Horse racing fans have plenty of major events to look forward to during the remainder of 2026 and throughout 2027, with some of the sport’s biggest races and festivals taking place across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia and the United States.
From the famous jumps festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree to flat racing showpieces including the Derby, Royal Ascot and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the British and European calendars feature a packed schedule.
Further afield, international highlights include the Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Dubai World Cup at Meydan, the US Triple Crown races, Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup, Hong Kong International Races and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Here are some of the biggest horse racing events, races and festivals for the remainder of 2026 and throughout 2027.
Image: Philippe Gras/Unsplash
Major horse races and festivals in 2026
Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
When: 3-4 October 2026
Where: ParisLongchamp Racecourse, Paris, France
Feature race: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Dubai Future Champions Festival
When: 9-10 October 2026
Where: Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk, England
Feature races: Fillies’ Mile, Dewhurst Stakes, Cesarewitch Handicap
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Caulfield Cup
When: 17 October 2026
Where: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Feature race: Caulfield Cup
The Everest
When: 17 October 2026
Where: Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Feature race: The Everest
QIPCO British Champions Day
When: 17 October 2026
Where: Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire, England
Feature races: Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, British Champions Sprint Stakes, British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, British Champions Long Distance Cup
Cox Plate
When: 24 October 2026
Where: Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Feature race: Cox Plate
Breeders’ Cup World Championships
When: 30-31 October 2026
Where: Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, US
Feature races: Breeders’ Cup Classic, Breeders’ Cup Turf, Breeders’ Cup Mile, Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Melbourne Cup Carnival
When: 31 October-7 November 2026
Where: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Feature races: Victoria Derby, Melbourne Cup, Crown Oaks, Champions Stakes
Melbourne Cup
When: 3 November 2026
Where: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Feature race: Melbourne Cup
Japan Cup
When: 29 November 2026
Where: Tokyo Racecourse, Tokyo, Japan
Feature race: Japan Cup
Betfair Tingle Creek Festival
When: 4-5 December 2026
Where: Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey, England
Feature races: Tingle Creek Chase, Henry VIII Novices’ Chase
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Hong Kong International Races
When: 13 December 2026
Where: Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Feature races: Hong Kong Cup, Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Sprint, Hong Kong Vase
Ladbrokes Christmas Festival
When: 26-27 December 2026
Where: Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames, England
Feature races: King George VI Chase, Christmas Hurdle
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
King George VI Chase
When: 26 December 2026
Where: Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames, England
Feature race: King George VI Chase
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Leopardstown Christmas Festival
When: 26-29 December 2026
Where: Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland
Feature races: Savills Chase, Christmas Hurdle, Racing Post Novice Chase
Coral Welsh Grand National
When: 27 December 2026
Where: Chepstow Racecourse, Chepstow, Wales
Feature race: Welsh Grand National
Major horse races and festivals in 2027
Pegasus World Cup
When: 30 January 2027
Where: Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida, US
Feature race: Pegasus World Cup Invitational
Dublin Racing Festival
When: 30-31 January 2027
Where: Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland
Feature races: Irish Gold Cup, Dublin Chase, Irish Champion Hurdle
Saudi Cup Weekend
When: 5-6 February 2027
Where: King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Feature race: Saudi Cup
Cheltenham Festival
When: 16-19 March 2027
Where: Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, England
Feature races: Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle, Cheltenham Gold Cup
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Cheltenham Gold Cup
When: 19 March 2027
Where: Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, England
Feature race: Cheltenham Gold Cup
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Dubai World Cup
When: 27 March 2027
Where: Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, UAE
Feature races: Dubai World Cup, Dubai Sheema Classic, Dubai Turf, Dubai Golden Shaheen
Randox Grand National Festival
When: 8-10 April 2027
Where: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England
Feature races: Aintree Bowl, Melling Chase, Topham Chase, Grand National
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Grand National
When: 10 April 2027
Where: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England
Feature race: Grand National
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Scottish Grand National Festival
When: 16-17 April 2027
Where: Ayr Racecourse, Ayr, Scotland
Feature races: Scottish Champion Hurdle, Scottish Grand National
bet365 Jump Finale
When: 24 April 2027
Where: Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey, England
Feature races: Celebration Chase, bet365 Gold Cup
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Punchestown Festival
When: 27 April-1 May 2027
Where: Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Feature races: Punchestown Gold Cup, Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle, Champion Stayers Hurdle
Betfred Guineas Festival
When: 30 April-2 May 2027
Where: Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk, England
Feature races: 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Kentucky Derby
When: 1 May 2027
Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, US
Feature race: Kentucky Derby
Dante Festival
When: 12-14 May 2027
Where: York Racecourse, York, England
Feature races: Musidora Stakes, Dante Stakes, Yorkshire Cup
Preakness Stakes Weekend
When: 22-23 May 2027
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland, US
Feature races: Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
When: 23 May 2027
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland, US
Feature race: Preakness Stakes
Irish Guineas Festival
When: 22-23 May 2027
Where: The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Feature races: Irish 2,000 Guineas, Irish 1,000 Guineas
Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
When: 3-5 June 2027
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York, US
Feature race: Belmont Stakes
Betfred Derby Festival
When: 4-5 June 2027
Where: Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, England
Feature races: The Oaks, The Derby
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Belmont Stakes
When: 5 June 2027
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York, US
Feature race: Belmont Stakes
The Derby
When: 5 June 2027
Where: Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, England
Feature race: The Derby
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Royal Ascot
When: 15-19 June 2027
Where: Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire, England
Feature races: Queen Anne Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Gold Cup, Coronation Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
Irish Derby Festival
When: 25-27 June 2027
Where: The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Feature race: Irish Derby
Coral-Eclipse Day
When: 3 July 2027
Where: Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey, England
Feature race: Coral-Eclipse
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
King George Weekend
When: July 2027
Where: Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire, England
Feature race: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Galway Races Summer Festival
When: 26 July-1 August 2027
Where: Ballybrit Racecourse, Galway, Ireland
Feature races: Galway Plate, Galway Hurdle
Qatar Goodwood Festival
When: 27-31 July 2027
Where: Goodwood Racecourse, West Sussex, England
Feature races: Goodwood Cup, Sussex Stakes, Nassau Stakes, King George Stakes
York Ebor Festival
When: 18-21 August 2027
Where: York Racecourse, York, England
Feature races: Juddmonte International, Yorkshire Oaks, Nunthorpe Stakes, Ebor Handicap
St Leger Festival
When: September 2027
Where: Doncaster Racecourse, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England
Feature races: Doncaster Cup, St Leger Stakes
Irish Champions Festival
When: 11-12 September 2027
Where: Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin, and The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Feature races: Irish Champion Stakes, Irish St Leger, National Stakes, Flying Five Stakes
Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
When: October 2027
Where: ParisLongchamp Racecourse, Paris, France
Feature race: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Dubai Future Champions Festival
When: October 2027
Where: Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk, England
Feature races: Fillies’ Mile, Dewhurst Stakes, Cesarewitch Handicap
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Caulfield Cup
When: October 2027
Where: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Feature race: Caulfield Cup
The Everest
When: October 2027
Where: Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Feature race: The Everest
QIPCO British Champions Day
When: October 2027
Where: Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire, England
Feature races: Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, British Champions Sprint Stakes, British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, British Champions Long Distance Cup
Cox Plate
When: October 2027
Where: Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Feature race: Cox Plate
Breeders’ Cup World Championships
When: 29-30 October 2027
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York, US
Feature races: Breeders’ Cup Classic, Breeders’ Cup Turf, Breeders’ Cup Mile, Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Melbourne Cup Carnival
When: October-November 2027
Where: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Feature races: Victoria Derby, Melbourne Cup, Crown Oaks, Champions Stakes
Melbourne Cup
When: 2 November 2027
Where: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Feature race: Melbourne Cup
Japan Cup
When: November 2027
Where: Tokyo Racecourse, Tokyo, Japan
Feature race: Japan Cup
Betfair Tingle Creek Festival
When: December 2027
Where: Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey, England
Feature races: Tingle Creek Chase, Henry VIII Novices’ Chase
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Hong Kong International Races
When: December 2027
Where: Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
Feature races: Hong Kong Cup, Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Sprint, Hong Kong Vase
Ladbrokes Christmas Festival
When: 26-27 December 2027
Where: Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames, England
Feature races: King George VI Chase, Christmas Hurdle
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
King George VI Chase
When: 26 December 2027
Where: Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames, England
Feature race: King George VI Chase
Tickets and info: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Leopardstown Christmas Festival
When: 26-29 December 2027
Where: Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland
Feature races: Savills Chase, Christmas Hurdle, Racing Post Novice Chase
Welsh Grand National
When: December 2027
Where: Chepstow Racecourse, Chepstow, Wales
Feature race: Welsh Grand National
Other sports calendars
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