Missed Out on Cheltenham Festival 2026 Tickets? Here’s What to Do Next

The greatest event in jump racing has done it again. Cheltenham Festival 2026 is in full swing, every hospitality ticket is gone, and if you’re reading this from your desk rather than the Cotswolds, you already know what that feels like.

Don’t let it happen again. Cheltenham Festival 2027 hospitality tickets are on sale now! Find the right option for you.

Cheltenham Festival 2026 Is Sold Out, So It’s Time to Book 2027

And in 2026? The racing season is far from over, and some of the very best days out of the year are still ahead of you.

Horse Racing Events This Spring You Don’t Want to Miss

1. Grand National Festival, Aintree | April 9-11,2026

If Cheltenham is the home of jump racing, the Grand National is its greatest story. The National is the race millions of people who never normally bet will have a flutter on. Picking your horse and watching them navigate Becher’s Brook is an experience unlike any other.

The races: The National is the spectacle – 34 horses, 30 fences, four miles and two furlongs. It’s breathtaking, dramatic and completely unpredictable. The crowd energy rivals anything you’ll find at Cheltenham.

The fashion: Ladies’ Day on Thursday is one of the biggest fashion events in the North of England. Think bold, glamorous and creative – and don’t forget about the prize for Best Dressed.

The social: Aintree across three days has an incredible party atmosphere. It’s inclusive and enormously popular with groups of all kinds.

If you want the closest thing to Cheltenham’s drama and scale, Aintree in April is your answer.

2. Betfred Guineas Festival, Newmarket | May 1-3, 2026

Swap the mud and jumps for the flat, and welcome to the opening chapter of the Classics season. The Guineas Festival at Newmarket‘s famous Rowley Mile is where the best three-year-old horses in the world announce themselves.

The races: The 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas are the first Classics of the year – these are races that define careers and launch legends.

The fashion: The Classics have always attracted an elegant, dressed-up crowd. Think sophisticated spring style – it’s a step up from casual but less theatrical than Ladies’ Day at Aintree.

The social: Newmarket in May is a wonderful spring day out. The Suffolk countryside is beautiful, the racing is world-class, and the atmosphere is relaxed but buzzing.

Perfect for those who love the prestige and pedigree of top-level racing with a more refined, sophisticated feel.

3. Chester Boodles May Festival, Chester | May 6-8, 2026

Chester is genuinely unlike anywhere else in British racing – the world’s oldest active racecourse, a tight circular track right in the heart of a beautiful walled city, with the stands packed so close to the action you can almost reach out and touch the horses as they fly past.

The races: Because Chester’s track is so tight and compact, the racing here is incredibly fast and tactical. The noise, the closeness to the horses, the speed – it’s a sensory overload in the best possible way.

The fashion: Chester May Festival is one of the most stylish racedays of the flat season. The Boodles sponsorship gives it a jewellery-and-luxury feel – think polished, glamorous, and very well-dressed crowds.

The social: Chester as a city is gorgeous. Roman walls, independent restaurants, brilliant bars. A raceday here is naturally extended into a wonderful city break or weekend away.

If you love Cheltenham for its atmosphere, style, and sense of occasion, Chester might actually be your perfect alternative.

Get your tickets early, because these sell out too

The racing season is long, varied, and full of incredible events that offer everything you were looking forward to – the fashion, the atmosphere, the betting, the drama, and the memories.

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Have any questions or special requirements? Call us on 0121 233 6500 or fill in the form below, and one of our dedicated horse racing hospitality specialists will be happy to help!

Horse Racing Hospitality – 2026