BHA release 2026 Fixture List

Owners are fundamental to British racing and their continued support is critical as we work together to strengthen the sport at every level.
 
The 2026 fixture list, published today by the BHA, is underpinned by measures focused on increasing the number of horses being raced and retained in Britain, boosting prize money for developmental races across both codes, investing in headline contests to strengthen the supply of high-quality horses and protecting the workforce that participate and look after our horses every day.

These measures are designed to enhance the appeal of owning racehorses in Britain and attract new investment into the sport.   

Alongside these prize money enhancements and measures around the 2026 fixture list, the ROA’s owner relations work continues to play a vital role in improving the ownership experience on and off the racecourse, making ownership more rewarding, recognised and sustainable for the long term.

Read more about the 2026 Fixture List below:

• Measures aimed at growing the number of horses being raced and retained in Britain
• Prize money boost for developmental races on the Flat and over Jumps
• Investment in headline races to help increase the supply of high-quality horses
• Trial of earlier finishes at floodlit fixtures to support people delivering the fixture list

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today published the 2026 fixture list and a package of measures to help strengthen quality and competitiveness across the race programme.

Approved by the BHA Board following agreement from the sport’s cross-industry Commercial Committee, 2026 will see a range of initiatives aimed at increasing the supply and retention of horses in Britain. These will be supported by an additional £4.4m in prize money as part of a £77.1m funding package from the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB).

Developmental races on the Flat and over Jumps will be boosted by an increase in total prize money of at least £3.2m, including £2.5m from the HBLB. This further investment in the novice and maiden programme seeks to incentivise ownership and make Britain a more attractive prospect for horses of all levels to be based.

Novice and maiden races on the Flat will be run for at least £10,000, or £8,000 for restricted races, while over Jumps, novice and maiden hurdles will offer at least £10,000, with an increased programme of novice chases running for at least £15,000.

In addition, a new bonus series for point-to-point horses, worth an overall £250k, will help maintain the sphere as a developing ground for future stars and enhance the pipeline of good National Hunt horses progressing to race under Rules.

There will also be particular emphasis in 2026 on growing the supply chain of high-quality horses, part of wider and longer-term efforts to ensure the world’s best competitors are bred, owned, trained and raced on our shores.

Prize money for the Flat Black Type programme will be increased by over £2m to help strengthen Britain’s Pattern races. This includes funding uplifts for the Al Basti Dubai July Cup, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes – making these elite midsummer contests even more attractive for domestic and international connections.

Funding will also be targeted more strategically towards Britain’s higher-profile contests on the Flat and over Jumps, particularly feature races on ITV Racing, to attract higher quality and competitive fields and provide customers with an increasingly compelling product.

Further steps will be taken in 2026 to make it easier for fans to identify and engage with British racing’s showpiece occasions, with a refined number of Premier Racedays, better defined Flat and Jump seasons and 10-minute gaps prior to major races on Saturday afternoons to support promotion of the top clashes.

Race volume remains largely unchanged next year, but tactical adjustments will continue to be made throughout the calendar to deliver a competitive race programme and more consistent field sizes, while code breaks and rider restricted meetings will provide rest periods for jockeys.

There will also be a trial of earlier finish times at floodlit fixtures during the first nine weeks of the year and greater structure around finish times more generally – providing improved support and consistency for those working to deliver the fixture list.

A summary of the the main features of the 2026 fixture list is available here

 

Richard Wayman, Director of Racing at the BHA, said:

“The 2026 fixture list has been developed with a view to delivering high quality, competitive and engaging racing, which is attractive to those who own, train and run horses in Britain and appeals to the sport’s customers.

“As agreed by stakeholders and the Commercial Committee*, the approach for 2026 provides a bridge between the current two-year trial of innovations, and longer-term decisions informed by extensive customer insight about how racing is packaged and presented in 2027 and beyond.

“While the volume of fixtures will remain similar to 2025, we are investing in a range of measures that seek to increase the number of horses based and being raced in Britain. This includes a particular focus on growing the number of high-quality horses – something that is crucial to our global standing as an elite racing and breeding nation.

“We’ll be targeting more funding into prize money and investing in the programme at all levels, thanks to the increased contribution from the Horserace Betting Levy Board. There’ll be an emphasis on developmental races – where most horses gain vital early experience – and the major contests and headline occasions, especially those in the sport’s shop window.

“Like other sports, we know that it is our biggest events and best races that have the greatest potential to appeal to new fans. And by making it easier for people to identify these flagship events, we hope to attract the customers and future investment that can, in time, benefit the entire sport.

“We are also very aware of the need to ensure the fixture list is sustainable for the people being asked to deliver it, and the importance of taking steps to support them wherever possible.

“2026 will include several code breaks to ease the pressure on some of our busiest jockeys, and we will be trialling earlier finishes at floodlit fixtures in the early part of the year. This is a relatively small change, but one that can help us measure the effects on people’s wellbeing.”

 

* The Commercial Committee oversees the work of the Racing Committee and Gambling Strategy Group and contributes to the development of areas of the Industry Strategy with a commercial focus, including the racing product, promotion of the sport and initiatives regarding key stakeholders such as owners and bettors. Its membership is as follows:

• Tara Warren, BHA INED
• Alex Eade, as representative of the large independent racecourses
• Brant Dunshea, BHA Acting Chief Executive Officer
• Claire Sheppard, TBA Chief Executive
• David Armstrong, RCA Chief Executive
• George McGrath, NARS Chief Executive
• Jim Mullen, Jockey Club Chief Executive
• Jonjo Sanderson, as representative of the small independent racecourses
• Louise Norman, ROA Chief Executive
• Martin Cruddace, ARC Chief Executive
• Paul Johnson, NTF Chief Executive
• Paul Struthers, PJA Chief Executive
• Richard Wayman, BHA Director of Racing