Racing calendar · 2026
Horse racing calendar: every big race, month by month
From the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National to Royal Ascot, the Derby and Boxing Day at Kempton, here are the biggest UK and Irish meetings each month, plus the international races your betting app covers.
January
Jumps season in full swing
Lanzarote HurdleKempton ParkA big-field handicap hurdle in mid-January.
Clarence House ChaseAscotA key two-mile chase trial for Cheltenham.
Festival Trials DayCheltenhamLate January trials, including the Cotswold Chase and Cleeve Hurdle.
February
Final Cheltenham trials
Dublin Racing FestivalLeopardstownTwo days of top Irish jumps racing in early February.
Betfair HurdleNewburyOne of the most valuable handicap hurdles of the season.
Grand National TrialHaydock ParkA long-distance chase run in testing conditions.
March
The Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham FestivalCheltenhamFour days in mid-March: Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and the Gold Cup. Festival guide →
Midlands Grand NationalUttoxeterA marathon handicap chase, usually the Saturday after Cheltenham.
Lincoln HandicapDoncasterLate March or early April: the start of the flat turf season.
April
Grand National month
Grand National FestivalAintreeThree days in early to mid April, ending with the Grand National on Saturday. Festival guide →
Scottish Grand NationalAyrAyr’s biggest jumps race, a week or two after Aintree. Festival guide →
All-Weather Finals DayLingfield ParkThe all-weather season finale on Good Friday.
Jumps season finaleSandown ParkLate April, featuring the bet365 Gold Cup.
Punchestown FestivalPunchestownIreland’s end-of-season jumps festival, late April into May.
May
The first Classics
2,000 and 1,000 GuineasNewmarketThe first two British Classics, in early May. Festival guide →
Chester May FestivalChesterThree days including the Chester Cup.
Dante FestivalYorkMid-May, with the Dante Stakes, a key Derby trial.
Lockinge StakesNewburyThe first big Group 1 mile race of the season.
June
Derby and Royal Ascot
The Derby and the OaksEpsom DownsThe Derby Festival, usually on the first weekend of June. Festival guide →
Royal AscotAscotFive days in mid-June with eight Group 1 races. Festival guide →
Irish DerbyThe CurraghIreland’s premier Classic, at the end of June.
July
High summer
Eclipse StakesSandown ParkEarly July, often the first clash between Classic winners and older horses.
July FestivalNewmarketThree days including the July Cup sprint.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth StakesAscotBritain’s most prestigious midsummer middle-distance race.
Qatar Goodwood FestivalGoodwoodGlorious Goodwood, from late July into August. Festival guide →
Galway RacesGalwaySeven days of racing from late July.
August
York’s Ebor Festival
Ebor FestivalYorkFour days with the Juddmonte International, the Nunthorpe and the Ebor. Festival guide →
Shergar CupAscotA team jockeys’ competition with a festival atmosphere.
September
St Leger and big sprints
Sprint CupHaydock ParkA Group 1 sprint in early September.
St Leger FestivalDoncasterFour days ending with the St Leger, the final Classic of the year. Festival guide →
Irish Champions FestivalLeopardstown and the CurraghTwo days including the Irish Champion Stakes.
Ayr Gold CupAyrOne of the biggest sprint handicaps of the year.
Cambridgeshire MeetingNewmarketLate September, with the Cambridgeshire and the Middle Park and Cheveley Park Stakes.
October
Arc and Champions Day
Prix de l’Arc de TriompheParisLongchampEurope’s richest race, on the first Sunday of October.
Dubai Future Champions FestivalNewmarketThe Dewhurst Stakes, Fillies’ Mile and Cesarewitch. Festival guide →
British Champions DayAscotThe finale of the British flat season, in mid to late October. Festival guide →
Futurity TrophyDoncasterThe last Group 1 of the British flat season, for two-year-olds.
November
Jumps season gets going
Breeders’ CupUSAAmerica’s championship meeting in early November.
Melbourne CupFlemington“The race that stops a nation”, on the first Tuesday in November.
November HandicapDoncasterThe traditional end of the flat turf season.
November MeetingCheltenhamThree days of jumps racing in mid-November.
Betfair ChaseHaydock ParkA Grade 1 staying chase in late November.
Coral Gold CupNewburyA historic handicap chase at the end of November.
December
Christmas racing
Tingle Creek ChaseSandown ParkEarly December’s top two-mile chase.
King George VI ChaseKempton ParkThe Boxing Day highlight, with the Christmas Hurdle. Festival guide →
Welsh Grand NationalChepstowA marathon chase between Christmas and New Year.
Leopardstown Christmas FestivalLeopardstownFour days of top Irish jumps racing from 26 December.
Want to know more about the courses? See our UK racecourses guide. To watch these races live, check which betting apps stream racing. 18+ | Please gamble responsibly.
