The Cheltenham Festival 2026 is scheduled for March, but sources report differing dates. According to the Bristol Post and The Guardian, the festival is on March 10-13, while the Glasgow Times states it runs from Monday, March 9 to Friday, March 13. The official dates have not been independently confirmed in this report.
Thousands of Brits will descend on Cheltenham Racecourse for four days of horse racing, as reported by major media. Ticket sales for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival are ahead of levels at the same point 12 months ago, according to major media. There is growing confidence at the track that attendance will be up at next month’s showpiece meeting after sharp declines over the past three seasons, major media reports.
The exact ticket sales numbers and attendance projections for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival have not been disclosed. This year’s festival will be the second since Guy Lavender took over as Cheltenham’s chief executive at the start of 2025, major media states. It will be the first festival to assess the effect of initiatives to improve customer experience introduced over the last 15 months, according to major media.
What specific initiatives have been introduced to improve customer experience at Cheltenham, and how are they being measured, remains unclear. Recent changes at the meeting include the reintroduction of Ladies’ Day on Wednesday and a relaxation of rules on areas where alcohol can be consumed, major media reports. Guy Lavender, Cheltenham’s chief executive, expressed optimism about the event.
'Overall we are very positive about where we are for sales at the festival,' said Guy Lavender. He added, 'There is growth from last year. ' A leading deterrent for potential racegoers was the high cost of overnight accommodation near the track, according to major media.
A partnership with a local travel firm to address accommodation costs has led to significant growth, major media reports. The details of this partnership and how much prices have been reduced are not specified. 'We launched Room To Race ahead of last year’s festival and we’ve seen massive growth this year,' said Guy Lavender.
For those interested in attending, various ticket options are available. Horse racing fans can still book their spot at Cheltenham Racecourse with all-inclusive hospitality and celebrity guests, major media reports. VIP and hospitality tickets are still available for each day of the festival, including Champion Day, Ladies Day, St Patrick’s Thursday, and Gold Cup Day, according to major media.
General admission tickets are available from The Jockey Club, major media states. How many VIP and hospitality tickets are still available, and what is the total capacity for these options, is unknown. Seat Unique offers VIP and hospitality tickets for £799 per person in the Champions Club Restaurant, including a four-course meal and complimentary bar, major media reports.
Champions Club Restaurant tickets have limited availability, with only day two and three available, according to major media. Day three (St Patrick’s Thursday) has the most ticket options, with prices ranging from £799 to £1,179, major media states. The Chez Roux Restaurant on day three is hosted by Michelin star chef Michel Roux Jr.
and includes a four-course fine-dining experience, canapes, and a Moet champagne reception, according to major media. Other hospitality options for day three include the Final Fence Restaurant (£1,019) and the Four Eighty Restaurant (£1,069), major media reports. The Alan Brazil and Ray Parlour Suite offers tickets from £1,099 to £1,249, hosted by football icons, with a club enclosure admission badge, VIP hostess service, and a celebrity tipster, according to major media.
In racing news, the winner of Saturday’s Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso could earn another £100,000 for connections with a follow-up at the festival, major media reports. Eight of the 17 runners in the Morebattle Hurdle hold at least one entry in a festival handicap, according to major media. Cracking Rhapsody is the Morebattle winner for the past two seasons, major media states.
Television coverage will be extensive. ITV's weekday daytime lineup will be paused for a full week next month for live coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, major media reports. Good Morning Britain will be extended to a four-hour broadcast from 6am to 10am during the festival week, according to major media.
Lorraine and Loose Women will be temporarily replaced during the festival week, major media states. 30pm slot, according to major media. 30pm each day throughout the festival week, major media reports.
Schedule changes follow an overhaul of ITV’s daytime programming due to budget cuts and the loss of more than 200 behind-the-scenes jobs, according to major media. How these changes will affect ratings and viewer engagement for both racing and regular programming is not yet known. Kevin Lygo of ITV commented on the adjustments.
'Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well as generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres,' said Kevin Lygo. The festival represents a key moment for Cheltenham under new leadership, with efforts to boost attendance through customer-focused initiatives and premium offerings.