The Volta a Portugal in Cycling began a new chapter in its history this Wednesday with the official presentation of Jogos Santa Casa as the competition’s Naming Sponsor and sponsor of the iconic Yellow Jersey for the 87th edition of the race, which will take place from August 5 to 16.

At the first press conference dedicated to the Volta a Portugal Jogos Santa Casa 2026, held at the Extraction Hall of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, the first strategic guidelines of a project were unveiled. The initiative aims to strengthen the international standing of Portugal’s most prestigious cycling race while paving the way for the competition’s centenary celebrations, which will take place in 2027.

For the President of the Portuguese Cycling Federation, Cândido Barbosa, this moment represents far more than the launch of a new edition of the race. “Today we are starting much more than a new edition of the Volta a Portugal. We are beginning a new chapter for a race that is part of our country’s sporting identity and one that we want to prepare for the future without ever losing its essence.”

According to the federation president, the ambition is to build “a stronger, more modern, more international Volta that is even more attractive to teams, sponsors, municipalities and all Portuguese people,” while also strengthening the race’s television production and expanding its international reach.

Jogos Santa Casa lends its name to the Volta and the Yellow Jersey.

One of the key moments of the presentation was the announcement of Jogos Santa Casa as the race’s Naming Sponsor and sponsor of the Yellow Jersey, the ultimate symbol of leadership in the Volta a Portugal.

According to Paulo Sousa, Provider of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, this partnership stems from the strong alignment between the values of the race and the institution’s mission. “The Volta a Portugal is a national symbol and an integral part of the collective memory of all Portuguese people. It is a race that brings generations together around values such as hard work, dedication and the determination to go further—values that are also shared by our institution.”

He also highlighted that, at each stage, the Yellow Jersey will represent a different charitable cause supported by the proceeds from the Social Games, covering areas such as social welfare, healthcare, education, culture, civil protection and sport.

“By travelling across the entire country, passing through towns and villages, this race has a unique ability to stay close to the people, reinforcing the core mission of Jogos Santa Casa: funding causes that improve the lives of thousands of Portuguese citizens.”

A More Modern, Competitive and International Volta

From a sporting perspective, the organisers aim to deliver a balanced and competitive edition capable of providing exciting racing from the first day to the last.

The Director of the 2026 Volta a Portugal, Ezequiel Mosquera, stressed that the organisation is approaching this challenge with great responsibility. “We are preparing a balanced, demanding Volta designed to deliver exciting racing from the first day to the last.”

As he explained, the route will combine stages suited to sprinters, medium mountain, high mountain and an individual time trial, aiming to showcase the different strengths and profiles of riders.

At the same time, the organisation is working to modernise the race by strengthening areas such as safety, television production and the overall experience offered to host municipalities, sponsors and teams. “The Volta a Portugal has everything it needs to continue growing and establish itself as one of Europe’s leading stage races and the fourth oldest stage race in the world.”

The New Chapter Will Culminate with the Official Route Presentation

Among the new initiatives unveiled is a strategy built around four key pillars: the internationalisation of the race, the modernisation of its assets, the enhancement of audiovisual production and the continued growth of the brand’s recognition.

The organisation aims to significantly expand the race’s international television coverage and use the Volta as a unique platform to promote Portugal, showcasing the regions, landscapes and host municipalities along the route. In addition to the live broadcasts on RTP, the race will now reach audiences worldwide through Warner Bros. Discovery channels. The agreement also includes the broadcast of 30 promotional spots on Eurosport channels during the Tour de France, as well as live streaming of every stage of the Volta on HBO Max platforms.

The new Jogos Santa Casa Yellow Jersey was also unveiled for the first time, featuring a refreshed identity and a strong charitable focus, with each stage dedicated to a different social cause.
The official presentation of the route for the 87th Volta a Portugal Jogos Santa Casa will take place on July 8 at Alto da Senhora da Graça in Mondim de Basto, where all the stages of the edition that will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of this iconic race will be unveiled.