How to watch Grand National 2026 for FREE – live stream horse racing | Tech Radar
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How to watch Grand National 2026: Free Streams & TV Channels for Aintree National Hunt Race
Can I Am Maximus conquer Aintree's spruce-topped fences again to emulate Red Rum?
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Stream Grand National 2026 free on ITVX (UK) / Virgin Media Play (Ireland) / Racing.com (Australia)
Grand National 2026: Sat, Apr 11, 11am ET / 4pm BST / 1am AEST (Sun)
Watch the Grand National 2026 as history beckons for favorite I Am Maximus at the 178th running of the world-famous steeplechase from Aintree, Merseyside, UK. The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old was a winner two years ago but finished second to stablemate Nick Rockett 12 months back. They'd been set for a rematch, only for the reigning champion to be withdrawn in midweek with a cough.
The last horse to regain the Grand National title after losing it was Aintree legend Red Rum in 1977. To emulate that colossal achievement, I Am Maximus will need to hold off Grangeclare West – another 10-year-old Mullins entry, who finished third in 2025.
I Am Maximus has been allocated the heaviest weights (11st 12lb), and will be ridden by Paul Townend for the third Grand National in a row. Mullins' son Patrick, despite riding Nick Rockett to glory last year, has been paired with Grangeclare West (11st 10lb).
Also eyeing a piece of Aintree lore is Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs, a Welsh Grand National and Irish Grand National champion. The nine-year-old would be the only winner of all three events. If you're worried about missing The Masters, the average winning time is a shade over nine minutes.
Read on for our guide on where to watch Grand National 2026 live streams online, on TV and potentially for free wherever you are.
The Grand National is free-to-air on ITVX in the UK, Virgin Media Play in Ireland, and Racing.com in Australia.
Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch Grand National 2026 as if you were right at home. Nord VPN is our top pick of the options.
A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend Nord VPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.
Not having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.
Tech Radar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and Nord VPN is our #1 choice.
Get Nord VPN and stream Grand National 2026 from anywhere.
Past editions of the Grand National have been live streamed on Fan Duel TV in the US, with highlights on Fox Sports, but at the time of writing there's no mention of the 2026 race on either of the networks' schedules.
Visiting the US from the UK, Ireland or Australia? Use Nord VPN to watch free-to-air Grand National coverage.
Grand National 2026 appears to have slipped through the cracks in Canada too.
If you're from the UK, Ireland or Australia, a VPN will help you tune in for free. Nord VPN is our recommended provider, and you can find out why with our in-depth Nord VPN review.
How to watch Grand National 2026 live streams in the UK
In the UK, the Grand National is free-to-air on ITV1 and via the ITVX streaming service. Live coverage gets underway at 12.45pm BST.
Outside the UK? You’ll need to download a VPN, as detailed above, to tap into your free Grand National stream from abroad.
How to watch Grand National 2026 live streams in Australia
Grand National 2026 is free-to-air on the Racing.com TV channel and website in Australia, with dedicated live coverage beginning at 9.45pm AEST.
Not in Australia? Use Nord VPN if you're away from home, in order to tap into your usual horse racing coverage from anywhere.
Saturday, April 11 8.20am – 3m 1/2f Handicap Hurdle 8.55am – 2m 4f Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 9.30am – 3m 1f Freebooter Handicap Chase 10.05am – 3m 1/2f Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) 11am – 4m 2 1/2f Grand National (Premier Handicap)
Who are the Grand National 2026 runners and riders?
Grangeclare West & Patrick Mullins – Willie Mullins
Iroko & Jonjo O'Neill Jr. – Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Monty's Star & Darragh O'Keeffe – Henry De Bromhead
Spillane's Tower & Simon Torrens – James Joseph Mangan
Favori De Champdou & Danny Gilligan – Gordon Elliott
Top of The Bill & Toby Mc Cain-Mitchell – Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies
Beauport & Sam Twiston-Davies – Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies
Marble Sands & Kielan Woods – David Killahena and Graeme Mc Pherson
What are the most famous Grand National fences?
At 1.57m tall on the takeoff side and 1.42m high on the landing side, The Chair is Aintree's tallest fence. Making it more challenging still, it's also one of the narrowest on the course, and is preceded by a 1.83m ditch.
However, the devilishly tricky configuration of Becher’s Brook has given it an even bigger reputation. It stands at 1.47m high on the takeoff side but drops significantly deeper on the landing side – 15cm deeper to the outside of the track and 25cm on the inside.
Canal Turn is another that demands care and attention. At 150cm it's plenty tall, but the ensuing chaos stems from the sharp bend that follows immediately after.
The 2026 Grand National purse totals £1m, £500,000 of which is earmarked for the winner. Second place gets £200,000, third gets £100,000, fourth £65,000, fifth £40,000, sixth £30,000, seventh £20,000, eight £15,000, ninth £10,000, and 10th £5,000.
The Grand National weights system is designed to produce a level playing-field, with the most talented and in-form runners having to carry the heaviest loads.
I Am Maximus (11st 12lb), Banbridge (11st 11lb), Gerri Colombe (11st 10lb), Grangeclare West (11st 10lb) and Haiti Couleurs (11st 10lb) have been assigned the heaviest handicaps.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.
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How to watch Grand National 2026: Free Streams & TV Channels for Aintree National Hunt Race
