Royal Ascot 2026: Prize Money Increased

Ahead of the return of the highly prestigious Royal Ascot in June 2026, it has been revealed that the prize money for races has been increased for the latest iteration of the world’s most famous race meeting.

Royal Ascot is the most famous race meeting in the world and a highlight of the horse racing calendar, renowned for its excitement and action-packed atmosphere.

Not only that, it is held at one of the world’s most famous and historic racecourses – Ascot Racecourse – where it is set to return once more for five more days of enthralling and high-profile racing from Tuesday 16th June to Saturday 20th June 2026.

Royal Ascot remains as high profile as ever, and in 2026, there will be more prize money available than ever before, with over half of the races taking place out on the track at Ascot being run for more prize money than in 2025.

Overall, it is set to be worth no less than £10.65 million in prize money collectively for all of the races taking place. This is a significant increase from the previous total prize pool of £10.05 million from the 2025 meeting.

Also, the prize money collectively being offered for Royal Ascot in 2026 is no less than 54.8% of the total prize money being offered for all race meetings at Ascot Racecourse throughout the year, which is going to be worth a total of £19.4 million. It is noted that the figures exclude British Champions Day.

88 of the 169 races run at Ascot across 25 race days will have a higher total prize fund than in 2025, whilst the iconic racecourse will also make even more history when it hosts Britain’s first ever £2 million race – the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – up from £1.5 million from 2025.

Incredibly, 26 of the 35 races run over the course of Royal Ascot will have increased prize money from the previous year.

All races will be run for a minimum of £120,000 each in terms of prize money, which is an increase from £110,000 in 2025.

There are, of course, eight Group 1 races that are run during the meeting, which are the Queen Anne Stakes, King Charles III Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup, Commonwealth Cup, Coronation Stakes, and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

All of these highly prestigious races will now be worth a minimum of £700,000 in prize money alone, with two of them set to offer an incredible £1 million in prize money in 2026.

As the world’s most famous race meeting, Royal Ascot never fails to attract some of the most successful and high-profile owners, trainers, jockeys, and horses who will once again be competing for glory in 2026. There will be even more incentive for victory with the increased prize money on offer.

Excitement is building ahead the return of Royal Ascot, with the 2026 iteration of the world’s most famous race meeting set to take the historic and iconic Ascot Racecourse by storm for five days of enthralling racing action, from Tuesday 16^th June to Saturday 20^th June 2026!

At Eventmasters, we are delighted to be offering a plethora of packages for this very special and high-profile event.

This includes the Private Box, Furlong Club, The Gallery, Lawn Club, the On 5 Restaurant, Pavilion Restaurant, Panoramic Restaurant, Parade Ring, Sandringham Restaurant, Trackside Restaurant, the Wyndham Club, and the Ascot Village & Chalets.

There is LIMITED AVAILABILITY for our VIP Hospitality Packages at Royal Ascot in 2026, so go ahead and book with Eventmasters Corporate Hospitality so that you do not miss out! You can also call us on 020 7989 6500.