The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of National Hunt horse racing, held annually over four days at Cheltenham Racecourse in Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire. In 2026, the Festival runs from Tuesday 10 March to Friday 13 March, featuring 28 races across four themed days, including 14 at Grade 1 level. It is the most prestigious jump racing meeting in the world, attracting the finest horses, trainers, and jockeys from Britain and Ireland.
What is the Cheltenham Festival?
The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day National Hunt racing meeting that serves as the championship finals of the jump racing season. Organised by The Jockey Club, it features the sport’s most coveted prizes: the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Stayers’ Hurdle, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Each of the four days carries its own identity. Tuesday is Champion Day, headlined by the Champion Hurdle. Wednesday is Ladies Day, featuring the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Thursday, known as St Patrick’s Thursday, showcases the Stayers’ Hurdle. Friday is Gold Cup Day, the climax of the meeting, when the blue riband of jump racing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, is contested over three miles and two furlongs.
With seven races per day and total prize money regularly exceeding £6 million, the Festival is the stage where reputations are made and legends are crowned. The roar of the crowd as the first race begins on Tuesday has become one of the most iconic sounds in sport.
When is the Cheltenham Festival?
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 10 March to Friday 13 March. Gates open at 10:30am each day, with the first race at 1:20pm GMT and the final race at approximately 5:20pm GMT.
The key schedule is as follows:
- Tuesday 10 March (Champion Day): Champion Hurdle, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Challenge Trophy
- Wednesday 11 March (Ladies Day): Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
- Thursday 12 March (St Patrick’s Thursday): Stayers’ Hurdle, Ryanair Chase, Turners Novices’ Chase
- Friday 13 March (Gold Cup Day): Cheltenham Gold Cup, Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, Triumph Hurdle
Where is the Cheltenham Festival?
The Festival is held at Cheltenham Racecourse, located at Prestbury Park on the edge of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England. The course sits in a natural amphitheatre beneath the escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at Cleeve Hill, providing a dramatic backdrop for the racing.
The venue has a capacity of 67,500 spectators following the cap introduced after record attendances in 2022. The racecourse underwent significant redevelopment with the opening of the £45 million Princess Royal Stand in 2015, adding 6,500 seats to the facility. There are 10,000 onsite parking spaces available.
Cheltenham is well connected by road via the M5 motorway and by rail, with Cheltenham Spa station approximately two miles from the course. Shuttle buses run from the station during the Festival.
Key Contenders
The 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup was won by Gaelic Warrior, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend at odds of 11/4. The victory moved Mullins level with Tom Dreaper in the all-time Gold Cup trainers’ table, while Townend became the most successful jockey in the history of the race. Gaelic Warrior prevailed from Jango Baie in second and defending champion Inothewayurthinkin in third.
In the Champion Hurdle, Lossiemouth had been the pre-Festival favourite at 2/1, with The New Lion at 11/4 and Brighterdaysahead at 5/1. The division had been blown open after Constitution Hill’s switch to Flat racing and Sir Gino’s fractured pelvis ruled out two of the most exciting hurdlers in training.
Willie Mullins once again dominated the meeting, continuing his remarkable run of success at the Festival. The Irish challenge, as ever, proved formidable, with raiders from across the Irish Sea winning a significant share of the 28 races.
How to Watch the Cheltenham Festival
United Kingdom: ITV provides free-to-air coverage on ITV1, broadcasting the first six races each day from 12:45pm to approximately 5:00pm. All ITV races are also available to stream free on ITVX. For complete coverage of all seven daily races, Racing TV (Sky channel 424, Virgin Media channel 536) broadcasts from 12:30pm through the final race.
Ireland: RTÉ provides coverage of selected races, with Racing TV Ireland offering full coverage.
International: Racing TV International offers a subscription service at £29.99 per month, available worldwide without a long-term contract. Some international bookmakers with funded accounts, including Bet365, also provide live streaming of races to customers in eligible territories.
Radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT provide radio commentary of the major races throughout the four days.
History and Records
Racing at Cheltenham dates back to 1815, though the modern Festival traces its origins to the early 20th century when racing moved to the present Prestbury Park site in 1902. The Cheltenham Gold Cup was first run in 1924, when Red Splash won on the Old Course for prize money of £685.
Golden Miller holds the record for the most Gold Cup victories with five consecutive wins from 1932 to 1936. In 1934, he achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same season, a double that has never been repeated. Arkle, widely regarded as the greatest steeplechaser of all time, won three successive Gold Cups from 1964 to 1966, including his legendary 1964 victory over Mill House by five lengths.
More recent heroes include Best Mate, who won three consecutive Gold Cups from 2002 to 2004, and Desert Orchid, the beloved grey who triumphed in 1989 in testing conditions. Norton’s Coin remains the biggest priced winner in Gold Cup history, landing the race at 100/1 in 1990.
The Festival has grown enormously since its early days. Total attendance across the four days regularly exceeds 250,000, making it one of the best-attended sporting events in Britain. Prize money has increased significantly, with the Gold Cup alone now carrying a purse in excess of £625,000.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the Cheltenham Festival are available through The Jockey Club’s official website. Prices vary by enclosure and day, with general admission starting from approximately £54 to £103.50. Gold Cup Friday commands the highest premium. Tickets are released in stages, with early booking typically offering the best prices.
Hospitality packages start from £299 per person and include access to private suites, fine dining, complimentary drinks, and premium viewing positions. Providers such as Eventmasters, Keith Prowse, and RacingBreaks offer official hospitality through partnerships with Cheltenham Racecourse. Private box experiences are available at higher price points on application.
Demand is consistently high, and popular enclosures and days sell out well in advance. The Best Mate Enclosure and Club Enclosure are the most sought-after areas. Visitors are advised to book early and arrange accommodation in Cheltenham or the surrounding Cotswolds, as local hotels fill rapidly during Festival week.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Cheltenham Festival start?
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival runs from Tuesday 10 March to Friday 13 March, with gates opening at 10:30am and the first race at 1:20pm GMT each day.
Where is the Cheltenham Festival held?
The Festival takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse, Prestbury Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, GL50 4SH.
How can I watch the Cheltenham Festival?
In the UK, ITV1 broadcasts six of the seven daily races free-to-air, with streaming on ITVX. Racing TV shows all races. International viewers can subscribe to Racing TV International.
Who won the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Gaelic Warrior, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, won the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup at odds of 11/4.
How much do Cheltenham Festival tickets cost?
General admission tickets range from approximately £54 to £103.50, depending on the enclosure and day. Hospitality packages start from £299 per person.