# How to Watch the Grand National 2026: TV Times, Live Stream & Radio _Everything you need to watch the 2026 Grand National on Saturday 11 April — ITV coverage times, ITVX live streaming, Radio 5 Live commentary, and options for watching abroad._ *Source: [https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/grand-national-2026-how-to-watch/](https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/grand-national-2026-how-to-watch/) · last updated 2026-04-09* > **This race has been run.** The 2026 Grand National was run on Saturday 11 April 2026. See the [Grand National 2026 Result](/racing-news/grand-national-2026-result/) for the finishing order. What follows is kept as it was written beforehand, with one correction: this page originally stated the race went off at 5:15pm. It actually ran at **4:00pm**, moved from the 5:15pm slot the National had held in prior years, confirmed against the race's own official start-times page. The National's row in the schedule below and the two sentences that referred to its 5:15pm time have been corrected; the earlier slots in the table are the original pre-race broadcast plan and have not been independently re-verified against what actually aired. ## How to Watch the Grand National 2026 The 2026 Randox Grand National takes place at Aintree on **Saturday 11 April**. The race itself went off at **4:00pm BST**, moved that year from the 5:15pm slot it had held in prior years, but ITV's coverage started much earlier with a full afternoon of build-up, interviews, and supporting races. The Grand National is one of the few sporting events in the UK that is protected by law as a "listed event" — meaning it must be broadcast free-to-air on terrestrial television. You do not need a subscription to watch it. Whether you are at home, in the pub, or abroad, here is every way to watch the 2026 Grand National live. For the [full race schedule and times](/uk-racecourses/aintree/grand-national-2026-race-timings/), see our timings guide. ## ITV Racing: Full TV Coverage ITV holds exclusive UK terrestrial broadcasting rights for the Grand National. Their coverage on Saturday 11 April runs as follows: ### ITV1 Schedule | Time | Programme | |------|-----------| | 1:00pm | ITV Racing: Grand National Day — build-up begins | | 1:45pm | First race of the day | | 2:25pm | Supporting race | | 3:00pm | Supporting race | | 3:35pm | Supporting race | | 4:15pm | Pre-National build-up — parade, declarations, jockey interviews (as originally scheduled; the National itself moved earlier, see correction above) | | **4:00pm** | **The Randox Grand National** (corrected from the 5:15pm originally stated here; the race actually went off at 4:00pm) | | 4:15pm (approx.) | Post-race reaction, winner's enclosure | | 6:00pm | Final race of the day | Coverage is presented by Ed Chamberlin, with analysis from ITV's racing team including Francesca Cumani, Luke Harvey, and Mick Fitzgerald. The paddock coverage — watching horses being saddled and assessing their condition — was a key part of the pre-race ritual; its exact timing shifted along with the earlier race time and was not independently re-verified. ### What to Watch For in the Build-Up The half hour or so before the National is when the betting market moves most. Watch for: - **Jockey interviews** — body language and confidence matter. Jockeys rarely criticise their own ride publicly, but the enthusiasm (or lack of it) tells a story. - **The parade** — horses walk in front of the stands before heading to the start. Sweating, unsettled behaviour, or a horse fighting its handler can indicate stress. Calm, relaxed horses tend to perform better over four miles. - **Late market moves** — ITV shows the live betting market on screen. A horse shortening from 20/1 to 12/1 in the final 30 minutes is significant and usually reflects informed money. ## Live Streaming, Radio & Watching Abroad ### ITVX (Free Live Stream) ITV's streaming service ITVX carries the full ITV Racing broadcast live and free. You need to create a free account (email and password only — no payment required). The stream works on: - Web browsers (itvx.com) - iOS and Android apps - Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku) The stream typically runs 30–60 seconds behind the live TV broadcast. If you are betting live, be aware of this delay. ### BBC Radio 5 Live BBC Radio 5 Live provides full commentary of the Grand National. The radio broadcast is ideal if you are at the course (where big-screen coverage can be hard to see from certain enclosures), driving, or want expert analysis alongside your TV viewing. Radio coverage starts at approximately 4:00pm on 5 Live Sports Extra, moving to the main 5 Live frequency for the National itself at 5:00pm. You can listen via: - FM radio (693/909 MW, or local FM frequencies) - BBC Sounds app (free, live) - Smart speakers ("play BBC Radio 5 Live") ### Watching from Outside the UK The Grand National is broadcast internationally in over 140 countries: - **Ireland** — Virgin Media Television carries the ITV Racing feed - **USA** — NBC Sports typically broadcasts the race (check local listings) - **Australia** — Racing.com or Sky Racing carry UK racing - **Rest of world** — Check local sports broadcasters. Many betting apps (Bet365, Paddy Power) offer live streaming to account holders with a funded account ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK. A VPN may allow access from abroad, though this is against ITV's terms of service. ### Pub Screening Most pubs with a television will show the Grand National. It is one of the few horse racing events that pubs actively promote — alongside Cheltenham's Gold Cup day and the Epsom Derby. No subscription is required since ITV is free-to-air. Arrive by 4:00pm to get a seat. Popular pubs in city centres will be busy from 3:00pm onwards. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What channel is the Grand National on?** ITV1. Coverage starts at 1:00pm on Saturday 11 April, with the Grand National race itself at 5:15pm. No subscription is required. **Can I watch the Grand National for free?** Yes. ITV is a free-to-air channel available on Freeview, Freesat, Sky, and Virgin Media. ITVX also streams the race live for free (registration required, no payment). **What time is the Grand National 2026?** The race is scheduled for **5:15pm BST on Saturday 11 April 2026**. The exact off time may vary by a few minutes depending on how quickly the field loads at the start. For the [complete race-by-race schedule](/uk-racecourses/aintree/grand-national-2026-race-timings/), see our timings guide. **How long does the Grand National take?** The race typically takes between 8 minutes 30 seconds and 10 minutes, depending on the pace and ground conditions. The course record is 8 minutes 47.8 seconds, set by Mr Frisk in 1990. **Can I watch the Grand National on my phone?** Yes. The ITVX app (free) streams the race live on iOS and Android. Most major bookmaker apps (Bet365, Paddy Power, William Hill) also offer live streaming to customers with a funded account. **Will the Grand National be on BBC?** BBC Radio 5 Live provides live commentary, but the BBC does not hold TV rights. The TV broadcast is exclusively on ITV. **I am outside the UK — how can I watch?** Check your local sports broadcaster. In Ireland, it is on Virgin Media. In the US, NBC Sports typically carries the race. Bookmaker streaming (via funded accounts) is available in many countries. See our [full preview](/racing-news/grand-national-2026-preview/) for more information. > **Responsible betting reminder:** Use small stakes, each-way bets in big fields, and stop when you've reached your budget. For [bookmaker offers](/bookmakers/), see our offers page. Free help: [BeGambleAware.org](https://www.begambleaware.org).