La Vuelta a España is preparing for its biggest ever tour of Andalucia, with almost 160 towns and cities across all eight provinces featuring during the decisive final stages of the cycling race.

The 2026 edition of the Spanish Grand Tour began in Monaco on August 22 and will cover 3,275km across 21 stages before reaching its conclusion in Granada on September 13.

For the first time in its history, La Vuelta will travel through four countries, but Andalucia will provide the backdrop for much of the decisive final stretch.

Ten stages will take place wholly or partly in the region, taking riders from the deserts and mountains of Almeria to the Costa del Sol, Sevilla, Cadiz and Huelva before the eventual winner is crowned in Granada.

The race arrives in Andalucia on Thursday, September 3, and the region will remain at the heart of the action until the finale 10 days later.

When is La Vuelta coming to Andalucia?

The Andalucian section begins with a mountain stage between Vera and Calar Alto in Almeria.

From there, riders will tackle a succession of mountain, medium-mountain and flatter stages, as well as an individual time trial in Cadiz province.

The Andalucian stages are:

• September 3 – Stage 12: Vera to Calar Alto (Almeria), 166.6km, mountain
• September 4 – Stage 13: Almuñecar to Loja (Granada), 192.8km, medium mountain
• September 5 – Stage 14: Jaen to Sierra de la Pandera (Jaen), 154.5km, mountain
• September 6 – Stage 15: Palma del Rio to Cordoba, 189.7km, medium mountain
• September 8 – Stage 16: Cartagena to La Rabida, Palos de la Frontera (Huelva), 181.1km, rolling
• September 9 – Stage 17: Dos Hermanas to Sevilla, 185km, flat
• September 10 – Stage 18: El Puerto de Santa Maria to Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz), 32km, individual time trial
• September 11 – Stage 19: Velez-Malaga to Peñas Blancas, Estepona (Malaga), 210km, rolling with a summit finish
• September 12 – Stage 20: La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil (Granada), 186.8km, mountain
• September 13 – Stage 21: Carrefour Granada to Granada, 112km, flat

Where will La Vuelta pass in Almeria?

Stage 12 on September 3 will take the peloton through 19 municipalities in Almeria province:

Albanchez, Albox, Alcudia de Monteagud, Antas, Arboleas, Bacares, Benitagla, Cantoria, Castro de Filabres, Chercos, Cobdar, Gergal, Macael, Senes, Tabernas, Tahal, Velefique, Vera and Zurgena.

The stage finishes at Calar Alto, providing the first major mountain test of the Andalucian section.

Where will La Vuelta pass in Granada?

Granada will have by far the greatest exposure, with 56 municipalities featuring across stages 13, 20 and 21.

They include Albuñan, Albuñuelas, Aldeire, Alhama de Granada, Alhendin, Almuñecar, Alquife, Arenas del Rey, Armilla, Atarfe, Cacin, Cajar, Cenes de la Vega, Churriana de la Vega, Cogollos de Guadix, Cortes y Graena, Cullar Vega, Dilar, Dudar, Durcal, El Pinar, El Valle, Fornes, Gojar, Granada, Guadix, Guejar Sierra, Huetor Tajar, Huetor Vega, Illora, Jayena, Jerez del Marquesado, La Calahorra, La Peza, La Zubia, Lanteira, Las Gabias, Lecrin, Loja, Los Guajares, Marchal, Monachil, Montefrio, Moraleda de Zafayona, Motril, Niguelas, Ogijares, Padul, Pinos Genil, Purullena, Quentar, Salobreña, Santa Fe, Vegas del Genil, Villa de Otura and Velez de Benaudalla.

Granada will also host the grand finale on September 13.

The final stage will sweep through the metropolitan area, including Armilla, Churriana de la Vega, Huetor Vega, Cajar, La Zubia, Ogijares, Gojar, Otura, Alhendin, Las Gabias, Cullar Vega, Santa Fe and Atarfe.

The peloton will then head into Granada itself, with the route taking riders up towards the Alhambra before the 2026 champion is crowned.

Where will La Vuelta pass in Jaen?

Stage 14 on Saturday, September 5 will visit 11 municipalities:

Castillo de Locubin, Fuensanta de Martos, Jaen, Jimena, La Guardia de Jaen, Los Villares, Mancha Real, Martos, Pegalajar, Torres and Valdepeñas de Jaen.

The 154.5km mountain stage culminates at Sierra de la Pandera.

Where will La Vuelta pass in Cordoba?

Nine municipalities feature during Stage 15 on Sunday, September 6:

Almodovar del Rio, Cordoba, Espiel, Hornachuelos, Obejo, Palma del Rio, Posadas, Villaharta and Villaviciosa de Cordoba.

The 189.7km medium-mountain stage begins in Palma del Rio and finishes in Cordoba.

Where will La Vuelta pass in Huelva?

Huelva will welcome the race on Tuesday, September 8, with 22 municipalities on the route:

Almonaster la Real, Aracena, Berrocal, Bonares, Campofrio, Castaño del Robledo, Cortegana, El Campillo, Fuenteheridos, Jabugo, La Palma del Condado, Los Marines, Lucena del Puerto, Minas de Riotinto, Moguer, Nerva, Niebla, Palos de la Frontera, Paterna del Campo, Santa Ana la Real, Villarrasa and Zalamea la Real.

The stage finishes at La Rabida in Palos de la Frontera.

Where will La Vuelta pass in Sevilla?

Stage 17 on Wednesday, September 9 will bring La Vuelta to Sevilla province.

The route includes Alcala de Guadaira, Arahal, Brenes, Carmona, Dos Hermanas, El Coronil, El Viso del Alcor, La Rinconada, Los Molares, Los Palacios y Villafranca, Mairena del Alcor, Montellano, Moron de la Frontera, Sevilla and Utrera.

The 185km flat stage starts in Dos Hermanas before finishing in Sevilla city.

Where will La Vuelta pass in Cadiz?

Cadiz has just two municipalities on the itinerary, but will host one of the race’s most important stages.

On Thursday, September 10, riders will compete individually against the clock over 32km between El Puerto de Santa Maria and Jerez de la Frontera.

With only three stages remaining afterwards, the time trial could prove crucial to the battle for the red jersey.

Where will La Vuelta pass on the Costa del Sol?

The Costa del Sol gets its turn on Friday, September 11, with the longest of the Andalucian stages.

Stage 19 covers 210km from Velez-Malaga to Peñas Blancas in Estepona, with 18 municipalities in Malaga province featuring on the route.

They are Alhaurin el Grande, Alozaina, Benahavis, Coin, Cartama, El Burgo, Estepona, Genalguacil, Guaro, Igualeja, Malaga, Marbella, Parauta, Rincon de la Victoria, Ronda, Tolox, Velez-Malaga and Yunquera.

After travelling across the province, the riders face a punishing summit finish at Peñas Blancas above Estepona.

It means residents across much of the Costa del Sol – including Malaga, Marbella and Estepona – will have the chance to see the world’s top riders pass through their communities.

Just one day later comes the mountainous penultimate stage from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil, before everything concludes in Granada on September 13.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.