2026/27 UK National Hunt season calendar

There is essentially no break to the UK National Hunt season, however, the real meat of the campaign takes place from October through to April.

Almost as soon as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has concluded in early October, racing fans will be itching to switch codes from the Flat to Jumps ahead of an action packed winter.

The traditional curtain-raiser takes place over three days at Chepstow before the first Cheltenham fixture of the season brings the month to an end. Huge winter targets such as the King George VI Chase and Welsh Grand National warm up the racing fraternity over Christmas before the spring festivals see that the campaign ends with a bang.

October

• Welsh Racing Festival (Chepstow) - 9-11 October
• Cheltenham Showcase Meeting (Cheltenham) - 23-24 October
• bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting (Wetherby) - 31 October

November

• bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting (Wetherby) - 1 November
• Haldon Gold Cup (Exeter) - 6 November
• Cheltenham November Meeting (Cheltenham) - 13-15 November
• Betfair Chase (Haydock) - 21 November
• Coral Gold Cup (Newbury) - 27-28 November
• Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Newcastle) - 28 November

December 

• Tingle Creek Festival (Sandown) - 4-5 December
• Christmas Meeting (Cheltenham) - 11-12 December
• Christmas Racing Weekend (Ascot) - 18-19 December
• Christmas Festival (Kempton) - 26-27 December
• Welsh Grand National (Chepstow) - 28 December
• Challow Hurdle (Newbury) - 29 December

January 

• Cheltenham New Year's Day (Cheltenham) - 1 January
• Classic Chase (Warwick) - 16 January
• Clarence House Chase (Ascot) - 16 January
• Festival Trials Day (Cheltenham) - 30 January

February

• Denman Chase (Newbury) - 13 February
• Ascot Chase (Ascot) - 20 February
• Grand National Trial (Haydock) - 20 February

March

• Imperial Cup (Sandown) - 8 March
• Cheltenham Festival (Cheltenham) - 16-19 March
• Midlands Grand National (Uttoxeter) - 20 March

April

• Grand National Festival (Aintree) - 8-10 April
• Scottish Champion Hurdle Meeting (Ayr) - 16-17 April
• bet365 Jump Finale (Sandown) - 24 April