The atmosphere, the roar, the expectant crowds, the tens of thousands of betting slips in punters’ hands or scattered on the ground, the tension that you can cut with a knife, the British/Irish rivalry, the overpriced pies to keep you going and above all: the best of the best of National Hunt racing.
Yes, the 2026 Cheltenham Festival is here.
For the lucky ones actually going to it – 250,000 spectators are expected to attend over the course of the week – we know you’re going to have the time of your life.
For everyone else tuning in from the comfort of your home/office, here’s what you need to know about the races you can look forward to, how to watch them, and how to make the most of betting offers/bonuses, including knowing any bonus codes for Cheltenham.
Cheltenham 2026 Race Schedule
There are four days of racing to be enjoyed. Each day has a name attached to it.
The first race each day takes place at 1:20 (UK time); the last one goes off at 5:20. In total, there are 28 races, 14 of which are Grade 1, the highest possible level. Here are the 28.
We’ve put the day’s featured race(s) in bold, so you know which are the most important and prestigious ones.
Day 1: Champion Day - Tuesday 10 March 2026
- 1:20 pm The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m abt 1/3f
- 2:00 pm The Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1) Abt 2m
- 2:40 pm The McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Registered as the Fred Winter) (Premier Handicap) 2m abt 1/2f
- 3:20 pm The Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 1f
- 4:00 pm The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m abt 1/2f
- 4:40 pm The Sun Racing Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Premier Handicap) 2m abt 4f
- 5:20 pm The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase) (Class 2) 3m abt 6f
Day 2: Ladies Day - Wednesday 11 March 2026
- 1:20 pm The Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m abt 5f
- 2:00 pm The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m abt 1f
- 2:40 pm The BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) 2m abt 5f
- 3:20 pm The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase 3m abt 51/2f
- 4:00 pm The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) Abt 2m
- 4:40 pm The Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap) Abt 2m
- 5:20 pm 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
- 1:20 pm The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m abt 1f
- 2:00 pm The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4 1/2f
- 2:40 pm The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m abt 4 1/2 f
- 3:20 pm The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) Abt 3m
- 4:00 pm The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4 1/2f
- 4:40 pm The Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) Abt 3m
- 5:20 pm 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
- 1:20 pm The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m abt 1f
- 2:00 pm The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m abt 1f
- 2:40 pm The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2) 2m abt 4 1/2f
- 3:20 pm The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Abt 3m
- 4:00 pm The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 3m abt 2 1/2f
- 4:40 pm The Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase 3m abt 2 1/2f
- 5:20 pm The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m abt 4 1/2f
Are There Any Betting Offers or Bonuses Around Cheltenham?
There certainly are. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest events of the UK sporting calendar in general terms and, alongside the Grand National, is the most popular betting event of the year when it comes to horse racing.
Here’s a selection of the betting offers plus bonus codes for Cheltenham that you may need in order to claim them when betting on the Cheltenham Festival with bonuses.
How to Watch the Cheltenham Festival
If you’re watching it on TV, then you can watch it on the free-to-air channel ITV. Note that very often the last race of the day isn’t shown on ITV, though. However, if you subscribe to Racing TV, available through Sky or Virgin Media, all seven races are shown live.
But there are also plenty of bookmakers who stream every race for free in case you don’t have access to UK TV channels.
Did You Know?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup, taking place on Friday, is one of the most prestigious jumps races in the world, and is only contested by the very best national hunt horses in the business.
Proof of the fact that it rewards the very best horses is that in three of the last four years it’s been won by the favourite: A Plus Tard at 3/1 in 2022, Galopin Des Champs at 7/5 in 2023 and then again at 10/11 in 2024, though Inotherwayurthinkin defied the trend when winning at 15/2 last year.
But if the trend for favourites winning is to continue, then your money should be on the 5/1 favourite Fact to File.
