The National Hunt season revolves around the Cheltenham Festival. It is the biggest jumps meeting of them all and is fast approaching in March.
The Festival takes place across four fabulous days in the spring. We detail which days the Cheltenham Festival 2026 takes place below, as well as outlining the exact start times of every single race on the schedule between Tuesday and Friday.
When does the 2026 Cheltenham Festival start?
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival kicks off on Tuesday 10 March. The opening day features the Champion Hurdle at 4pm, while the day begins with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.20pm.
After the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle gets the meeting underway, 28 races take place before the Martin Pipe concludes at 5.20pm on Friday 13 March.
Gates open every day at 10.30 am. This gives attendees three hours to arrive after gates have opened before the first race begins.
When is the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup will take place at 4pm on Friday 13 March. That is the start time of every feature race at the Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival Schedule 2026
Read on below for a detailed schedule for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Tuesday 10 March – Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Race Times
| Time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle | 2m 87y |
| 2:00 | Arkle Challenge Trophy | 1m 7f 199y |
| 2.40 | Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle | 2m 87y |
| 3:20 | Ultima Handicap Chase | 3m 1f |
| 4:00 | Champion Hurdle | 2m 87y |
| 4.40 | Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase | 2m 4f 127y |
| 5:20 | National Hunt Chase | 3m 5f 201y |
Wednesday 11 March – Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Race Times
| Time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | Turners Novices’ Hurdle | 2m 5f |
| 2:00 | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase | 3m 110y |
| 2:40 | Cup Handicap Hurdle | 2m 5f |
| 3:20 | Cross Country Chase | 3m 5f 56y |
| 4:00 | Queen Mother Champion Chase | 1m 7f 199y |
| 4:40 | Grand Annual Handicap Chase | 1m 7f 199y |
| 5:20 | Champion Bumper | 2m 87y |
Thursday 12 March – Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Race Times
| Time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle | 2m 3f 168y |
| 2:00 | Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase | 2m 4f |
| 2.40 | Mares’ Hurdle | 2m 3f 200y |
| 3.20 | Ryanair Chase | 2m 4f 127y |
| 4.00 | Stayers’ Hurdle | 2m 7f 213y |
| 4:40 | Pertemps Final | 2m 7f 213y |
| 5:20 | Kim Muir Handicap Chase | 3m 2f |
Friday 13 March – Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Race Times
| Time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | Triumph Hurdle | 2m 179y |
| 2:00 | County Hurdle | 2m 179y |
| 2:40 | Mares’ Chase | 2m 4f 127y |
| 3:20 | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle | 2m 7f 213y |
| 4:00 | Cheltenham Gold Cup | 3m 2f 70y |
| 4:40 | Open Hunters’ Chase | 3m 2f 70y |
| 5:20 | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle | 2m 4f 56y |