Royal Ascot 2026 takes place from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June 2026 at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire. The five-day festival is the highlight of the British flat-racing season and a fixture of the social summer, headlined by the Gold Cup on Ladies’ Day. Below are the dates, the day-by-day feature races, how to watch and ticket information.
Key facts
| Dates | Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 June 2026 |
| Venue | Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, England |
| Format | 5 days, around 35 races |
| Feature race | Gold Cup, Thursday 18 June (Ladies’ Day) |
| Discipline | Flat racing |
| Enclosures | Royal Enclosure, Queen Anne, Village, Windsor |
Day-by-day schedule
The five days of Royal Ascot 2026 and their headline races. Full race times and cards are confirmed nearer the festival.
| Day | Feature races |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 16 June — Opening Day | Queen Anne Stakes, King’s Stand Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes |
| Wednesday 17 June | Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Queen Mary Stakes, Duke of Cambridge Stakes |
| Thursday 18 June — Ladies’ Day | Gold Cup, Ribblesdale Stakes, Norfolk Stakes |
| Friday 19 June | Commonwealth Cup, Coronation Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes |
| Saturday 20 June | Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Wokingham Stakes, Hardwicke Stakes |
How to watch
Tickets
Royal Ascot tickets go on sale the year before and are sold by enclosure. The Royal Enclosure requires sponsorship by an existing badge holder; the Queen Anne Enclosure and Village Enclosure are open to the public with a smart dress code; the Windsor Enclosure is the most relaxed and family-friendly. Buy only through Ascot’s official ticketing to ensure entry and the correct dress code for your enclosure.
Frequently asked questions
When is Royal Ascot 2026?
Royal Ascot 2026 runs from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June 2026 at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire.
When is the Gold Cup 2026?
The Gold Cup, Royal Ascot’s feature race, is run on Thursday 18 June 2026, traditionally known as Ladies’ Day.
How can I watch Royal Ascot 2026?
In the UK, ITV Racing shows the feature races free to air on ITV1 and ITVX, while Sky Sports Racing carries every race across the five days.
What is the dress code at Royal Ascot?
Dress codes vary by enclosure. The Royal Enclosure has the strictest requirements (formal daywear and hats); the Queen Anne and Village enclosures require smart daywear; the Windsor Enclosure has no formal dress code.