The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is just a week away
The four-day meeting is the greatest show on turf, featuring 28 races and millions in prize money waiting to be claimed.
Whether you’re a newcomer thrilled about your first visit to the picturesque Prestbury Park or a veteran punter eager to catch up on the latest developments, this guide has everything you need to prepare for this year’s event.
When is the Cheltenham Festival 2026?
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is scheduled to take place from Tuesday, 10th March to Friday, 13th March. Each day offers its own unique attractions.
- Tuesday, 10th March – Champion Day: The festival kicks off with the Champion Hurdle, a premier event for two-mile hurdlers.
- Wednesday, 11th March – Ladies Day: Formerly known as ‘Style Wednesday’, Ladies Day returns for the 2026 festival, featuring the Queen Mother Champion Chase and a best-dressed competition.
- Thursday, 12th March – St Patrick’s Thursday: This day celebrates Irish culture, highlighted by the Ryanair Chase and the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
- Friday, 13th March – Gold Cup Day: A highlight of the jumps racing calendar, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigious race in the sport.
What time do races start at the Cheltenham Festival?
Prestbury Park opens its gates at 10:30am each day of the Cheltenham Festival, with racing commencing at 1:20pm. The feature races, such as the Champion Hurdle or the Gold Cup, are set to start at 4:00pm. The complete race schedule for each day is as follows:
- 1:20, 2:00, 2:40, 3:20, 4:00, 4:40, 5:20
What is the dress code for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival?
The Jockey Club announced in 2023 that it would eliminate the formal dress code across all its 15 racecourses, including Cheltenham, to make the sport more accessible. Attendees are now free to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.
Despite the absence of a strict dress code, many still opt for smart attire. Men often wear tweed suits, wool coats, flat caps, and brogues, while women typically choose fedoras, knitwear, and knee-high boots.
Fancy dress is allowed in the Best Mate and Tattersalls enclosures, provided the outfit is not offensive. However, it is prohibited in Hospitality, restaurant facilities, and the Club Enclosure. The racecourse retains the right to refuse entry based on its discretion.
Ultimately, dressing appropriately for the March weather and a long day on your feet is advisable.
When are horses declared for the Cheltenham Festival?
If you’re planning to place bets leading up to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, it’s crucial to understand the declaration process.
Horses are entered for the 28 races at staggered intervals throughout January and February. The first entries for major Grade 1 chases, including the Gold Cup and Champion Chase, were released on January 6th, followed by entries for hurdle contests on January 13th. Entries for mares’ races, handicaps, and the Champion Bumper were submitted throughout February.
A five-day declaration period follows, allowing connections to withdraw their horses from races. Final declarations are made 48 hours before each race day, meaning:
- Tuesday’s races are declared on Sunday, 8th March
- Wednesday’s races are declared on Monday, 9th March
- Thursday’s races are declared on Tuesday, 10th March
- Friday’s races are declared on Wednesday, 11th March
After this stage, non-runners can occur at any time due to injuries or unsuitable ground conditions. Two reserve slots are available for handicaps, with a deadline of 1pm the day before the race.
What are the big races at the Cheltenham Festival?
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival will feature 14 Grade 1 contests over the four days, but the championship races are particularly noteworthy:
- The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Friday, 4pm): A three-mile and two-and-a-half-furlong race, the Gold Cup is the ultimate challenge for elite staying chasers, with the winner taking home over £350,000.
- The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Tuesday, 4pm): This two-mile race is for the fastest hurdlers, boasting a prize purse exceeding £250,000 for the winner.
- The Queen Mother Champion Chase (Wednesday, 4pm): A two-mile championship race for chasers, it requires a blend of speed and precision jumping, with over £225,000 available for the winner.
- The Ryanair Chase (Thursday, 4pm): Covering two miles and four furlongs, this race appeals to horses with either the pace for the Champion Chase or the stamina for the Gold Cup, offering a prize purse of more than £210,000.
- The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Thursday, 3:20pm): The premier race for long-distance hurdlers, this three-mile contest demands excellent jumping and stamina, with a prize of just over £180,000 for the winner.
In addition to these races, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Novices’ Chase, Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, Turners Novices’ Hurdle, and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle are all top-level novice contests that often showcase future stars competing in championship races.
All races can be streamed for logged-in users on LiveScoreBet.
How much is it to attend the Cheltenham Festival?
Ticket prices vary based on the enclosure, the day of the meeting, and how far in advance you purchase them. Super early bird tickets for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival started at just £35, with prices gradually increasing as the event approaches.
As of now, you can book the Best Mate Enclosure starting at £54, the Tattersalls Enclosure from £73.80, and the Club Enclosure from £103.50. These prices are still lower than the on-the-day gate prices, which will be £70, £91, and £126, respectively.
It’s important to note that Gold Cup Day is already sold out.
Here’s a breakdown of the three main enclosures:
- Best Mate Enclosure: The most budget-friendly option, located opposite the main grandstand and near the finish line.
- Tattersalls Enclosure: Mid-tier access, featuring the popular Guinness Village, lower grandstand sections, and a wider selection of bars and food options.
- Club Enclosure: Premium access to the main grandstand, Members’ Lawn, and excellent views of the winning post.
A variety of hospitality packages are also available, ranging from restaurants to private boxes. The cheapest restaurant package is priced at £694 for the Mandarin, while the most expensive option is £1,728 for the Shared Chez Roux Box.
All private box packages include a private bar, club admission with complimentary parking, an official racecard, TV coverage, betting services, and a dedicated hospitality team, though prices for these are available upon request.
Public car parking at the racecourse costs £20 per day if booked in advance, with a park and ride option available for £15 per day.
Food and drink prices vary across the racecourse, but attendees will be pleased to know that drink prices have been reduced. For instance, the price of Guinness on-site has dropped by 30p to £7.50, reverting to 2022 levels.
What changes have been made for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival?
Several significant changes have been implemented for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Alongside reduced prices for food, drink, and tickets, there have been notable enhancements to the customer experience, with over £1 million invested in refurbishments, a new PA system, and the creation of a new covered food area.
The maximum crowd capacity has also been lowered to 66,000 per day to address concerns regarding overcrowding and to enhance the overall experience for racegoers at the Cheltenham Festival.
Additionally, there have been alterations to the race schedule. The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle has been moved from its traditional Tuesday slot to Thursday, now running on the New course instead of the Old Course.
The TrustATrader Plate Handicap has shifted from Thursday to Tuesday, also resulting in a change of courses. The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase have swapped times on St. Patrick’s Thursday, while several races, including the Champion Bumper and Cup Handicap Hurdle, have had their field sizes reduced.
Furthermore, the Cup Handicap Hurdle is undergoing a significant change, as BetMGM has been announced as the new sponsor after Coral ended their long-standing partnership with the race earlier this year.