The Cheltenham Festival is Back
The Cheltenham Festival is a significant event in British horse racing, attracting a large number of spectators and contributing to the local economy. Scheduled to take place from March 10 to March 13, 2026, the festival will feature seven races each day, with the first race starting at 1:20 PM GMT and the last at 5:20 PM GMT.
Each day will showcase a feature race at 4 PM GMT, except for Thursday, which will have two feature races. The final race of the festival, the prestigious Gold Cup, is set for Friday, March 13.
Viewing Options
Viewers in the UK can watch the first five races on ITV1 and stream them on ITVX. The final two races each day will not be shown on ITV, but fans wanting to watch can do so via Racing TV.
Tickets for the first three days start from £54, while Gold Cup day is already sold out. The festival is expected to draw around 250,000 spectators, averaging 65,000 per day, and is estimated to be worth £274 million to the local economy.
Competitive Landscape
The 2026 Champion Hurdle is anticipated to be particularly competitive, especially with the absence of the notable horse, Constitution Hill. Observers note that the Prestbury Cup, a competition between Irish and British trainers, has seen Irish trainers win consistently since 2015, and they are expected to continue their dominance.
As the festival approaches, excitement builds among jockeys, trainers, horses, and spectators, all heading to Prestbury Park for four days of thrilling racing action. The Cheltenham Festival is often described as the World Cup of jumps racing, highlighting its significance in the sport.
