South Australia will be the epicentre of international cycling once again when the Santos Tour Down Under returns with a 10-day festival from16-25 January 2026.

Willunga and the southern vales will feature in both the men’s and women’s races, but the south coast will not host a start or finish next year.

The 10-day Santos Festival of Cycling will begin with a teams presentation in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga on Friday January 16, followed by the women’s race from January 17-19 and a revamped men’s race from January 20-25.

It will see the return of an inner-city prologue, a triple treat on Willunga Hill and final day showdown in Stirling to open the men’s and women’s UCI WorldTour seasons.

Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison says releasing the race routes for next year’s Santos Tour Down Under is a catalyst for interstate and overseas cycling fans to plan and book their annual January holidays to South Australia.

“Earlier this year we celebrated the event’s 25th birthday which saw approximately 807,900 people attending the event, helping generate $62.5 million for the state’s economy. Now we want to take that momentum into next year where once again the eyes of the world will be on South Australia for 10 days when we host the biggest bike race in the southern hemisphere.

“Already the first race in the world to offer equal prize money for women and men, January is also shaping up to be the first time in our race’s history we’ve had all women’s and men’s WorldTour teams on the start line.

“Our race directors have designed a fresh and interesting course that showcases our city as well as the stunning natural beauty of our regions such as the Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Fleurieu Peninsula, and the communities and towns that make the event so special.

Features of the 2026 women’s race include:

• The first time all 15 WorldTeams are set to be on the start line, racing the longest ever women’s TDU at 395km. 
• A 137km opening stage starting and finishing in Willunga and taking in Port Willunga, McLaren Vale and Aldinga. 
• Fan-friendly locations Norwood and Magill on the city fringe and picturesque Willunga to host stage starts for the first time.

Features of the 2026 men’s race include: 

• A 3.6km twilight prologue taking riders from the heart of the CBD to Victoria Park. 
• Henley Beach hosting a stage start and the Mount Barker Council town of Nairne hosting a stage finish – both for the first time. 
• Riders tackling the iconic Willunga Hill climb three times on the queen stage and penultimate day. 
• A finale in Stirling with the last stage to test the peloton over eight laps of an undulating 21km circuit.