York Ebor Festival Guide 2026: Dates,race times, TV schedule, dress code & ticket prices

The Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse stands as the jewels in the crown of Northern European Flat racing, combining world-class Group 1 action with Europe’s richest Flat handicap across four unforgettable days of sport.

Date, Time, Summary of the Meeting, Venue and Track

Dates: Wednesday 19th August-Saturday 22nd August 2026
Gates Open: 11:00am daily
First Race: 1:50pm daily
Venue: York Racecourse (The Knavesmire), Racecourse Road, York, YO23 1EX, England
Track Configuration: A left-handed, flat horseshoe-shaped turf track measuring 2 miles around, known for its long, fair 5-furlong home straight that provides every runner an equal chance without sharp draw biases.
Summary: The 4-day festival features three Group 1 championship races-the Juddmonte International, Yorkshire Oaks, and Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes-capped off by the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap on Saturday.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed Racing news you need, subscribe to the Racing Ahead website, digital edition, or magazine from as little as 8p a day.

York Ebor Festival Race Times, Names and TV Schedule 📺

Juddmonte International Day – Wednesday 19th August 2026

• 1:50pm Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Stakes Heritage Handicap 4+ £135,000 5.5f ITV1
• 2:25pm Tattersalls Acomb Stakes Group 3 2yo £175,000 7f ITV1
• 3:00pm Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes Group 2 3yo c&g £250,000 1m 4f ITV1
• 3:35pm Juddmonte International Stakes Group 1 3+ £1,500,000 1m 2f ITV1
• 4:10pm Sky Bet Stayers Stakes Heritage Handicap 3+ £100,000 2m ITV1
• 4:45pm Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Stakes Heritage Handicap 3yo £100,000 5f RacingTV
• 5:20pm Sky Bet Nursery Handicap Heritage Handicap 2yo £100,000 6f RacingTV

Ladies Day Yorkshire Oaks – Thursday 20th August 2026

• 1:50pm Sky Bet Lowther Stakes Group 2 2yo f £250,000 6f ITV1
• 2:25pm Harry’s Half Million by Goffs Stakes Handicap 2yo £500,000 6f ITV1
• 3:00pm Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 in 7 Grand Finale Stakes Heritage Handicap 3+ £150,000 1m ITV1
• 3:35pm Yorkshire Oaks Group 1 3+ f&m £600,000 1m 4f ITV1
• 4:10pm British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes Listed 3+ f&m £100,000 1m 4f ITV1
• 4:45pm Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap Heritage Handicap 2yo £100,000 7f RacingTV
• 5:20pm British EBF Fillies’ Handicap Heritage Handicap 3+ f&m £100,000 7f RacingTV

Coolmore Nunthorpe Day – Friday 21st August 2026

• 1:50pm Sky Bet Mile Stakes Heritage Handicap 3yo £100,000 1m ITV1
• 2:25pm Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Group 2 3+ £250,000 2m ITV1
• 3:00pm Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes Group 2 2yo c&g £250,000 6f ITV1
• 3:35pm The Coolmore City of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes Group 1 2+ £600,000 5f ITV1
• 4:10pm Assured Data Protection Stakes Heritage Handicap 3+ £120,000 1m 4f ITV1
• 4:45pm British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes Maiden 2yo £100,000 7f RacingTV
• 5:20pm Sky Bet EBF Fillies Stakes Heritage Handicap 3yo £100,000 1m 2f RacingTV

 Sky Bet Ebor Day – Saturday 22nd August 2026

• 1:50pm Sky Bet Strensall Stakes Group 3 3+ £175,000 1m 1f ITV1
• 2:25pm Sky Bet Melrose Stakes Heritage Handicap 3yo £180,000 1m 6f ITV1
• 3:00pm Sky Bet City of York Stakes Group 1 3+ £600,000 7f ITV1
• 3:35pm Sky Bet Ebor Handicap Heritage Handicap 4+ £500,000 1m 6f ITV1
• 4:10pm Sky Bet Constantine Stakes Heritage Handicap 3+ £13,000 6f ITV1
• 4:45pm Julia Graves Roses Stakes Listed 2yo £100,000 5f RacingTV
• 5:20pm Sky Bet David Reid Finale Stakes Heritage Handicap 3+ £100,000 1m 2f RacingTV

Is the York Ebor Festival on ITV Racing?

Yes, ITV Racing provides terrestrial broadcast coverage across all four days on ITV1 and STV.

The main channel covers the first five York races on each day’s card (1:50pm through 4:10pm) live.

The final two races of each day (4:45pm and 5:20pm) are broadcast live on Racing TV, which provides full uninterrupted coverage of every race throughout the meeting.

Who Will Be The ITV Racing York Presenting Team?

Live coverage across the 2026 Ebor Meeting will be fronted by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani.

The presenting team includes paddock insights from Matt Chapman, Oli Bell, and Mick Fitzgerald, sharp analysis from former jockeys Adele Mulrennan, Jason Weaver, and Ruby Walsh.

With the full race commentary over the festival by Richard Hoiles.

The Big Races: Ebor Handicap and Juddmonte International Stakes

The Juddmonte International Stakes (Wednesday, 3:35pm)

Ranked among the highest-rated Flat races in the world, the Juddmonte International is a 1m 2f contest that offers a £1.5m prize fund.

It acts as the ultimate cross-generational clash over 10 furlongs between classic three-year-olds and proven older horses.

• Last Season’s Winner (2025): Ombudsman, trained by John & Thady Gosden and ridden by William Buick for Godolphin.

He surged clear in the final two furlongs to defeat rival Delacroix, who had beaten in earlier that season in the Coral-Eclipse, by 3½ lengths in a dominant performance.

Ombudsman is expected to be back for more, in a must-see clash with this year’s Eclipse winner Constitution River.

He’ll be bidding to become the first back-to-back Juddmonte International winner since Halling in 1995-96, who was also owned by Godolphin.

The Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Saturday, 3:35 PM)

First run in 1851, the Ebor is Europe’s richest handicap on the Flat, boasting a £500,000 purse over 1 mile and 6 furlongs.

Winning the race earns an automatic golden ticket to the Melbourne Cup.

• Last Season’s Winner (2025): Ethical Diamond, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by William Buick.

He was sent off as the 5/1 favorite, he quickened smartly inside the final two furlongs to win going away by 2½ lengths.

The horse topped that win in his next race, with a shock victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf under jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle in early November.

York Ebor Festival Ticket Prices 2026 🎫

• County Stand – £80.00-£82.00 Access to premier views, main parade ring, and exclusive bars. Group 6+ discounts £76.
• Grandstand & Paddock – £45.00-£47.00 Access to main grandstand, pre-parade ring, and trackside lawn. Group 6+ discounts £43.
• Premier Racing Lounge – £155.00 Reserved table seat, bar service, and direct track views.
• Melrose Club Lounge – From £210.00 – Luxury indoor lounge with balcony viewing over the finish line.
• Clocktower Enclosure – On gate only (£12-£15) On gate only Open grass area in the centre of the track; picnic-friendly.
• Under 18s – Free entry when accompanied by a paying adult.

Note: York Ebor Festival ticket prices are just a guide and subject to change. 

York Ebor Festival Dress Code 2026 👗

• County Stand: Formal dress is strictly required. Gentlemen must wear a tailored jacket, collared shirt, and tie (or cravat).

Smart dress shorts and short-sleeved shirts are acceptable in hot weather, but jeans and trainers are discouraged.

Ladies wear formal smart attire with hats or fascinators popular, especially on Thursday (Ladies Day).

• Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure: No formal dress code.

Casual clothing including shorts and t-shirts is permitted, though many racegoers choose smart-casual attire.

Fancy dress is permitted provided it is tasteful and not offensive.

• Clocktower Enclosure: Informal and relaxed, ideal for family picnics.

Bare chests are strictly prohibited across all York racecourse enclosures.