With Cheltenham racecourse limiting the number of spectators, live coverage will be as important as ever for fans who aren’t fortunate enough to go there in person. There will be the usual extensive TV coverage plus Cheltenham Festival Live Streaming from your bookmaker. Here is a run-down of how and where to find the best Cheltenham live-streaming coverage so that you miss none of the action!
- Sign Up To Bookmaker and also claim the sign up offer
- Once you do this, place a bet on the races you want to live stream
- Once you have done that, you will be able to stream the races live as they start
2027 Cheltenham Festival Horse Racing Schedule
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 – How To Watch Live
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 gets under way at 1.20pm on Tuesday 16th March with the Supreme Novices Hurdle over two miles. The famous “Cheltenham Roar” will thankfully be returning this year as battle commences between the best horses in Britain and Ireland. The ITV cameras will be there for the best of the action to ensure that the excitement is undiminished for racing fans unable to make the track.
The Grade 1 Arkle Challenge Trophy follows at 2.00, named after the legendary three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. The Arkle is the top novice chase over two miles and regularly produces future Champion Chase winners. The winner will be trying to follow in the hoofprints of the likes of Flyingbolt (1965), Moscow Flyer (2002), Sprinter Sacre (2012) and Altior (2017).
The highlight of the opening day is the Champion Hurdle at 4.00 over two miles. This race has been dominated by trainer Nicky Henderson in recent years, his most recent success coming with Constitution Hill in 2023. Golden Ace landed the race in a big upset for Jeremy Scott in 2025 and the mare could line up again in 2026 to retain her crown.
The competitive Ultima Handicap Chase is at 2.40 and The Mares’ Hurdle at 3.20 complete ITV Racing’s coverage. The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.40) and the National Hunt Chase (5.20) round off the day’s action. On all four days, you can watch the final two races live on Racing TV or through Cheltenham Live Streaming on your bookmaker app or website.
If you’re thinking of having a flutter this year make sure you take advantage of our day one tips for this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival Day 2 – How To Watch Live
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle at 1.20pm over two miles and five furlongs is the first of five live Cheltenham races on ITV on day 2. This race was won by Istabraq in 1997 who went on to win three Champion Hurdles. Other horses to score here include Hardy Eustace (2003), Faugheen (2014) and last year’s winner Ballyburn (2024).
The Brown Advisory Chase at 2.00 features the top three-mile novice chasers. This race thrilled spectators and TV viewers in 2020 when Champ stormed up the hill to catch Minella Indo and Allaho in the shadow of the post. The Brown Advisory has produced numerous future Gold Cup winners including Arkle (1963), Garrison Savannah (1990), Denman (2007), Bobs Worth (2012) and Minella Indo (2021). If you want to get ahead of the game in 2024 take a look at our day two tips.
The feature race on day 2 is the Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles at 4.00. Badsworth Boy remains the only horse to win the race three times while dual winners include Nicky Henderson’s Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016) and Altior (2018, 2019). 2022 + 2023 winner Energumene missed the 2024 renewal due to injury, allowing Captain Guinness to win his first Grade 1.
The big betting race on day 2 is the Coral Cup at 2.40 while Delta Work could bid for a belated hat-trick of victories in the Cross Country Chase at 3.30 after the 2024 edition was abandoned, although the race is now a handicap, so it remains to be seen if some of its previous participants will still take part. Wednesday’s action is completed by the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at 4.40 and the Champion Bumper at 5.20, both available through Cheltenham Festival Live Streaming and to Racing TV subscribers.
Cheltenham Festival Day 3 – How To Watch Live
Day 3 gets underway at 1.20pm, but with a new and revised schedule compared to previous years. This season, the mares’ novices’ hurdle will be the opening race of the card, having previously been the penultimate race on day three. That is swiftly followed by a race which resumes its position at the Festival after last being run in 2020 – the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase replaces the former Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase.
The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at 3.20 often produces a thrilling. Last year saw Protektorat give trainer Dan Skelton a second win on the day, beating the previous year’s winner Envoi Allen.
The Stayers’ Hurdle at 4.00 is the feature race on Thursday, won for four successive seasons by the Paul Nicholls-trained Big Buck’s (2009 – 2012). Paisley Park was expected to follow up his 2019 victory in 2020 but disappointed behind 50-1 outsider Lisnagar Oscar. In 2023, we saw another shock result as 33/1 shot Sire Du Berlais caused an upset, though his stablemate Teahupoo brough the prize home for favourite backers in 2024. Our experts have had their say on the race in our day three tips page, make sure to check it out before deciding on who to back!
The Pertemps Final at 2.40 always attracts plenty of betting interest. The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at 4.40 is the final live free-to-air race on ITV, while the final race is the Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.20), shown live on Racing TV and on Cheltenham Festival Live Streaming.
Cheltenham Festival Day 4 – How To Watch Live
Gold Cup Day begins with the Triumph Hurdle for four-year-olds at 1.20pm. The race produced drama in 2020 when runaway leader Goshen unseated his rider at the final flight. The remarkable Tiger Roll won this race in 2014 and famously won back-to-back Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019.
The County Handicap Hurdle at 2.00 is one of the most competitive races of the week and is now to be followed by the Mares’ Chase, moved earlier in the day than before.
Top staying novices will then compete in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 3.20. And then, the Cheltenham Gold Cup provides the climax to Cheltenham Festival week and, as one of the most bet-on races in the world, make sure you take a look at what our experts have tipped on our Day 4 and Gold Cup tips page. Golden Miler won an incredible five successive times from 1932 to 1936. Galopin Des Champs will try to emulate the likes of Arkle and Best Mate with a third victory in the blue riband in 2026.
The Foxhunter Chase (4.40) is the Amateur Riders’ Gold Cup and the final live Cheltenham race on ITV. As on the previous three days, the concluding Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle (5.20) can be seen live by Racing TV subscribers or on your bookmaker’s Cheltenham Live Streaming service.
How To Watch Cheltenham Live
There are several options for watching Cheltenham 2026 live, whether at home on your TV or laptop, or out and about on your mobile device.
Cheltenham Festival on TV
ITV will provide live coverage of the first five races of the Cheltenham Festival each day. The Opening Show will be broadcast each morning to update you on non-runners, market movers and any significant going changes plus Cheltenham Tips from ITV’s panel of experts.
You can also watch any race at the Cheltenham Festival live on your computer or mobile device through most leading bookmaker sites. You only need to stake a small amount on any race to receive live pictures of the action. For more detailed information, check your bookmaker’s website.
What TV Channels are Cheltenham Races On Today?
All 28 races of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival will be screened live in HD on Racing TV. The first five races each day will be shown free-to-air on ITV. Coverage begins at 1pm each day and continues until 4.30pm. If you are not a Racing TV subscriber, you can watch the final two races by live streaming through your bookmaker site. Alternatively, tune in to BBC Radio 5 Live Extra for commentary on all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival 2026.
What Radio stations are Cheltenham races on Today?
For those of you unable to screen the action live, radio coverage will be provided throughout the country.
So if you’re in between locations on a busy drive, or simply stuck in the office without access to ITV you can tune in to live commentary. Last year, BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra provided full coverage of every race, with the main Radio Five Live channel taking over on Gold Cup day.
Moreover, TalkSport also had uninterrupted commentary of all four days via their app.
Cheltenham Races Live Stream
If you cannot get to a TV during the racing, you can still watch the action by Cheltenham Festival live streaming through your bookmaker website. Most sites allow you to the view the race by staking a small wager, typically £1, although some sites now only require that you have credit in your account. You will be able to watch Cheltenham races live stream through your computer or mobile device. For full details please check your bookmaker’s website.
Watch the races while loading your Cheltenham betting offers.
Tips & Tricks To Watch Smoothly Without Interruptions
There’s nothing worse than when you’re sat watching a race on your device and the stream keeps cutting out or even worse, you lose connection completely. There are certain things you can do to help prevent this from happening, including:
- Ensuring you have a strong wi-fi connection
- Make sure your device is sufficiently charged
- Not using public wi-fi networks (not usually strong enough for streaming)
- Close other apps and programmes which may be using background data
- Remove other devices connected to your wi-fi