About
The Cheltenham Festival runs Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March 2027 at Prestbury Park — the most valuable four days in the National Hunt calendar and one of the biggest sporting events in the UK. Champion Day on Tuesday (Champion Hurdle), Ladies Day on Wednesday (Queen Mother Champion Chase), St Patrick's Day on Thursday (Stayers' Hurdle), and Gold Cup Day on Friday, with the flagship Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at 4pm as the final major race of the meeting.
The festival draws 250,000+ people over the four days and dominates Cheltenham for a fortnight either side. Hotels within 30 miles book out by December; the Friday Gold Cup is the standout day for casual visitors but Wednesday's crowd is often the biggest and rowdiest.
Tickets go on general sale via the Jockey Club in September and Best Mate Enclosure entries sell fastest. Public transport runs at high frequency — free racecourse buses from Cheltenham Spa station and specially timetabled trains to Cheltenham throughout the week.
In Cheltenham
An elegant Regency town at the western foot of the Cotswolds, home to four major festivals and the Gold Cup race meeting.
Read the Cheltenham guide →