Horse Racing Calendar 2026
Every major horse racing event in 2026 — from the Kentucky Derby in May and Royal Ascot in June through to the Hong Kong International Races in December. An at-a-glance guide to the global racing calendar organised by month.
DirtTurfSyntheticTurf (NH)Surface type
January
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Jan 25 | Pegasus World Cup Invitational  Gulfstream Park |
| Jan 25 | Pegasus World Cup Turf Gulfstream Park |
| Jan 1 | Jerome Stakes Aqueduct |
February
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Feb 22 | Saudi Cup  King Abdulaziz Racecourse |
| Feb 22 | Saudi Derby King Abdulaziz Racecourse |
| Feb (various) | UAE Oaks  Meydan Racecourse |
March
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Mar 29 | Dubai World Cup Meydan Racecourse |
| Mar 29 | Dubai Turf Meydan Racecourse |
| Mar 29 | Dubai Sheema Classic Meydan Racecourse |
| Mar 29 | Dubai Golden Shaheen Meydan Racecourse |
| Mar 10–13 | Cheltenham Festival  Cheltenham Racecourse |
April
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Apr 5 | Grand National Aintree Racecourse |
| Apr (varies) | Criterium de Saint-Cloud  Saint-Cloud |
| Apr (prep series) | Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby  Various JRA |
May
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| May 3 | Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs |
| May 2 | Kentucky Oaks Churchill Downs |
| May 17 | Preakness Stakes Pimlico Race Course |
| May 4 | 1000 Guineas Newmarket |
| May 3 | 2000 Guineas Newmarket |
| May 24 | Irish 2000 Guineas  The Curragh |
June
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Jun 7 | Belmont Stakes Belmont Park |
| Jun 7 | Epsom Derby Epsom Downs |
| Jun 6 | Epsom Oaks Epsom Downs |
| Jun 17–21 | Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse |
| Jun 28 | Irish Derby The Curragh |
| Jun (varies) | Norwegian Derby  Øvrevoll Galoppbane |
July
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Jul 5 | Coral-Eclipse Stakes Sandown Park |
| Jul (varies) | Fallon Stakes Sandown Park |
| Jul 12 | July Cup Newmarket (July) |
| Jul (varies) | Aral-Pokal  Gelsenkirchen-Horst |
| Jul (varies) | Del Mar Opening Day Del Mar Thoroughbred Club |
August
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Jul 26 | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot Racecourse |
| Jul 29 – Aug 2 | Goodwood Festival (Glorious Goodwood) Goodwood |
| Aug 2 | Whitney Stakes Saratoga |
| Aug 23 | Travers Stakes Saratoga |
| Aug (varies) | Arlington Million Arlington Park |
| Aug (varies) | Grosser Preis von Berlin Hoppegarten |
September
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Sep 13 | Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown |
| Sep 13 | St Leger Doncaster |
| Sep 14 | Vermeille ParisLongchamp |
| Sep 20 | Canadian International  Woodbine |
| Sep 28 | Sprinters Stakes Nakayama Racecourse |
October
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Oct 5 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe ParisLongchamp |
| Nov 1 | Breeders' Cup Classic Santa Anita Park (2026) |
| Nov 1 | Breeders' Cup Turf Santa Anita Park (2026) |
| Nov 1 | Breeders' Cup Mile Santa Anita Park (2026) |
| Oct 18 | British Champions Day Ascot Racecourse |
| Oct (various) | Japan Cup Prep Races Various JRA |
November
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Nov 1–2 | Breeders' Cup (cont.) Santa Anita Park |
| Nov 4 | Melbourne Cup  Flemington Racecourse |
| Oct 25 | Cox Plate Moonee Valley |
| Nov 23 | Japan Cup Tokyo Racecourse |
| Nov (varies) | Gran Premio Nacional (Argentina)  Hipódromo de Palermo |
| Nov (varies) | El Derby (Chile)  Club Hípico de Santiago |
| Nov (varies) | Hong Kong Cup (Autumn)  Sha Tin Racecourse |
December
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Dec 14 | Hong Kong International Races Sha Tin Racecourse |
| Dec 14 | Longines Hong Kong Mile Sha Tin Racecourse |
| Dec 14 | Longines Hong Kong Cup Sha Tin Racecourse |
| Dec 14 | Longines Hong Kong Vase Sha Tin Racecourse |
| Dec 26 | King George VI Chase Kempton Park |
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