When does the Cheltenham Festival start?

• The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day National Hunt jump racing event, which starts on Tuesday March 10, 2026.
• The festival features 28 races in total, including Friday’s Gold Cup, with seven races scheduled each day, including 13 Grade 1 races, and a mix of hurdle, chase, bumper, and cross-country events.
• Races commence each day at 1:20pm GMT, with the final race starting at 5:20pm.
• Irish trainers, particularly Willie Mullins, are expected to perform strongly, while British trainers aim to reverse a decade of Irish dominance in the Prestbury Cup.
• Tickets for the festival vary in price, with Club Enclosure starting from £103.50, Tattersalls from £73.80, and the Best Mate enclosure from £54, though Gold Cup day tickets for Club and Tattersalls are sold out.

IN FULL

Cheltenham Festival 2026 race card, dates, start times and full four-day schedule