences, and the massive field means that every Grand National tells a story.
How to Stream the Grand National for Free
Streaming the Grand National on ITVX is straightforward and completely free. Here is how to set it up:
- On a computer: Go to itvx.com and create a free account. Navigate to the ITV1 live stream when coverage starts at 1:00pm on Saturday
- On mobile or tablet: Download the ITVX app (iOS or Android), sign in, and select the ITV1 live channel
- On a smart TV: Most smart TVs have the ITVX app built in. Open it, sign in, and select live TV
- Via Sky or Virgin: If you have a Sky or Virgin box, simply tune to ITV1 (channel 103 on Sky, channel 103 on Virgin)
ITVX also offers on-demand replays shortly after each race finishes, so you can catch up if you miss anything during the day. If you are only planning to watch the Grand National itself, make sure you are set up and ready by 5:00pm to enjoy the full build-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Grand National 2026?
The Grand National race goes off at approximately 5:15pm on Saturday 11 April 2026. ITV coverage of the full Grand National Day card starts at around 1:00pm, with supporting races throughout the afternoon before the big race.
Is the Grand National free to watch?
Yes, completely free. The entire three-day Grand National Festival is broadcast live on ITV1, which is free-to-air on Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, and Freesat. You can also stream every race for free on ITVX (just create a free account at itvx.com or download the ITVX app).
How long does the Grand National race take?
The Grand National typically takes between eight and ten minutes to complete. The course is approximately 4 miles and 2.5 furlongs with 30 fences to jump. The exact time depends on the pace of the race and ground conditions on the day.
Can I watch the Grand National on my phone?
Yes. Download the free ITVX app on iOS or Android, create a free account, and you can stream the entire Grand National Festival live on your phone. The app also offers on-demand replays if you miss anything.
What channel is the Grand National on?
ITV1 is the main channel for all Grand National coverage. Every race across all three days of the festival is shown live on ITV1. Additional coverage is available on Racing TV (subscription) and Sky Sports Racing (Sky subscription), but all the races are free on ITV.
