The Ebor Festival returns to York Racecourse from Wednesday 19th August to Saturday 22nd August 2026, bringing four days of top-class Flat racing to the Knavesmire.
The meeting features 28 races – seven per day – including four Group 1 contests in the Juddmonte International Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks, Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes and the newly upgraded City of York Stakes.
The Ebor Festival is one of the defining weeks of the British Flat-racing season, combining championship-level contests, prestigious juvenile races, famous staying events and the electric atmosphere of York’s late-summer showpiece.
Whether you are following the meeting for betting opportunities, watching the best horses in training, or planning a day at the races, here is the complete York Ebor Festival 2026 race schedule.
Wednesday 19th August 2026 – Juddmonte International Day
The meeting begins with its richest contest, the £1.5 million Juddmonte International Stakes.
Run over 1m2½f, it is one of the world’s great middle-distance races and has been won by modern icons including Sea The Stars, Frankel, Baaeed and City of Troy. It was also named the Longines World’s Best Horse Race in 2012, 2020 and 2024.
Wednesday Race Schedule
| Time | Race |
|---|---|
| 1:50pm | Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
| 2:25pm | Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3) |
| 3:00pm | Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) |
| 3:35pm | Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) |
| 4:10pm | Sky Bet Stayers Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
| 4:45pm | Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
| 5:20pm | Sky Bet Nursery Handicap (Heritage Handicap) |
Key Wednesday Races
1:50pm – Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Stakes
The festival gets underway with a competitive 5½f Heritage Handicap.
Big fields and York’s long home straight can make this a strong early betting heat, particularly for runners with proven form in high-pressure sprint handicaps.
2:25pm – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3)
A seven-furlong test for two-year-olds, the Acomb is an important late-summer trial for juveniles with aspirations for Group-race success and potential Classic campaigns the following season.
3:00pm – Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2)
One of the season’s principal races for three-year-old colts and geldings over 1m4f. The Voltigeur is a key St Leger trial and can reveal which middle-distance three-year-olds are ready to step up in trip.
3:35pm – Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)
The central attraction on day one. Run over 1m2½f, the Juddmonte International brings together elite three-year-olds and established older horses in a major cross-generational clash.
The 2026 edition is worth £1.5 million to connections, making it the richest race of York’s season.
4:10pm – Sky Bet Stayers Stakes
A two-mile Heritage Handicap that switches the emphasis from speed and class to stamina. It can attract improving stayers and versatile horses stepping up in trip.
4:45pm – Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Stakes
A five-furlong Heritage Handicap for three-year-olds. With the younger generation receiving attention in a sharp sprint, it is a race where pace, draw and track position can be especially influential.
5:20pm – Sky Bet Nursery Handicap
Wednesday closes with a six-furlong Heritage Handicap for two-year-olds, offering another chance to assess young horses who may progress through the autumn.
Thursday 20 August 2026 – Yorkshire Oaks and Ladies Day
Thursday brings the social spotlight of Ladies Day alongside one of Europe’s most significant races for fillies and mares: the Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks.
The Group 1 contest is run over 1m4f and has a stellar roll of honour, including two victories for Enable.
Thursday Race Schedule
| Time | Race |
|---|---|
| 1:50pm | Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Group 2) |
| 2:25pm | Harry’s Half Million by Goffs Stakes (Handicap) |
| 3:00pm | Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 in 7 Grand Finale Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
| 3:35pm | Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) |
| 4:10pm | British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed) |
| 4:45pm | Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap (Heritage Handicap) |
| 5:20pm | British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) |
The first five races are scheduled for ITV coverage, with Racing TV showing the complete card.
Key Thursday Races
1:50pm – Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Group 2)
A six-furlong Group 2 for two-year-old fillies. The Lowther is one of the meeting’s key juvenile races and can be a significant indicator for future sprinting and Guineas-generation prospects.
2:25pm – Harry’s Half Million by Goffs Stakes
A valuable six-furlong handicap for two-year-olds. The £500,000 contest gives the card an unusually rich early feature and should draw considerable interest from owners, trainers and punters.
3:00pm – Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 in 7 Grand Finale Stakes
A mile Heritage Handicap for older horses. It provides a deep, competitive betting race immediately before the day’s Group 1 centrepiece.
3:35pm – Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1)
A 1m4f championship event for fillies and mares. This is a serious autumn-target race for high-class runners who may go on to contests such as the Prix de l’Opéra, British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes or the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
4:10pm – British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed)
Another opportunity for fillies and mares over 1m4f. It often gives progressive staying performers a chance to step into Pattern company.
4:45pm – Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap
A seven-furlong Heritage Handicap for two-year-olds, with the increasing experience of the juveniles making it an interesting race for form students.
5:20pm – British EBF Fillies’ Handicap
The Thursday finale is a seven-furlong Heritage Handicap restricted to fillies and mares.
Friday 21 August 2026 – Coolmore Nunthorpe Day
Friday is all about outright speed. The feature is the five-furlong Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes, a Group 1 sprint open to horses aged two and older.
York calls the Nunthorpe its fastest race and notes that it regularly ranks among the world’s highest-rated 1,000-metre sprints.
The course record was set in 2019 at under 57 seconds, demonstrating just how quickly this race can be run.
Friday Race Schedule
| Time | Race |
|---|---|
| 1:50pm | Sky Bet Mile Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
| 2:25pm | Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup (Group 2) |
| 3:00pm | Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) |
| 3:35pm | Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) |
| 4:10pm | Assured Data Protection Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
| 4:45pm | British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes |
| 5:20pm | Sky Bet EBF Fillies Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
Key Friday Races
1:50pm – Sky Bet Mile Stakes
A competitive one-mile Heritage Handicap that starts Friday’s action. York handicaps over this trip often reward horses able to travel strongly before producing a decisive turn of foot in the long straight.
2:25pm – Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup (Group 2)
The meeting’s main staying Pattern race, run over two miles. The Lonsdale Cup is a key target for proven stayers and can help shape the autumn staying-race picture.
3:00pm – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2)
One of Britain’s most prestigious two-year-old colts’ races. The six-furlong Gimcrack is a major juvenile contest, and its winner can quickly emerge as a contender for high-level sprint races the following year.
3:35pm – Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)
The five-furlong sprint championship of the Ebor Festival. Horses need blistering pace, balance and the ability to sustain speed all the way through York’s long straight. It is among the most anticipated sprint contests of the British season.
4:10pm – Assured Data Protection Stakes
A 1m4f Heritage Handicap that offers a stern test for middle-distance runners after the explosive speed of the Nunthorpe.
4:45pm – British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes
A seven-furlong maiden for two-year-olds. This race can uncover highly regarded horses making their first serious steps towards bigger juvenile assignments.
5:20pm – Sky Bet EBF Fillies Stakes
Friday ends with a 1m2f Heritage Handicap for three-year-old fillies.
Saturday 22 August 2026 – Sky Bet Ebor Day
The final day combines York’s most famous handicap with a new Group 1 feature. The Sky Bet City of York Stakes is promoted to Group 1 level for 2026, before the historic Sky Bet Ebor Handicap takes centre stage at 3:35pm.
First run in 1843, the Ebor is York’s oldest race and is regarded as Europe’s richest Flat handicap. It is run over 1m6f and brings a distinctive big-race atmosphere to the festival finale.
Saturday Race Schedule
| Time | Race |
|---|---|
| 1:50pm | Strensall Stakes (Group 3) |
| 2:25pm | Melrose Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
| 3:00pm | City of York Stakes (Group 1) |
| 3:35pm | Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) |
| 4:10pm | Constantine Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
| 4:45pm | Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed) |
| 5:20pm | David Reid Finale Stakes (Heritage Handicap) |
Saturday’s ITV Racing programme begins earlier, at 1:15pm, with live coverage from 1:50pm until 4:10pm.
Key Saturday Races
1:50pm – Strensall Stakes (Group 3)
A 1m1f Group 3 for older horses, opening the final card with an opportunity for quality middle-distance performers.
2:25pm – Melrose Stakes
A 1m6f Heritage Handicap for three-year-olds. Often a stepping stone for young stayers, the Melrose can identify horses with the stamina and progression to move into stronger staying races later in the season.
3:00pm – City of York Stakes (Group 1)
The major new addition to the top-level programme. Run over seven furlongs, the City of York Stakes now gives the festival a fourth Group 1 race and brings a high-class sprint-mile division into the spotlight.
3:35pm – Ebor Handicap
The signature race of Ebor Festival Saturday and the meeting’s great betting handicap. Run over 1m6f, it offers a £500,000 prize fund and is Europe’s richest Flat handicap. The combination of a large field, competitive weights and a demanding trip makes it one of the most compelling handicaps of the entire British season.
4:10pm – Constantine Stakes
A six-furlong Heritage Handicap that keeps the competitive action coming immediately after the Ebor.
4:45pm – Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed)
A five-furlong Listed race for two-year-olds. It offers a sharp speed test for juveniles and provides a useful late-season opportunity for young sprinters.
5:20pm – David Reid Finale Stakes
The 2026 Ebor Festival concludes with a 1m2f Heritage Handicap.
How to Watch York Ebor Festival 2026
ITV Racing will show five live York races each day during the meeting. Coverage runs from 1:30pm to 4:30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, while Saturday’s programme starts at 1:15pm and runs through to 4:30pm.
Viewers can watch via ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Racing TV is scheduled to provide full coverage of all seven races on every card, including the two races after ITV’s main live-racing window.
Saturday also includes a special edition of The Opening Show, airing from 9:30am to 10:30am on ITV1, ITVX, STV, STV Player and YouTube, previewing the final day and the Sky Bet Ebor.
Four Days of Elite Racing at York
The 2026 York Ebor Festival delivers a complete showcase of Flat racing: elite middle-distance horses in the Juddmonte International, top-class fillies and mares in the Yorkshire Oaks, pure sprinting speed in the Nunthorpe, and the unique big-field test of the Sky Bet Ebor.
With four Group 1 races, 28 races in total and seven races every day, York provides one of the most varied and high-quality race programmes of the British summer.
The addition of the Group 1 City of York Stakes makes the Saturday finale even stronger, while the Ebor itself remains the race that gives the festival its famous name and unmistakable sense of occasion.
BETFRED
