The Jockey Club has officially announced the dates and format of the Cheltenham Festival 2026, which will be held at the renowned Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 March 2026. Being the highlight of the Jump racing season, the event over four days is set to break attendance records, with Gold Cup Day having been officially SOLD OUT across all enclosures already. The Festival this year also carries on the “Ever Evolving” theme, which looks to customer value enhancement and a race programme that is able to keep its position as the leading National Hunt meeting worldwide.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Schedule: Daily Themes And Feature Races
| Date | Day Title | Feature Race |
| Tuesday, 10 March | Champion Day | The Unibet Champion Hurdle |
| Wednesday, 11 March | Ladies Day | The Queen Mother Champion Chase |
| Thursday, 12 March | St Patrick’s Thursday | The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle |
| Friday, 13 March | Gold Cup Day | The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup |
Day 1: Champion Day — Tuesday, March 10
The festival kicks off with the famous “Cheltenham Roar” when the first race gets underway. That’s the Champion Hurdle, as it’s hands down the most prestigious hurdle race out there.
| Time | Race Name | Status | Distance |
| 13:30 | Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m |
| 14:10 | Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase | Grade 1 | 2m |
| 14:50 | Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase | Premier H’cap | 3m 1f |
| 15:30 | Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy | Grade 1 | 2m |
| 16:10 | Close Brothers Juvenile Handicap Hurdle | Premier H’cap | 2m |
| 16:50 | National Hunt Challenge Cup (Amateur Jockeys) | Grade 2 | 3m 6f |
Day 2: Ladies Day (Style Wednesday) — Wednesday, March 11
It’s the kind of day where style and adrenaline crash together right at the racetrack. The Queen Mother Champion Chase. It’s all about raw speed and flawless jumping across those two miles, so no room for mistakes.
| Time | Race Name | Status | Distance |
| 13:30 | Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m 5f |
| 14:10 | Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase | Grade 1 | 3m |
| 14:50 | Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle | Premier H’cap | 2m 5f |
| 15:30 | Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase | Grade 1 | 2m |
| 16:10 | Glenfarclas Steeple Chase (Cross Country) | Class 2 | 3m 6f |
| 16:50 | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase | Premier H’cap | 2m |
| 17:30 | Weatherbys Champion Bumper | Grade 1 | 2m |
Day 3: St Patrick’s Thursday — Thursday, March 12
This day really captures the heart of Irish racing as full of energy, pride, and excitement. You’ve got two big showdowns to look forward to: the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle, both Grade 1 races that always bring some serious competition.
| Time | Race Name | Status | Distance |
| 13:30 | Turners Novices’ Steeple Chase | Grade 1 | 2m 4f |
| 14:10 | Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle | Premier H’cap | 3m |
| 14:50 | Ryanair Steeple Chase | Grade 1 | 2m 4f |
| 15:30 | Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle | Grade 1 | 3m |
| 16:10 | TrustATrader Plate Handicap Steeple Chase | Premier H’cap | 2m 4f |
| 16:50 | Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle | Grade 2 | 2m 1f |
| 17:30 | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup | Class 2 | 3m 2f |
Day 4: Gold Cup Day — Friday, March 13
The grand finale. Gold Cup Day is now officially SOLD OUT for the 2026 event. The spotlight will be on the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, the ultimate prize in National Hunt racing.
| Time | Race Name | Status | Distance |
| 13:30 | JCB Triumph Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m |
| 14:10 | County Health Care County Handicap Hurdle | Premier H’cap | 2m 1f |
| 14:50 | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle | Grade 1 | 3m |
| 15:30 | Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase | Grade 1 | 3m 2f |
| 16:10 | St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup | Class 2 | 3m 2f |
| 16:50 | Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase | Grade 2 | 2m 4f |
| 17:30 | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle | Class 2 | 2m 4f |
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