For UK viewers, ITV Racing will broadcast the first six races each day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival live and ‘free-to-air’ on ITV1 and via ITVX (streaming). Coverage starts around 12:45 pm and runs through the afternoon till 5pm each day.
Here’s a ‘day-by-day’ breakdown of the first six races you can expect to watch on ITV Racing schedule and Racing TV.
Tuesday 10th March 2026: Cheltenham Festival Dates Day ONE : Old Course🗓️
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 2:00pm | Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 2:40pm | Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 3:20pm | Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 3m 1f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 4:00pm | Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 4:40pm | Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 2m 4f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 5:20pm | National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Handicap) (Class 2) | 3m 6f | RacingTV |
Wednesday 11th March 2026: Cheltenham Festival Dates Day TWO: Old Course🗓️
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 5f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 2:00pm | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 2:40pm | BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m 5f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 3:20pm | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (A Limited Handicap) (Class 2) | 3m 6f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 4:00pm | BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 4:40pm | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 5:20pm | Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) | 2m | RacingTV |
Thursday 12th March 2026: Cheltenham Festival Day THREE: Old Course🗓️
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 2:00pm | Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) | 2m 4f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 2:40pm | Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 3:20pm | Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 4:00pm | Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (Grade 1) | 2m4f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 4:40pm | Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m 7f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 5:20pm | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Class 2) | 3m 2f | RacingTV |
Friday 13th March 2026: Cheltenham Festival Day FOUR Old Course🗓️
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 2:00pm | County Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 2:40pm | Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 3:20pm | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 4:00pm | Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) | 3m 2f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 4:40pm | St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase (Class 2) | 3m 2f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
| 5:20pm | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) | 2m 4f | ITV Racing / RacingTV |
ITV Racing To Show Six Races Daily From The 2026 Cheltenham Festival
The great news for horse racing punters is 86% of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival races will be shown LIVE on the ITV Racing schedule.
ITV Racing will show the first six races (from seven) each day over the four-day Cheltenham Festival.
With the first race each day at 1:20pm.
Meaning from the total 28 races, that carries over £4.9m in Cheltenham Festival prize money – 24 will be shown live on ITV Racing.
What ITV Racing Channel Will The 2026 Cheltenham Festival Be On?
ITV Racing is often split over their channels through the year – with ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 the destinations.
However, the 2026 Cheltenham Festival will be shown on their main ITV channel each day.
The schedule will run from 12:45pm to 5pm each day.
Who Are The 2026 Cheltenham Festival ITV Racing Presenters and Pundits?
Ed Chamberlin will present the daily 2026 Cheltenham Festival coverage each day.
Analysis will come from former jockeys AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Megan Nicholls and Mick Fitzgerald.
Reports will come from Matt Chapman, Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad and Luke Harvey.
And the social stable hosted from the track by Oli Bell.
Betting news is provided by Brian Gleeson and commentary over the 2026 Cheltenham will be provided by Richard Hoiles.
ITV Racing Opening Show On Each Morning Of The 2026 Cheltenham Festival
Horse racing fans can also see the ITV Racing OPENING SHOW each morning on ITV4.
This is broadcast live from the track each morning and presented by ITV Racing’s Oli Bell.
The Opening Show on ITV Racing will be shown each morning between 9am and 10am.
All 2026 Cheltenham Festival Races Live on Racing TV (Subscription Channel)
If you want to watch every 2026 Cheltenham Festival race live — including the 7th race each day that ITV doesn’t broadcast — you need a subscription to Racing TV.
About Racing TV
Racing TV is the dedicated horse racing channel showing live coverage of all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival, plus racing from dozens of UK and Irish courses.
How to Watch Racing TV
Sky (UK): Racing TV usually on channel 424 (HD).
Virgin Media (UK): channel 536 (online access available via Virgin TV Go/Anywhere).
Streaming: Available via the Racing TV app and website on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and connected devices.
Subscription costs vary by provider — typically around £29–£30 per month or roughly £298 per year if you plan to use the channel beyond the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
With a Racing TV subscription, you get coverage of all seven races each day — ideal if you don’t want to miss the late-afternoon races that ITV leaves out.
Most Leading Online Bookmakers Will Stream the 2026 Cheltenham Festival (T&Cs Apply)
Many UK online bookmakers and betting platforms offer live race streaming for Cheltenham Festival races — including all 28 — if you meet certain account conditions.
How streaming works with bookmakers.
Funded account: You usually need a funded account (e.g. money in your account).
Qualifying bet: Some platforms require you to place a bet on the race (often small, e.g. £1) — this varies by bookmaker.
Available on app/website: Streaming is typically offered through the bookmaker’s app or website. Once logged in, you can watch the live feed.
Bookmakers commonly offering this include big UK brands — often with additional Cheltenham-specific promotions (free bets, bonus offers and enhanced odds) during the Festival week.
Always check each bookmaker’s specific terms and conditions to confirm eligibility for live streams.
✔️ Tip: Even if you don’t want to subscribe to Racing TV, bookmaker streaming can be a way to catch every race live provided you meet their qualifying criteria.
How To Watch The 2026 Cheltenham Festival Summary
ITV Racing shows the first six races each day free on ITV1 and ITVX — covering most of the festival’s highlights.
Racing TV requires a subscription but broadcasts every race live, including the final race each day.
Online bookmakers may stream races for users with funded accounts or qualifying bets (T&Cs apply), letting you watch all 28 races without a separate TV subscription.
Let me know if you’d like a full race card schedule with times or links to platforms where you can stream the Festival.
