How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 live: streaming guide and watching from anywhere
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Royal Ascot 2026 runs from Tuesday, June 16th to Saturday, June 20th at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, approximately 30 miles west of London. The five-day meeting is the most prestigious flat racing festival in the world, featuring 35 races and more than £16.7m in prize money, including 8 Group 1 stakes.
In the UK, every race is free to watch live across ITV1 and ITV4 on ITVX. The main broadcast runs on ITV1 from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM BST each day, covering the bulk of the racing. ITV4 carries the opening show from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM BST and returns for the closing coverage from 7:50 PM to 8:30 PM BST. ITVX simulcasts all of this coverage online. Viewers outside the UK will need a VPN to access the free ITVX stream, as the platform is geo-restricted.
The 2026 edition carries notable storylines. Frankie Dettori, the all-time leading Royal Ascot jockey with 81 career wins at the meeting, has not ridden at the Royal meeting since 2023, having spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons riding full-time in the United States. He officially retired from all race-riding in February 2026, closing the chapter permanently. His absence from the Ascot parade ring has already become part of the new landscape of the sport, but 2026 marks the first Royal Ascot since his retirement became official. Trainer Aidan O'Brien remains the dominant force, with Sun Goddess among his notable entries. American trainer Wesley Ward, who broke the US duck at Royal Ascot in 2009, returns with stakes winner Outfielder as his headline runner. William Buick is the leading jockey to follow across the week.
Where to watch Royal Ascot 2026
Below is a complete overview of confirmed broadcasters for Royal Ascot 2026 across major markets, along with when coverage starts in your time zone. Racing begins at 2:30 PM BST each day, with the Royal Procession at 2:00 PM BST.
| Country | Streaming Service | Price | Local start time | Notes |
| United Kingdom | ITV1 / ITV4 / ITVX | Free | 11:30 AM BST (ITV4); 3:30 PM BST (ITV1) | ITV1 carries the main racing; ITV4 opens the day and closes; ITVX simulcasts all |
| United States | Peacock / NBC Sports | From $7.99/month | 8:30 AM ET / 5:30 AM PT | Peacock streams Tue-Fri; NBC broadcasts Saturday finale 9:00 AM-noon ET |
| Australia | Sky Racing | Subscription required | 10:30 PM AEST | Live; 7plus Sport carries catch-up highlights |
| Canada | TSN | From CA$19.99/month | 8:30 AM ET / 5:30 AM PT | Available on TSN Direct OTT platform |
How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 for free with a VPN
ITVX is the easiest way to watch Royal Ascot 2026 completely free online, streaming all five days of coverage without a subscription. The catch is that ITVX is geo-restricted to the United Kingdom, so anyone outside the UK will hit a location block when they try to open the stream. A VPN lets you access the free live stream from abroad by giving you a UK IP address. Our guide to the best VPNs for streaming covers the top options in detail.
- Choose a VPN. We recommend NordVPN for streaming Royal Ascot. It operates thousands of servers worldwide, including UK locations, uses the fast NordLynx protocol for smooth HD streaming, and supports Smart DNS for compatible smart TVs.
- Download and install the app. Install NordVPN on your device – it supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.
- Connect to a UK server. Open the app, select a server location in the United Kingdom, and connect. This gives you a UK IP address.
- Go to ITVX. Open ITVX in your browser or app. You will need a free ITVX account. During signup, use a valid UK postcode to complete registration.
- Find the Royal Ascot live stream. Navigate to the Sport or Live TV section and select the ITV1 stream for the main racing coverage, or ITV4 for the opening and closing shows.
- Start watching for free. The ITV4 opening show begins at 11:30 AM BST; the main ITV1 racing coverage starts at 3:30 PM BST each day.
Why you need a VPN to watch Royal Ascot 2026
ITVX streams Royal Ascot under a licensing agreement that restricts access to viewers physically located in the United Kingdom. When you try to open the stream from another country, ITVX detects your IP address and displays an access error, even if you have a valid account.
A VPN solves this by routing your connection through a UK server, making the broadcaster see you as a UK-based viewer. This is particularly useful for British expats abroad and UK travelers who want to watch without paying for a subscription service in their current location. It also works in reverse – if you subscribe to a paid broadcaster like Peacock or Sky Racing and travel outside the US or Australia, a VPN keeps your home service accessible. You can read more about how this works in our guide to the best VPNs for streaming.
Best VPNs to watch Royal Ascot 2026
All three VPNs below have been tested for live sports streaming and reliably unblock ITVX and other geo-restricted broadcasters.
- NordVPN – best overall for streaming. NordVPN starts at $3.49/month and runs thousands of servers across 149 countries, with NordLynx delivering approximately 83% of tested baseline speeds. Its UK server fleet is large and consistent, making it the most reliable option for unblocking ITVX for Royal Ascot. Smart DNS support adds easy TV compatibility. Read our full NordVPN review for details.
- Surfshark – best budget option. Surfshark starts at $2.49/month with unlimited simultaneous connections and 4,500+ servers across 149 countries. The WireGuard protocol holds approximately 82% of baseline speeds in testing, which is more than enough for smooth HD live racing on ITVX. Read our full Surfshark review for details.
- Proton VPN – best for privacy-focused users. Proton VPN starts at $2.99/month and is based in Switzerland under strong privacy laws. It offers 20,300+ servers in 148 countries and a solid free tier, with reliable performance on UK broadcasters for travelers who prioritize data protection. Read our full Proton VPN review for details.
How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 on different devices
Not every streaming service runs on every device, and VPN availability also varies by platform. The table below shows what works on which screen for the key Royal Ascot 2026 broadcasters, so you can pick the setup that suits you.
| Device | ITVX | Peacock | Sky Racing | NordVPN | How to use VPN |
| Web browser (desktop) | Web | Web | Web | Yes | Native app |
| Web browser (mobile) | Web | Web | Web | Yes | Native app |
| iPhone / iPad | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Android phone / tablet | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Android TV / Google TV | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Amazon Fire TV | App | App | No | Yes | Native app |
| Apple TV | App | App | No | Yes | Native app |
| Samsung TV (Tizen) | No | No | No | No | Smart DNS or router |
| LG TV (webOS) | No | No | No | No | Smart DNS or router |
| Roku | Cast | App | No | No | Router or Smart DNS |
| Chromecast (older) | Cast | Cast | Cast | No | Cast from VPN device |
| PlayStation | No | No | No | No | Router |
| Xbox | No | No | No | No | Router |
The web browser is the easiest path on any laptop or desktop. Just connect NordVPN to a UK server and open ITVX in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari – no app install or region-specific account needed. ITVX carries both the ITV1 main feed and the ITV4 opening and closing shows, so you get the full day's coverage in one place online. If you are watching on an iPhone or iPad, the ITVX app is available on the UK App Store; if it is not listed in your local store, use the ITVX website in Safari instead. The VPN changes your IP address but does not change your App Store country – the web browser path sidesteps this entirely. For guidance on switching your Apple ID region, see our guide on how to change your Apple App Store country.
Samsung and LG smart TVs do not support native VPN apps. The two practical options are installing NordVPN on your home router, every device on the network then routes through the VPN automatically, or enabling NordVPN's Smart DNS on the TV's network settings. If you need help with the router path, our VPN router setup guide walks through the process.
How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 in the US, UK, CA, and AU
How to watch in the United Kingdom
Royal Ascot 2026 is fully free in the UK across ITV1, ITV4, and ITVX. The main TV broadcast runs on ITV1 from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM BST each day, covering the vast majority of the day's racing. ITV4 opens the day with a dedicated racing show from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM BST and returns for the closing segment from 7:50 PM to 8:30 PM BST. ITVX simulcasts all of this online and is the easiest option for viewers who want to watch on a laptop, phone, or streaming device. ITV holds an exclusive free-to-air deal for UK horse racing through the end of 2026. A free ITVX account is required to stream online. Sky Sports Racing and Virgin Media also carry coverage for subscribers who want additional pre-race and analysis content.
How to watch in the United States
Peacock is the primary streaming destination for US viewers, with live coverage of all five days beginning at 8:30 AM ET / 5:30 AM PT Tuesday through Friday, June 16th-19th. NBC Sports broadcasts the Saturday finale as a three-hour show from 9:00 AM to noon ET on June 20th. Ascot and NBC Sports confirmed a multi-year extension of their broadcast relationship in October 2025, expanding coverage to include additional races designated as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. Peacock plans start from $7.99/month.
How to watch in Canada
TSN carries Royal Ascot 2026 for Canadian viewers, streaming all five days through its TSN Direct OTT platform. Coverage begins at 8:30 AM ET / 5:30 AM PT each day, matching the US broadcast window. TSN Direct plans start from CA$19.99/month and require no cable subscription.
How to watch in Australia
Sky Racing is the confirmed live broadcaster for Royal Ascot 2026 in Australia. Given the time difference, racing begins at approximately 10:30 PM AEST each night, running through to the early hours of the following morning. 7plus Sport carries catch-up highlights for viewers who cannot follow the live coverage. A Sky Racing subscription is required for the live stream.
Royal Ascot 2026 schedule: key races by day
Royal Ascot runs seven races per day across five days. Each day features a distinct theme and at least one Group 1 headline race. ITV4 coverage opens each day at 11:30 AM BST; the main ITV1 broadcast begins at 3:30 PM BST; the first race goes off at 2:30 PM BST.
| Day | Date | Theme | Headline Group 1 race |
| Day 1 | Tuesday, June 16th | Queen Anne Stakes Day | Queen Anne Stakes (G1), King Charles III Stakes (G1), St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) |
| Day 2 | Wednesday, June 17th | Prince of Wales's Day | Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1), Queen Mary Stakes (G2) |
| Day 3 | Thursday, June 18th | Ladies Day / Gold Cup Day | Ascot Gold Cup (G1) at 4:20 PM BST |
| Day 4 | Friday, June 19th | Commonwealth Cup Day | Commonwealth Cup (G1), Coronation Stakes (G1) |
| Day 5 | Saturday, June 20th | Diamond Jubilee Day | Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) |
FAQ
What channel is Royal Ascot 2026 on?
In the UK, the main Royal Ascot 2026 broadcast is on ITV1 from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM BST each day. ITV4 carries the opening show from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM BST and returns from 7:50 PM to 8:30 PM BST. ITVX simulcasts everything online for free. In the US, coverage is on Peacock (Tuesday-Friday) and NBC Sports (Saturday). Australian viewers can watch on Sky Racing, and Canadian viewers can follow on TSN.
Is Royal Ascot free to watch?
Yes, for viewers in the United Kingdom. ITV1, ITV4, and ITVX carry all five days free of charge, with no subscription required. A free ITVX account is needed to access the online stream. Outside the UK, coverage requires a paid subscription to services like Peacock, Sky Racing, or TSN. Viewers abroad who want to access the free ITVX stream can do so with a VPN connected to a UK server.
When does Royal Ascot 2026 start?
Royal Ascot 2026 starts on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026. The ITV4 opening show begins at 11:30 AM BST, the Royal Procession takes place at 2:00 PM BST, and the first race goes off at 2:30 PM BST. The main ITV1 broadcast runs from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM BST each day. In the US, Peacock coverage starts at 8:30 AM ET / 5:30 AM PT.
Can I watch Royal Ascot 2026 from abroad?
Yes. If you are a UK viewer traveling abroad, you can still access the free ITVX stream by connecting a VPN to a UK server before opening the site. The VPN restores your UK IP address so ITVX recognizes you as an in-region viewer. ITVX carries both the ITV1 main feed and the ITV4 opening and closing shows, so you get the complete broadcast in one place. Our guide to the best VPNs for streaming covers the most reliable options.
What is the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot?
The Ascot Gold Cup is a Group 1 race run over two miles and four furlongs, making it one of the longest and most prestigious flat races in British racing. It takes place on Thursday, June 18th – known as Ladies Day – with a scheduled start time of 4:20 PM BST, placing it squarely within the main ITV1 broadcast window. The Gold Cup is traditionally the centerpiece of the entire Royal Ascot meeting and attracts the world's best long-distance flat horses.
How do I create an ITVX account to watch Royal Ascot for free?
Go to ITVX and click Sign Up to create a free account. You will be asked for your email address and a UK postcode during registration. If you are outside the UK, use a valid UK postcode to complete the form – a simple web search for a London postcode will give you a valid option. Make sure your VPN is connected to a UK server before visiting the site.
