The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and ITV have settled the schedule for the 2026 Christmas racing calendar, reshaping one of the sport’s busiest periods into a four-day television festival.

Changes agreed between the BHA, ITV Racing, racecourses and commercial partners will see four consecutive days of live racing broadcast from 26 to 29 December, in a move designed to give each of Britain’s leading festive jump meetings its own platform.

The revised programme removes the long-standing fixture clash taking place at Kempton Park and Chepstow on 27 December, allowing the sport’s flagship meetings to command individual attention from broadcasters, racegoers and betting audiences.

Under the new schedule, Kempton Park’s Ladbrokes Christmas Festival will retain its traditional Boxing Day opener, headlined by the King George VI Chase, before hosting the Kauto Star Chase on 27 December.

The Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow will become the feature meeting on 28 December, while Newbury’s Coral Challow Hurdle has been awarded a permanent slot on 29 December. To strengthen the television schedule, Hereford’s fixture has also been moved to 27 December.

The initiative was developed through collaboration between Entain, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), ITV Racing, the BHA and racecourses including Kempton, Chepstow and Newbury, with organisers aiming to create a more coherent and commercially attractive Christmas racing proposition.

Richard Wayman, BHA Director of Racing, said: “The Christmas period is always an important one for our sport, with increased exposure generated by some of the highest profile races in the calendar. As we seek not only to retain but grow the sport’s fanbase, we are pleased to approve this cross-industry initiative that will see four consecutive days of high-class racing on free-to-air television.”

ITV reaffirms UK racing foothold

The overhaul also strengthens ITV Racing’s position as the home of British racing’s biggest events. ITV assumed the BHA’s principal free-to-air broadcasting rights in 2017, replacing Channel 4 Racing, and has since become the terrestrial broadcaster of the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National, Royal Ascot and other marquee fixtures.

Richard Willoughby, ITV Racing’s Programme Editor, said the broadcaster had long sought to establish a dedicated festive showcase.

“A British Christmas racing festival has long been on our agenda, and we’re delighted to work with the BHA, the racecourses and their respective sponsorship partners to support this new initiative which will undoubtedly enhance the racing calendar over the festive period.”

For commercial stakeholders, the revised calendar also aims to maximise betting turnover and media exposure during one of the industry’s most valuable trading periods.

Simon Clare, Entain UK PR Director, backed the agreement as “a four-day Christmas Racing programme that gives each premier race meeting the spotlight it deserves and delivers a stronger and more compelling narrative for racing fans, racegoers and betting customers.”

He added that the new format should deliver “much-needed increased returns to all parties at a time when racing revenues are under major pressure and bookmakers are facing heavy tax rises and increased regulation.”

The fixture changes will come into force for the 2026 festive period, with the industry hoping the revamped schedule establishes Christmas as British jump racing’s showcase week on free-to-air television.