The Cheltenham Festival is a significant event in British horse racing, attracting a large number of spectators and contributing to the local economy. Scheduled 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 race at 5:20 PM GMT.
Each day will highlight a feature race at 4 PM GMT, except for Thursday, which will have two feature races. The final race of the festival, the Gold Cup, will take place on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Breaking Development
As anticipation builds for the event, it is expected that viewers in the UK will be able to watch the first five races on ITV1 and stream them on ITVX. The final two races of 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 estimated to be worth £274 million to the local economy, drawing around 250,000 spectators, averaging 65,000 per day.
Additionally, the Prestbury Cup, a competition between Irish and British trainers, has seen Irish trainers winning since 2015. Observers note that despite hopes for an improved showing from British trainers, Irish competitors are expected to dominate once again.
As the festival approaches, preparations are underway to ensure a successful event. Fans and participants alike are eager to experience the excitement of the races. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute changes, but the festival promises to deliver thrilling moments for all involved.
