What are the dates for the UK’s top jumps races in the 2025/26 National Hunt season?
Struggling to find out when and where the biggest jumps meetings and festivals of the 2025/26 National Hunt season take place? Don’t worry, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Scott Allen has got your back.
The traditional start to the National Hunt season is now underway and the top trainers, jockeys and most importantly the horses are gearing up for another exciting campaign over the sticks.
There’s some mouthwatering Grade 1 action to look forward to over the season including the KIng George IV, the Aintree Festival and of course the mother of them all - the Cheltenham Festival.
Let’s not forget the Grand National, okay it’s not a Grade 1 race but it certainly feels like one of the most important events on the race calendar.
So take us by the hand - yes, we've washed them - and look ahead to all the Grade 1 fixtures for the 2025/26 season across the UK.
We’ve even put in the dates for all the National Hunt season festivals because we are nice like that.
Be lucky everyone, and remember to always gamble responsibly.
2025/26 Grade 1 National Hunt fixtures in the UK:
NOVEMBER 2025
The November Meeting at Cheltenham (Nov 14-16)
22/11/25 - Betfair Chase (Haydock)
Winter Carnival at Newbury (Nov 28-29)
29/11/25 - Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Newcastle)
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DECEMBER 2025
Tingle Creek Festival at Sandown (Dec 5-6)
6/12/25 - Henry VIII Novices Hurdle (Sandown)
6/12/25 - Tingle Creek Chase (Sandown)
Cheltenham Christmas Meeting (Dec 12-13)
20/12/25 - Long Walk Hurdle (Ascot)
Christmas Festival at Kempton (Dec 26-27)
26/12/25 - Kauto Star Novices Chase (Kempton)
26/12/25 - Christmas Hurdle (Kempton)
26/12/25 - King George VI Chase (Kempton)
26/1/25: Formby Novices Chase (Aintree)
29/12/25: Challow Novices Hurdle (Newbury)
JANUARY 2026
17/1/26 - Clarence House Chase (Ascot)
31/1/26- Scilly Isles Novices Chase (Sandown)
FEBRUARY 2026
14/2/26 - Ascot Chase (Ascot)
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MARCH 2026
Cheltenham Festival (March 10-13)
10/3/26 - Supreme Novices Hurdle (Cheltenham)
10/3/26 - Arkle Chase (Cheltenham)
10/3/26 - Mares Hurdle (Cheltenham)
10/3/26 - Champion Hurdle (Cheltenham)
11/3/26 - Turners Novices Hurdle (Cheltenham)
11/3/26 - Brown Advisory Novices Chase (Cheltenham)
11/3/26 - Queen Mother Champion Chase (Cheltenham)
11/3/26 - Champion Bumper (Cheltenham)
12/3/26 - Ryanair Chase (Cheltenham)
12/3/26 - Stayers Hurdle (Cheltenham)
13/3/26 - Triumph Hurdle (Cheltenham)
13/3/26 - Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (Cheltenham)
13/3/26 - Gold Cup (Cheltenham)
APRIL 2026
Grand National Festival at Aintree (April 9-11)
9/4/26 - Manifesto Novices Chase (Aintree)
9/4/26 - 4YO Juvenile Hurdle (Aintree)
9/4/26 - Aintree Hurdle (Aintree)
10/4/26 - Midmay Novices Chase (Aintree)
10/4/26 - Top Novices Hurdle (Aintree)
10/4/26 - Melling Chase (Aintree)
10/4/26 - Sefton Novices Chase (Aintree)
11/4/26 - Mersey Novices Hurdle (Aintree)
11/4/26 - Liverpool Hurdle (Aintree)
11/4/26 - Maghull Novices Chase (Aintree)
11/4/26 - Grand National (Aintree) (G3)
April Meeting at Cheltenham (April 15-16)
Bet365 Jump finale at Sandown (April 25)
25/4/26 - Celebration Chase (Sandown)
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