Cheltenham Festival 2026 dates and key start times are set for March 10–13 in the U. K., with Harry Redknapp’s Jukebox Man lining up a Gold Cup bid. Updated Monday at 2: 42 p. m. ET, this guide lists local GMT times with ET equivalents for U. S. readers searching william hill and other race information.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Dates: Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13
The meeting runs from Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13, with seven races each day for a total of 28. The first race each day is scheduled for 1: 20 p. m. GMT (9: 20 a. m. ET), and the final race is slated for 5: 20 p. m. GMT (1: 20 p. m. ET). Distances are listed in miles, furlongs, and yards.
Jukebox Man Targets Cheltenham Gold Cup at 4: 00 p. m. GMT (12: 00 p. m. ET)
Jukebox Man, who won the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, will attempt to become the first horse from British soil to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup since 2018. The Gold Cup is the fifth race on Friday and is scheduled for 4: 00 p. m. GMT (12: 00 p. m. ET).
William Hill Readers: Key Start Times in GMT and ET
For clarity—this schedule-focused guide carries no betting lines or promotions from william hill—here are confirmed race names, times, and distances with ET conversions for one of the marquee afternoons:
- 1: 20 p. m. GMT (9: 20 a. m. ET) — The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2m 1/3f
- 2: 00 p. m. GMT (10: 00 a. m. ET) — The Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase, 2m
- 2: 40 p. m. GMT (10: 40 a. m. ET) — The McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race, 2m 1/2f
- 3: 20 p. m. GMT (11: 20 a. m. ET) — The Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase, 3m 1f
- 4: 00 p. m. GMT (12: 00 p. m. ET) — The Unibet Champion Hurdle, 2m 1/2f
- 5: 20 p. m. GMT (1: 20 p. m. ET) — The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup, 3m 6f
Additional races listed on the week’s card include the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 2: 00 p. m. GMT (10: 00 a. m. ET) over 3m 1f; the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle at 2: 40 p. m. GMT (10: 40 a. m. ET) over 2m 5f; and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase at 3: 20 p. m. GMT (11: 20 a. m. ET) over 3m 5½f.
Times are presented in local GMT first with ET in parentheses for U. S. -based readers. This article focuses on race names, distances, and start times; it does not include bookmaker pricing, special offers, or market data from william hill or any other operator.
The festival opens Tuesday, March 10 at 1: 20 p. m. GMT (9: 20 a. m. ET).
