When is Royal Ascot 2026? Everything to know about racing's royal meeting

When is Royal Ascot 2026? The royal meeting is an event so many seek to attend in their lifetimes, but racing fans adore it for the high quality of flat racing, as well as the pageantry, popularity and glamour.

The 2026 Royal Ascot meeting is closing in. It takes place in the middle of June across five days, with eight Group 1 prizes to be awarded. We outline which races take place when, detailing a full schedule for Royal Ascot 2026. There are also some free bet recommendations to look forward to, while you can also find out whewre to watch the entire meeting live.

Royal Ascot 2026 schedule

Below you can find an exact schedule for the 2026 Royal Ascot meeting. Included are the race titles and kick off times for every single contest, as well as the class of every race.

Tuesday 16 June

• 14:30 – Queen Anne Stakes (G1)
• 15:05 – Coventry Stakes (G2)
• 15:40 – King’s Stand Stakes (G1)
• 16:20 – St James’s Palace Stakes (G1)
• 17:00 – Ascot Stakes (Handicap)
• 17:35 – Wolferton Stakes (Listed)
• 18:10 – Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap)

Wednesday 17 June

• 14:30 – Queen Mary Stakes (G2)
• 15:05 – Queen’s Vase (G2)
• 15:40 – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (G2)
• 16:20 – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (G1)
• 17:00 – Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap)
• 17:35 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)
• 18:10 – Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap)

Thursday 18 June

• 14:30 – Norfolk Stakes (G2)
• 15:05 – King George V Stakes (Handicap)
• 15:40 – Ribblesdale Stakes (G2)
• 16:20 – Gold Cup (G1)
• 17:00 – Britannia Stakes (Handicap)
• 17:35 – Hampton Court Stakes (Listed)
• 18:10 – Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap)

Friday 19 June

• 14:30 – Albany Stakes (G3)
• 15:05 – Commonwealth Cup (G1)
• 15:40 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)
• 16:20 – Coronation Stakes (G1)
• 17:00 – Sandringham Stakes (Handicap)
• 17:35 – King Edward VII Stakes (G2)
• 18:10 – Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)

Saturday 20 June

• 14:30 – Chesham Stakes (Listed)
• 15:05 – Jersey Stakes (G3)
• 15:40 – Hardwicke Stakes (G2)
• 16:20 – Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1)
• 17:00 – Wokingham Stakes (Handicap)
• 17:35 – Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap)
• 18:10 – Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions)

What time does Royal Ascot start?

Royal Ascot begins on Tuesday 16 June 2026. Every single day starts with a 2.30pm kick off, with the meeting starting with the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. It is fair to say Royal Ascot opens in some style and that includes before the races even begin..

That is because the royal procession precedes every day at Ascot. At 2pm, the carriages arrive and are drawn down the home straight past the grandstands. HM The King & HM The Queen are both expected to be in attendance through the week.

The meeting then lasts for five days, with the longest race in British flat racing, the Queen Alexandra Stakes over 2m5f. That contest takes place at 6.10pm on Saturday 20 June.

How can I watch Royal Ascot 2026?

Every single race at 2026 Royal Ascot will be screened live on ITV. The first six races will all be on the main channel, with the seventh and final race every day going to ITV4.

If you do not have access to a TV or an ITVX account, every race can also be watched on either Racing TV online, or via selected bookmaking accounts.

Royal Ascot 2026 Free Bets

With 35 races to enjoy at Royal Ascot, there are seven more than at the Cheltenham Festival. That means there is so much action to enjoy and claim some free bets towards.

Below are some of the best betting offers you can claim immediately. These offer you so much flexibility as well as free bets on the house. All of them involve free bets you can use on Royal Ascot 2026.