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 abt 1/3f

2.00pm The Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1) Abt 2m

2.40pm The McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Registered as the Fred Winter) (Premier Handicap) 2m abt 1/2f

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

4.00pm The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m abt 1/2f

4.40pm The Sun Racing Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Premier Handicap) 2m abt 4f 

5.20pm The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase) (Class 2) 3m abt 6f 

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 abt 5f 

2.00pm The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m abt 1f

2.40pm The BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) 2m abt 5f 

3.20pm The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase 3m abt 51/2f

4.00pm The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) Abt 2m

4.40pm The Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap) Abt 2m

5.20pm The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory of Sir Johnny Weatherby) (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) 2m abt 1/2f

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. You have two feature races on the day the 15:20 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) & 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 abt 1f

2.00pm The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4 1/2f

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

3.20pm The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) Abt 3m

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

4.40pm The Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) Abt 3m

5.20pm The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145) 2m abt 4 1/2f

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 abt 1f

2.00pm The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m abt 1f

2.40pm The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2) 2m abt 4 1/2f

3.20pm The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Abt 3m

4.00pm The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 3m abt 2 1/2f

4.40pm The Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase 3m abt 2 1/2f

5.20pm The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle  2m abt 4 1/2f