Key Racing Fixtures for 2026 – UK, IE and International
In another packed year of sport, horse racing provides a consistent stream of top-class action. With over 1,400 meetings scheduled in the UK alone, the equine entertainment is in plentiful supply. Happily, there is quality to match that quantity. From the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire to the Melbourne Cup on the other side of the world, the next standout meeting is rarely far away. So, what can racing fans look forward to in 2026?
2026 UK & Irish Racing Calendar
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Cheltenham New Year Meeting | Cheltenham |
| 17 Jan | Clarence House Chase | Ascot |
| 25 Jan | Cheltenham Trials Day | Cheltenham |
| 31 Jan–1 Feb | Dublin Racing Festival | Leopardstown |
| 14 Feb | Ascot Chase | Ascot |
| 14 Feb | Grand National Trial Day | Haydock |
| 21 Feb | Ladbrokes Trophy Day | Kempton |
| 21 Feb | Winter Derby | Lingfield |
| 21 Feb | Eider Chase | Newcastle |
| 10–13 Mar | Cheltenham Festival | Cheltenham |
| 14 Mar | Midlands Grand National | Uttoxeter |
| 28 Mar | Lincoln Handicap | Doncaster |
| 29 Mar | Ulster National | Downpatrick |
| 3 Apr | All-Weather Championships Finals Day | Newcastle |
| 6 Apr | Irish Grand National | Fairyhouse |
| 9–11 Apr | Grand National Festival | Aintree |
| 14–16 Apr | Craven Meeting | Newmarket |
| 17–18 Apr | Scottish Grand National Festival | Ayr |
| 25 Apr | Jump Finale | Sandown Park |
| 28 Apr–2 May | Punchestown Festival | Punchestown |
| 1–3 May | Guineas Festival | Newmarket |
| 6–8 May | May Festival | Chester |
| 9 May | Lingfield Derby & Oaks Trials | Lingfield |
| 13–15 May | Dante Festival | York |
| 16 May | Lockinge Stakes | Newbury |
| 23–24 May | Irish Guineas Weekend | Curragh |
| 5–6 Jun | The Derby Festival | Epsom |
| 16–20 Jun | Royal Ascot | Ascot |
| 27 Jun | Northumberland Plate | Newcastle |
| 26–28 Jun | Irish Derby Festival | Curragh |
| 3–4 Jul | Summer Festival | Sandown Park |
| 4 Jul | Old Newton Cup Day | Haydock |
| 9–11 Jul | July Festival | Newmarket |
| 10–11 Jul | John Smith’s Cup Meeting | York |
| 18 Jul | Summer Plate Ladies Day | Market Rasen |
| 18–19 Jul | Irish Oaks Weekend | Curragh |
| 24–25 Jul | King George Weekend | Ascot |
| 27 Jul–2 Aug | Galway Festival | Galway |
| 28 Jul–1 Aug | Qatar Goodwood Festival | Goodwood |
| 8 Aug | Phoenix Stakes | Curragh |
| 19–22 Aug | Ebor Festival | York |
| 19–22 Aug | BetMGM 80s Day | Sandown Park |
| 3–5 Sep | Sprint Cup Festival | Haydock |
| 10–12 Sep | St Leger Festival | Doncaster |
| 12–13 Sep | Irish Champions Weekend | Leopardstown/Curragh |
| 17–19 Sep | Ayr Gold Cup Festival | Ayr |
| 23 Sep | Kerry National | Listowel |
| 24–26 Sep | Cambridgeshire Meeting | Newmarket |
| 9–10 Oct | Future Champions Festival | Newmarket |
| 17 Oct | QIPCO British Champions Day | Ascot |
| 24 Oct | Futurity Trophy | Doncaster |
| 30–31 Oct | Down Royal Festival of Racing | Down Royal |
| 7 Nov | Badger Beers Handicap Chase | Wincanton |
| 13–15 Nov | The November Meeting | Cheltenham |
| 21 Nov | Betfair Chase | Haydock |
| 22 Nov | John Durkan Memorial Chase | Punchestown |
| 27–28 Nov | Autumn Afternoon Meeting | Doncaster |
| 27–28 Nov | Winter Carnival | Newbury |
| 28 Nov | Fighting Fifth Hurdle | Newcastle |
| 28–29 Nov | Fairyhouse Winter Festival | Fairyhouse |
| 4–5 Dec | Tingle Creek Festival | Sandown Park |
| 5 Dec | Becher Chase | Aintree |
| 12 Dec | December Gold Cup | Cheltenham |
| 19 Dec | Long Walk Hurdle | Ascot |
| 26–27 Dec | Christmas Festival | Kempton |
| 26–29 Dec | Leopardstown Christmas Festival | Leopardstown |
| 27 Dec | Welsh Grand National | Chepstow |
2026 International Racing Calendar
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan | Pegasus World Cup | Gulfstream Park |
| 14 Feb | Saudi Cup | Riyadh |
| 21 Mar | Golden Slipper | Rosehill |
| 28 Mar | Dubai World Cup | Meydan |
| 2 May | Kentucky Derby | Churchill Downs |
| 10 May | French 1,000 & 2,000 Guineas | Longchamp |
| 16 May | Preakness Stakes | Laurel Park |
| 31 May | Prix du Jockey Club | Chantilly |
| 6 Jun | Belmont Stakes | Belmont Park |
| 3–4 Oct | Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Weekend | Longchamp |
| 17 Oct | The Everest | Randwick |
| 24 Oct | Cox Plate | Flemington |
| 30–31 Oct | Breeders’ Cup Festival | Keeneland |
| 3 Nov | Melbourne Cup | Flemington |
| 29 Nov | Japan Cup | Tokyo |
| 13 Dec | Hong Kong Cup Day | Sha Tin |
FAQs
- What are the British Triple Crown Races? - The British Triple Crown consists of the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Epsom Derby, and the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster. The 1,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks, and St Leger make up the fillies Triple Crown.
- When did a horse last win the British Triple Crown? - The last horse to win the British Triple Crown was the Vincent O’Brien-trained legend Nijinsky, who completed the feat in 1970. Since then, Camelot has come closest in 2012, when winning the 2,000 Guineas and Derby and finishing second in the St Leger. Oh So Sharp (1985) is the most recent Fillies’ Triple Crown winner.
- What are the US Triple Crown Races? - The three legs of the US Triple Crown are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
- When did a horse last win the US Triple Crown? - The Bob Baffert-trained Justify is the most recent US Triple Crown hero, having won all three races in 2018. He became the second horse to complete the feat in the 21st century, following in the hoofprints of 2015 US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
- What’s the difference between the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas? - The 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas both take place over 1m of the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket, and both races are restricted to three-year-old runners. The difference is that the 1,000 Guineas is only open to fillies. In theory, the 2,000 Guineas is open to both colts and fillies. In practice, only colts line up on the day.
- What’s the difference between The Oaks and The Derby? - The Epsom Classics take place over the same 1m4f course and distance and are contested by three-year-old horses. The Oaks is restricted to fillies. The Derby is officially open to colts and fillies, but the most talented fillies almost always stick to the Oaks rather than tackle the colts. Cape Verdi is the most recent filly to line up in The Derby – starting as favourite but finishing only sixth in 1998.
- What are the biggest horse racing festivals in the UK? - In Britain, the Cheltenham Festival is the biggest jump racing festival, closely followed by the Aintree Grand National Festival. On the flat, the Royal Ascot Festival tops the bill, backed up by the Guineas Meeting, Epsom Derby Festival, and Glorious Goodwood
- What is the world’s “richest” horse race? - Offering an astronomical $20 million in total prize money - $10 million of which goes to the winner – the Saudi Cup is the richest horse race in the world. Making its debut in 2020, the race takes place over 1m1f of the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- What is Britain’s “richest” jump race? - The Aintree Grand National is Britain’s richest jump race, offering a cool £1 million in total prize money.
- What is Britain’s “richest” Flat race? - The Epsom Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes are Britain’s richest flat races, each offering £2 million in prize money.
- When does the Horse Racing Season start and end? - In the UK, racing is split between flat racing and jump racing. Flat racing is known as the summer branch of the sport, while jump racing dominates the winter and early spring months. However, with all-weather flat racing taking place all year round and a busy summer jumping programme, the lines can become a little blurry.
- When does the UK Jump racing season start/end? - The core jump racing season begins with the Jump Season Opener at Chepstow in October and ends with the Jump Finale at Sandown on the last Saturday in April.
- When does the UK Flat racing season start/end? - The Flat racing season begins and ends at Doncaster; kicking off with the Lincoln Handicap meeting in late March and concluding with the November Handicap meeting in (you guessed it) November.
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