Crime & Safety
How to watch the 2026 Grand National, start time and runners
The event takes place across three days at Aintree Racecourse, with Opening Day and Ladies Day taking place so far.
But the main event, the Grand National, will take place on Saturday, April 11.
The race will see 34 horses and jockeys jump 30 fences across the four-mile route with a £1 million prize up for grabs.
Zeus Power!
A strong winner of the @oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
pic.twitter.com/n1njkNYjxR — Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 10, 2026
So, you do not miss seeing “the world’s greatest steeplechase”, here is all you need to know about the 2026 Grand National, including the start time, runners and where to watch.
How to watch the 2026 Grand National
Coverage for the Grand National will kick off on ITV1 and ITVX from 3.15pm.
The race will start at 4pm on Saturday, April 11.
Saturday’s final race will also be shown online at Racing.tv .
The first (12.45pm) and final (5pm) races on Saturday will not be available to watch on ITV.
Grand National 2026 runners
The horses taking part in the race are:
- I Am Maximus
- Panic Attack
- Jagwar
- Grangeclare West
- Johnnywho
- Monty’s Star
- Iroko
- Oscar’s Brother
- Captain Cody
- Haiti Couleurs
- Gorgeous Tom
- Gerri Colombe
- Final Orders
- Quai De Bourbon
- Stellar Story
Who has the rights to the Grand National?
ITV currently has the rights to broadcast The Grand National in the UK, which it has had since 2017.
The race was first broadcast on the BBC back in 1960, and it stayed that way until 2013 when Channel 4 got the rights, which lasted until 2016.
Along with the Epsom Derby, the Grand National is one of two horse races that must be broadcast on free-to-air television in the UK.
Will you be watching the Grand National? Let us know in the comments below.