How to watch 24 Hours of Daytona 2026 for free: TV, streaming, and schedule
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The 24 Hours of Daytona takes place at Daytona International Speedway and runs nonstop for a full 24 hours, making it one of the most demanding endurance races in motorsport. The 2026 race starts on Saturday, January 24th at 1:40 PM ET and continues through Sunday afternoon, January 25th, with teams racing day and night until the checkered flag.
The event features a mixed-class grid, with prototype and GT cars sharing the track. Strategy plays a major role throughout the race, as teams manage driver rotations, fuel windows, tire wear, night racing conditions, and potential weather changes. Because the lead can change multiple times overnight, many fans follow the race in stages rather than watching all 24 hours at once.
In the United States, official coverage is split between broadcast TV and streaming. NBC airs live coverage of key portions of the race, including the start and the finish, while Peacock Premium provides flag-to-flag live streaming of the entire event. In addition to these paid options, the race is also known for offering official free streams in certain regions, which makes it possible to watch without a subscription depending on where you are located.
How to watch the 24 Hours of Daytona for free in the US with a VPN
In the US, full live coverage of the 24 Hours of Daytona is usually tied to paid broadcasters. However, IMSA often provides an official free international live stream in regions where local TV rights do not apply. That makes it possible to watch the race for free by accessing IMSA’s own global coverage.
The steps below explain how viewers in the US can watch the race for free using IMSA’s official platforms, including the IMSA Official YouTube channel and the IMSA website. This method works on laptops, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
- Choose a VPN that offers servers outside the US. We recommend picking a provider with locations in Europe or Australia, such as NordVPN.
- Install the VPN app on your device.
- Open the VPN and connect to a non-US server.
- Open the IMSA Official YouTube channel or go to the IMSA website and find the live stream for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
- Select the live broadcast and start watching.
Connect to the VPN before opening YouTube or the IMSA website. If the live stream does not appear, refresh the page after connecting. If you still see the wrong region, clear your browser cookies and cache, then reload the page.
Race schedule and key times to watch
Below is a viewer-friendly schedule guide for the 24 Hours of Daytona. It highlights the most important moments of the race and converts them into ET, CET, and Australian Eastern time, so readers can quickly plan when to tune in.
Note: Times are based on the official race start at 1:40 PM ET on Saturday, January 24th, 2026.
| Race moment | ET (US) | CET (Europe) | AEDT (Australia) |
| Race start (green flag) | Saturday, Jan 24th, 1:40 PM ET | Saturday, Jan 24th, 7:40 PM CET | Sunday, Jan 25th, 5:40 AM AEDT |
| Sunset period (strategy shift) | Saturday, Jan 24th, around 6:00 PM ET | Sunday, Jan 25th – around 12:00 AM CET | Sunday, Jan 25th, around 10:00 AM AEDT |
| Midnight racing | Sunday, Jan 25th, 12:00 AM ET | Sunday, Jan 25th, 6:00 AM CET | Sunday, Jan 25th, 4:00 PM AEDT |
| Overnight stints | Sunday, Jan 25th, 1:00 AM–6:00 AM ET | Sunday, Jan 25th, 7:00 AM–12:00 PM CET | Sunday, Jan 25th, 5:00 PM–10:00 PM AEDT |
| Sunrise period | Sunday, Jan 25th, around 7:00 AM ET | Sunday, Jan 25th, around 1:00 PM CET | Monday, Jan 26th, around 1:00 AM AEDT |
| Final hours | Sunday, Jan 25th, 11:00 AM ET | Sunday, Jan 25th, 5:00 PM CET | Monday, Jan 26th, 3:00 AM AEDT |
| Race finish | Sunday, Jan 25th, 1:40 PM ET | Sunday, Jan 25th, 7:40 PM CET | Monday, Jan 26th, 5:40 AM AEDT |
What else can you stream for free on YouTube during the Daytona weekend
In addition to the main 24-hour race, IMSA streams several key sessions and support races for free on its official YouTube channel. These events are part of the official Rolex 24 at Daytona weekend and give viewers more live racing without a subscription.
All of the streams below are confirmed for 2026 and scheduled on the IMSA Official YouTube channel.
| Event | What it is | Date | Time (ET) |
| IMSA Rolex 24 Qualifying | Sets the starting grid for the main race | Thursday, Jan 22nd, 2026 | 9:05 PM ET |
| Mazda MX-5 Cup – Race 1 | Support race, short-format sprint | Friday, Jan 23rd, 2026 | 12:15 AM ET |
| Mazda MX-5 Cup – Race 2 | Second MX-5 Cup race | Friday, Jan 23rd, 2026 | 5:00 PM ET |
| BMWM Endurance Challenge | 4-hour endurance support race (Michelin Pilot Challenge) | Friday, Jan 23rd, 2026 | 8:45 PM ET |
How to watch the 24 Hours of Daytona in the US
In the US, coverage is split between broadcast TV and paid streaming. Qualifying airs on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026, at 9:05 PM ET. The race itself starts on Saturday, January 24th, at 1:40 PM ET and runs through Sunday, January 25th, at 1:40 PM ET.
NBC shows the start and finish of the race on free-to-air TV. For full flag-to-flag live coverage, viewers need Peacock Premium, which streams the entire race plus qualifying and additional IMSA sessions. Peacock Premium costs $10.99/month, while the ad-free tier with live sports costs $16.99/month. Peacock Premium is the only official way to stream the full race live in the US.
How to watch the 24 Hours of Daytona in Canada
Canada does not have a confirmed domestic broadcaster for the 2026 race, and Peacock is not officially available in Canada. Because there is no local rights holder, IMSA typically provides official international coverage through its own platforms.
Canadian viewers can usually watch qualifying at 9:05 PM ET on January 22nd and the full race from 1:40 PM ET on January 24th via the IMSA Official YouTube channel or IMSA.tv. These streams are free where available and include live commentary and timing graphics.
How to watch the 24 Hours of Daytona in the UK
For 2026, there is no confirmed UK TV broadcaster with exclusive rights. As a result, IMSA’s official international streams are the primary viewing option.
In UK time, qualifying starts at 2:05 AM GMT on Friday, January 23rd. The race begins on Saturday, January 24th, at 6:40 PM GMT and finishes at the same time on Sunday. When no UK broadcaster holds the rights, the full race typically streams live and free on the IMSA Official YouTube channel and IMSA.tv.
How to watch the 24 Hours of Daytona in Australia
Australia also does not have a confirmed free-to-air or pay-TV broadcaster for the 2026 race. In previous seasons, Australian viewers have relied on IMSA’s international streams when no local deal exists.
Qualifying airs at 1:05 PM AEDT on Friday, January 23rd. The race starts early on Sunday, January 25th, at 5:40 AM AEDT, and runs through to Monday, January 26th, at 5:40 AM AEDT. Where available, the IMSA Official YouTube channel and IMSA.tv provide free, official live coverage across devices.
