The Cheltenham Festival is just weeks away but fans can still book their spot at the races now
Jake Hackney
12:12, 16 Feb 2026Updated 12:21, 16 Feb 2026
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Mark Walsh riding Inothewayurthinkin clears the last fence on the way to winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase during day four of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 14, 2025 in Cheltenham, England.
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Cheltenham Racecourse will host 28 breath-taking races in March.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 is just around the corner and racing fans can secure a spot now. In less than a month, Cheltenham Racecourse will again host four days of racing, drinks, food and everything in between.
From March 10-13, there will be 28 races across Champion Day, Ladies Day, St Patrick’s Thursday and Gold Cup Day. These include highlights like the Unibet Champion Hurdle and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase.
For racing fans yet to book their ticket, there’s still plenty of options up for grabs, from general admission to more swanky VIP and hospitality experiences. Early bird tickets for the festival went on sale last year, but attendees can still save money by booking their ticket ahead of time.
Here’s all the info needed to get Cheltenham Festival tickets now.
Ticket prices and where to buy
Tickets for the Cheltenham Festival 2026 are on sale now and attendees can avoid the on-the-gate prices by booking their tickets ahead of time. Official channels include The Jockey Club, which provides a range of ticket options for each day of the event.
Prices currently start at £54 per person for the Best Mate Enclosure, located directly opposite the main grandstand and adjacent to the finish line. A reserved seat in the Grandstand costs £210 per person, for what’s said to be ‘one of the best views’ in racing.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 tickets
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from £54
The Jockey Club
Buy tickets here
The Jockey Club provides a range of ticket options for each day of the event for less than the on-the-gate prices.
For those looking to push the boat out, VIP and hospitality tickets for each day of the races are on sale now at Seat Unique. These start at £799 for the Champions Club Restaurant, which includes a four-course meal and complimentary bar, plus a viewing box overlooking the racecourse.
Even more swanky experiences include the The Privilege Suite, which is hosted by football legends Alan Brazil and Ray Parlour. As well as a club enclosure admission badge, this option provides a VIP hostess service and celebrity tipster among food, drinks, and a host of other benefits, for £1,585 per person.
viagogo and resale tickets
Sites such as viagogo, Stubhub, and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase. Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs.
Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions, to confirm whether resale is prohibited, before they buy. Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. If resale is prohibited, tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused.
Some tickets have already appeared on resale sites too such as viagogo and StubHub, where fans can list their tickets for sale if they can no longer attend. Prices here can vary day by day, with some much higher or lower than face value, but lucky buyers could find a bargain.
When is Cheltenham Festival 2026
Cheltenham Festival 2026 gets underway on Tuesday, March 10, to Friday, March 13. Gates open at 10.30am on each day of the festival, with the first race at 1.20pm and the last at 5.20pm.
Runners and riders compete in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper during Day Two of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 12, 2025 in Cheltenham, England. Spectators are encouraged to dress up in their finery on Style Wednesday (previously known as Ladies Day).
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Tickets for Cheltenham Festival 2026 are on sale now.
Full race schedule – dates and times
Day 1: Champion Day – Tuesday, March 10
1.20pm – The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
2.00pm – The Singer Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
2.40pm – The McCoys Contracts Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
3.20pm – The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
4.00pm – The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.40pm – The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm – The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase
Day 2: Ladies Day – Wednesday, March 11
1.20pm – The Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
2.00pm – The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
2.40pm – The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
3.20pm – The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
4.00pm – The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
4.40pm – The Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm – The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)
Day 3: St Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday, March 12
1.20pm – The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
2.00pm – The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2)
2.40pm – The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
3.20pm – The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.00pm – The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
4.40pm – The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm – The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase
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Day 4: Gold Cup Day – Friday, March 13
1.20pm – The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
2.00pm – The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
2.40pm – The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
3.20pm – The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.00pm – The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
4.40pm – The Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
5.20pm – The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle