The Cheltenham Festival takes place across four days between March 10 and March 13 as hundreds of thousands of fans descend on the iconic Gloucestershire racecourse for one of the sport’s biggest weeks of the year.

The Met Office has forecast cloudy conditions on day one of the Festival. Monday’s weather forecast is similar with some mist and fog and a 20% chance or rain meaning racing conditions are should remain as they are currently and disruptions are unlikely.

Fans can look forward to 28 compelling races across the four days. Racing begins at 1.20pm GMT and the final race of the day is at 5.20pm, though fans pack in after the gates open daily at 10.30am.

The weather can be crucial to the chances with punters studying the going days and hours out from each race. If the course is heavy, then expect a real test of the horse’s stamina, though the forecast currently suggests a quicker track due to a dry spell just before and throughout the festival.

The forecast generally looks wet and rainy for the week with the BBC showing gentle to moderate breeze on all four days and consistent drizzle and light rain from Monday to Friday. Some sunny intervals could appear on Tuesday but they are few and far between.

Some outlets suggest a mostly dry week with Accuweather forecasting rain on Monday and Tuesday with spots of afternoon showers. But, from Wednesday onwards they predict overcast, cloudy skies with temperature highs of 15 degrees for Friday’s Gold Cup day.

It is expected to be a brisk week on the ground, with temperatures ranging from 12 to 15 degrees celsius throughout the week.

Apple weather suggests no rain on Tuesday or Wednesday. The going at Cheltenham is currently soft on the Old Course and Good to Soft on the New Course with the Cross Country a mix of both. Soft ground means there is a high level of moisture in the turf and running is often slower. Horses sink deeper into this surface, requiring more effort to maintain speed, which tends to favor stamina-based runners.

Check out the latest Cheltenham odds and where you’ll find the best prices from betting sites and free bet offers to claim during the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.