See below the Cheltenham Festival 2026 dates and UPDATED running order for the biggest jumps meeting on the planet – with several changes that will now see the Mares’ Hurdle moved to Thursday and the Plate to Tuesday.
When Is The Cheltenham Festival 2026? 🗓️
This year’s Cheltenham Festival 2026 dates will see the four-day meeting run from Tuesday 10th March to Friday 13th March.
- 🏇Tuesday 10th March 2026: Day 1 – Champion Day
- 🏇Wednesday 11th March 2026: Day 2 – Ladies’ Day
- 🏇Thursday 12th March 2026: Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday
- 🏇Friday 13th March 2026: Day 4 – Gold Cup Day
Cheltenham Festival Changes 2026 – Mares’ Hurdle Moved To Thursday and Plate Switched To Tuesday
The 2m4f Mares’ Hurdle, which was won by Lossiemouth in 2025, will now be run on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival.
Meaning the contest will also move from the Old Course to the New Course.
As a result of the Mares’ Hurdle moving, to make room – the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (2m4f) will move the other way – and now switch from Thursday to Tuesday.
These Cheltenham changes also come hot on the heels of the track announcing a Guinness price drop at the 2026 Festival.
Both races will form part of the extensive ITV Racing schedule from the 2026 Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Dates 🗓️- Day ONE (Tuesday 10th March 2026): Old Course
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 kicks-off with Champion Day on Tuesday 10th March, with the Champion Hurdle the feature race.
It’s a prize that had a shock result in 2025, when Golden Ace took advantage of big-guns State Man and Constitution Hill both falling.
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:00pm | Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:40pm | Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 3:20pm | Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 3m 1f | ITV / RTV |
| 4:00pm | Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 4:40pm | TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 2m 4f | ITV / RTV |
| 5:20pm | National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Handicap) (Class 2) | 3m 6f | RTV |
WATCH: Golden Ace Winning The 2026 Champion Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Dates 🗓️- Day TWO (Wednesday 11th March 2026): Old Course
Onto day two at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and horse racing fans have another top afternoon to look forward to.
With the action getting going with the Grade One Turners Novices’ Hurdle at 1:20pm.
However, the Champion Chase at 4:00pm, is the main event – where last year we saw an emotional win for Marine Nationale (watch below).
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 5f | ITV / RTV |
| 2:00pm | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:40pm | Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m 5f | ITV / RTV |
| 3:20pm | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (A Limited Handicap) (Class 2) | 3m 6f | ITV / RTV |
| 4:00pm | BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 4:40pm | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 5:20pm | Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) | 2m | RTV |
WATCH: Marine Nationale Winning The 2026 Champion Chase
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Dates 🗓️- Day THREE (Thursday 12th March 2026): Old Course
Day three at the Cheltenham Festival 2026 starts with the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle as we get a chance to see some potential stars of the future strutting their stuff.
The Ryanair Chase at 4:00pm is also one of the feature contests. A prize the JP McManus-owned Fact To File won with ease in 2025.
But we also have the Grade One Stayers’ Hurdle on the third day. Where the classy Bob Olinger turned back the clock in 2025 to win the race aged 10.
Plus the day will now include the Mares’ Hurdle – having been one of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival changes.
Where Lossiemouth could be heading and will be ridden by Paul Townend, who is the favourite in the 2026 Cheltenham Festival top jockey betting odds market.
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:00pm | Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) | 2m 4f | ITV / RTV |
| 2:40pm | Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | ITV / RTV |
| 3:20pm | Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV / RTV |
| 4:00pm | Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (Grade 1) | 2m4f | ITV / RTV |
| 4:40pm | Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m 7f | ITV / RTV |
| 5:20pm | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Class 2) | 3m 2f | RTV |
Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
WATCH: Bob Olinger Winning The 2026 Stayers’ Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Dates 🗓️- Day FOUR (Friday 13th March 2026): Old Course
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival draws to a close on Friday 13th March this year – hopefully not unlucky for some.
With the biggest race at the meeting, the Gold Cup taking centre stage.
It’s a prize top Irish trainer Willie Mullins has won four times since 2019.
Including in two of the last three seasons with his star staying chaser Galopin Des Champs.
But he was toppled last season, when the Gavin Cromwell-trained Inotherwayurthinkin took the race for owner JP McManus.
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:00pm | County Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:40pm | Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4f | ITV / RTV |
| 3:20pm | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV / RTV |
| 4:00pm | Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) | 3m 2f | ITV / RTV |
| 4:40pm | St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase (Class 2) | 3m 2f | ITV / RTV |
| 5:20pm | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) | 2m 4f | RTV |
WATCH: Inotherwayurthinkin Winning The 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Festival 2026 To Be Shown On ITV Racing 📺
It’s also been confirmed that the Cheltenham Festival 2026 ITV Racing schedule will include the first SIX races on each day.
Meaning that ITV Racing will be covering 24 of the 28 Cheltenham Festival 2026 races.
Plus, all the races at the Festival will be shown on subscription channel Racing TV.
Or, if having a wager with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, then most will also have Cheltenham Festival 2026 streaming via their platforms.
