The Derby Festival 2026
Derby Festival 2026 is one of the greatest races in the world. Throw in the Oaks, other great races, and our odds comparison and betting pointers and you’re all set.
Horse Racing Festivals. Marked.
Sharper prices for every key meeting in the UK and Irish racing calendar.
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During a calendar year, horse racing fans are treated to all manner of big races and meetings, with the Flat and National Hunt season providing unlimited opportunities to place bets, land some winners and even enjoy some Cash Out along the way.
It's fair to say that racing meetings are taking place on a daily basis in the UK and Ireland, with Christmas Day one of the few days of the year where there's no horse racing occurring, although that is swiftly followed by a bumper Boxing Day schedule where meeting betting is completely rife and the same applies to New Year's Day horse racing meetings.
Upcoming festivals
Royal Ascot 2026
Get ready for Royal Ascot 2026! We have showcased all the big races for this meeting, with several Group One encounters and we recommend you compare the prices.
The July Festival 2026
There are lots of big horse races that form part of the July Festival, with the July Cup having Inisherin as the favourite. There’s also the Bunbury Cup on the same day, while you can get ready for some top-class action on 10 July when the bet365 Handicap, bet365 Trophy and Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes are among the high-profile encounters.
Glorious Goodwood 2026
The Glorious Goodwood meeting is like no other, with this five-day event taking place between at Goodwood. We’ve got a clutch of Group 1 and Group 2 encounters where some of the leading horses line up for this race, with many of the star performers from the Royal Ascot meeting tussling it out.
The Ebor Festival 2026
There’s nothing quite like the four days of quality flat horse racing that comprises the Ebor Festival. It’s going to be a success of thrilling encounters, with racegoers flocking to York Racecourse to enjoy a wide range of races. There are a number of Group 1 and Group 2 encounters which have been priced up early and there’s the chance to get best odds guaranteed.
St Leger Festival 2026
The St Leger is sponsored by bookmaker Betfred this year and this four-day meeting has changed for 2026 by virtue of the fact that it starts on a Thursday. The first St Leger racecard is for Ladies Day where customers are able to wager on some high quality races, while Day Two is Doncaster Cup Day before we get to Day Three and the Betfred St Leger.
British Champions Day 2026
British Champions Day is simply one of the biggest days of flat racing on the calendar. Our betting pointers and info give you a helping hand in finding those winners!
Breeders' Cup 2026
It’s almost Breeders’ Cup time! Check out the latest pointers, odds and information to help you pick some winners for one of the biggest race meetings on the planet.
The November Meeting 2026
You know the NH season is very much with us when it’s time for the 2026 November Meeting at Cheltenham and we’ve got a fine guide to this three-day extravaganza.
Coral Gold Cup Meeting 2026
Check out our thoughts on the Coral Gold Cup, Long Distance Hurdle and more as we cast our gaze over the upcoming 2026 Coral Gold Cup meeting at Newbury!
2026 Tingle Creek Festival
The Tingle Creek Chase is the biggest race of the Christmas Festival at Sandown, but there’s plenty more to enjoy. Check out our lowdown and betting pointers.
Ladbrokes Christmas Festival 2026
With the King George VI Chase, the Christmas Hurdle and the Desert Orchid Chase, we’ve got a packed two-day meeting to enjoy at Kempton this Christmas.
Welsh Grand National 2026
Check out the latest betting odds comparison and predictions for the 2026 Welsh Grand National. We also have info and odds for the other races on the Chepstow card.
Cheltenham Festival 2027
Check out the latest information, odds comparison and racing betting tips for the Cheltenham Festival 2027, the greatest jumps meeting of them all taking place in March.
Grand National Meeting 2027
If you want betting odds, tips, analysis and strategies for picking winners for the biggest 2027 Grand National Festival races you’ve come to the right place.
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Great Yorkshire Chase 2026
January might be bleak weather-wise, but the 2026 Great Yorkshire Chase meeting at Doncaster can brighten things up. Check out our betting guide and info here.
Guineas Festival 2026
The Guineas Festival 2026 features the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket is the first Classic of the season, with the 1000 Guineas hot on its heels. Check out our guide to this three-day racing feast.
Dante Festival 2026
The Dante Festival 2026 at York is one of the biggest meetings of the flat racing season - check out the odds, information and pointers you need to pick out some winning racing bets.
The Biggest Horse Racing Meetings in the UK
On this page, you will find key information when it comes to the big racing meetings so that you can identify when the big horse racing festivals are taking place. It's great to put some dates in your diary and find out Cheltenham Festival dates or Royal Ascot dates, with Racing-Odds.com making sure that readers are fully informed as part of the process.
Get the Dates for the Big Flat Racing Meetings
In the United Kingdom, there are five racing Classics and they are as follows:
- 1000 Guineas
- 2000 Guineas
- The Derby
- The Oaks
- St Leger
The 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas meeting takes place at Newmarket every year and the meeting betting for that occasion is very popular, with customers betting on the outcome of a race primarily for fillies before the 2000 Guineas which is designed specifically for colts.
The Derby takes centre stage at Epsom and is a historic race which attracts a stellar field, although the Derby racing meeting also includes other high-profile race including the Oaks which is the female equivalent and the Oaks betting is always popular too.
The St Leger horse racing meeting betting is also highly popular and the St Leger Festival generally spans four days before the St Leger is run at Doncaster Racecourse on a Saturday afternoon. Racing meetings don't tend to come more prestigious than the St Leger meeting and it's a chance to go through the racecard and pick out a few winners each day.
Get the Latest Dates and Fixtures for Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood
While there are many Group 1 flat horse races that take place through the UK flat racing season, none are more prestigious than Royal Ascot which spans five days from Tuesday through to Saturday. This is a massively popular horse racing meeting and the bookies always report meeting betting to be high for each of the five days.
The Royal Ascot racecard boasts leading races such as the Queen Anne Stakes, St James' Palace Stakes and the Gold Cup, although each Ascot racecard is littered with big races and punters enjoy placing bets.
The same applies to Glorious Goodwood which is run at Goodwood Racecourse and includes the Sussex Stakes and the Lennox Stakes. There is also the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse where you can enjoy racing meeting betting through the card.
Bet on Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National
Many people often want to know Cheltenham Festival racing meeting dates and you can secure the latest information when it comes to this four-day meeting. There is also a Grand National meeting which takes place at Aintree racecourse and this runs over three days spanning Thursday - Saturday.
The Grand National big racing meeting is as large as they come due to the fact that the National is the world's most famous steeplechase, with forty runners and riders lining up for the big occasions, while Cheltenham racing betting is also huge and includes the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Gold Cup.
Horse Racing Festivals FAQ
When is the next big horse racing festival in the UK?
Big horse racing festivals are always on the horizon. This page will highlight the upcoming racing meetings and detail the key races that comprise the event.
What are the British Classics?
British Classics are five prominent Flat races in England. The 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas take place annually at Newmarket. Then come the Oaks and Derby at Epsom before the St Leger at Doncaster.
How do I bet on the Grand National?
Our best advice is to compare the Grand National odds at Racing-Odds.com. You can also find out the top tips for the Aintree showdown before tapping through to your preferred betting site.
Which UK meetings have the biggest prize money?
Ascot Racecourse hosts two meetings where the prize money is huge. There's the historic Royal Ascot which takes place in June. The same track then hosts the prestigious British Champions Day in October.
Can I get Best Odds Guaranteed for the Cheltenham Festival?
All the betting sites featured at Racing-Odds.com will have Best Odds Guaranteed available. This means you can enjoy the BOG concession for the Cheltenham Festival. Take an early price and get paid out at SP if the latter is bigger.