The Cheltenham Festival Race Schedule 2026

The Cheltenham Festival takes place between Tuesday 10 - Friday 13 March 2026, and it promises to be an event to remember.

Gates open at 10:30 on each of the four days of the Festival.

Preview Show, live in the Parade Ring everyday before racing, find the timings below.

First race at 13:20 and the last race at 17:20.

DAY 1: CHAMPION DAY - TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2026

Seven races are scheduled for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival. The feature race of the day is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, a 2 mile Grade 1 race. This takes place at 16:00.

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

1.20pm The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

2.00pm The Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

2.40pm The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 87y

3.20pm The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 1f 

4.00pm The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

4.40pm The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m 4f 44y

5.20pm The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase 3m 5f 201y

DAY 2: LADIES DAY - WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2026

On the second day, the highlight is the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase. Runners in this Grade 1 event jump over 12 fences over the course of 2 miles. It is the highlight of the traditionally known ladies day and is off at 16:00.

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

1.20pm The Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f 

2.00pm The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y

2.40pm The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 5f 

3.20pm The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase 3m 6f 37y

4.00pm The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

4.40pm The Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 1m 7f 199y

DAY 3: ST PATRICK'S THURSDAY - THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2026

One of the key dates for Cheltenham Festival 2025 is St Patrick's Day, as it marks the third day of racing. The feature race of the day is the 16:00 Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1)

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

1.20pm The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179y

2.00pm The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 127y

2.40pm The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f 56y

3.20pm The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y

4.00pm The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y

4.40pm The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap.) 2m 7f 113y

5.20pm The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase 3m 2f

DAY 4: GOLD CUP DAY - FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2026

The focus of the day will be The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, as the name suggests. Over three miles and two furlongs long, this is the premier race of the event. It will begin at 16:00, and the winner will take home the Gold Cup.

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

1.20pm The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y

2.00pm The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 179y

2.40pm The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 127y

3.20pm The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y

4.00pm The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y

4.40pm The St James's Place Festival Hunters’ Chase 3m 2f 70y

5.20pm The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 56y