How to watch Royal Ascot 2026: FREE live streams, schedule, TV channels for the horse racing festival

Stream Royal Ascot 2026 free on ITVX (UK) / Virgin Media Play (Ireland)

Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save up to 75%)

Gold Cup 2026: Thu, Jun 18, 11.20am ET / 4.20pm BST / 1.20am AEST (Fri)

Watch Royal Ascot 2026, as the Queen Anne Stakes (9.30am ET / 2.30pm BST) headlines Day 1 of the festival. The traditional opener is worth £800,000, £453,680 of which will go to the winner, making the Group 1-rated one-mile race the third-most lucrative event of the five-day festival.

Notable Speech, ridden by William Buick, is the pre-race favourite, though last year's Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands, mounted by Mark Zahra, is back to defend his crown.

There are 35 races in total across the five-day festival at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, including eight Group 1 runs. The King Charles III Stakes (10.40am ET / 3.40pm BST) and St James’ Palace Stakes (11.20am ET / 4.20pm BST) are the other main attractions on Day 1.

Overpass and Joshua Parr are being hotly tipped for King Charles III Stakes glory, while 2,000 Guineas winner Bow Echo, ridden by Billy Loughnane, looks like the one to beat in the St James’ Palace Stakes.

Read on for our guide on where to watch Royal Ascot 2026 live streams online, on TV and potentially for free wherever you are.

Can you watch Royal Ascot 2026 for free?

Yes. Royal Ascot 2026 is free-to-air on ITVX in the UK, Virgin Media Play in Ireland, and 7Plus in Australia.

Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch Royal Ascot as if you were right at home. NordVPN is our top pick of the options.

How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 using a VPN

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 NordVPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.

How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 live streams in the US

Horse racing fans in the US can watch complete Royal Ascot coverage on Peacock.

The Peacock price starts at $10.99/month or $109.99/year for a plan that carries live sports.

Saturday's action will also be shown on NBC.

If you don't have the channel on cable, it's available through Sling – specifically the Blue plan, which starts at $45.99/month. It includes NBC, ABC and Fox in select locations, plus FS1, USA Network and FX.

Alternatively, NBC is also carried by Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, each of which offers a free trial to new users.

Visiting the US from the UK or Ireland? Use NordVPN to watch free-to-air Royal Ascot coverage.

Can I watch Royal Ascot 2026 in Canada?

Royal Ascot appears to have slipped through the cracks in Canada.

If you're from the UK or Ireland, a VPN will help you tune in for free. NordVPN is our recommended provider, and you can find out why with our in-depth NordVPN review.

How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 live streams in the UK

In the UK, Royal Ascot is free-to-air on ITV1 and ITV4, with live streaming available via the ITVX streaming service.

Live coverage gets underway at 1.30pm BST on each day of the festival.

All you need is an account, a TV license and a UK postcode (e.g.HA9 0WS). Sign up here!

Outside the UK? You’ll need to download a VPN, as detailed above, to tap into your free Royal Ascot stream from abroad.

How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 live streams in Australia

Royal Ascot is being shown on free-to-air 7Plus in Australia.

It's also available via Sky Thoroughbred Central via Foxtel (streamed via Foxtel Now).

Not in Australia? Use NordVPN if you're away from home, in order to tap into your usual horse racing coverage from anywhere.

What is the Royal Ascot 2026 schedule?

Tuesday, June 16

2.30pm – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)

3.05pm – Coventry Stakes

3.40pm – King Charles III Stakes (Group 1)

4.20pm – St James’ Palace Stakes (Group 1)

5pm – Ascot Stakes (Handicap)

5.35pm – Wolferton Stakes

6.10pm – Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap)

Wednesday, June 17

2.30pm – Queen Mary Stakes

3.05pm – Queen’s Vase

3.40pm – Duke of Cambridge Stakes

4.20pm – Prince of Wales' Stakes (Group 1)

5pm – Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)

5.35pm – Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap)

6.10pm – Windsor Castle Stakes

Thursday, June 18

2.30pm – Norfolk Stakes

3.05pm – King George V Stakes (Handicap)

3.40pm – Ribblesdale Stakes

4.20pm – Gold Cup (Group 1)

5pm – Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

5.35pm – Hampton Court Stakes

6.10pm – Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap)

Friday, June 19

2.30pm – Albany Stakes

3.05pm – Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)

3.40pm – Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)

4.20pm – Coronation Stakes (Group 1)

5pm – Sandringham Stakes (Handicap)

5.35pm – King Edward VII Stakes

6.10pm – Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)

Saturday, June 20

2.30pm – Chesham Stakes

3.05pm – Hardwicke Stakes

3.40pm – Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)

4.20pm – Jersey Stakes

5pm – Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

5.35pm – Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap)

6.10pm – Queen Alexandra Stakes

(All times BST)

Who are the Royal Ascot Queen Anne Stakes 2026 runners and riders?

Cicero's Gift & Jason Watson

Damysus & James Doyle

Docklands & Mark Zahra

First Conquest & Ryan Moore

More Thunder & Tom Marquand

Notable Speech & William Buick

Opera Ballo & Billy Loughnane

Ten Bob Tony & Kieran Shoemark

Zeus Olympios & Clifford Lee

What is the Royal Ascot Gold Cup 2026 prize money?

The 2026 Royal Ascot Gold Cup purse totals £700,000, £396,970 of which is earmarked for the winner. However, it isn't the most lucrative race of the festival.

The Prince of Wales’ Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes are each worth $1m. In both cases the winner will receive a £567,100 share. The Queen Anne Stakes, meanwhile, is worth £800,000, with the winner getting £453,680.

The total Royal Ascot prize fund across the 35 races is £10.65m.

Disclaimer

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