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ITV Racing Reshapes Christmas Racing Calendar for 2026

The British Horseracing Authority and ITV Racing have announced a revised schedule for the 2026 Christmas racing period, creating a four-day television festival to give each major jump meeting its own platform.

News Published 6 July 2026 4 min read Ethan Reed

Featured image from the source article

A significant overhaul of the 2026 Christmas racing schedule has been agreed upon by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and ITV Racing, aiming to transform one of the sport’s busiest periods into a concentrated four-day television festival. This collaborative effort between the BHA, ITV Racing, racecourses, and commercial partners will broadcast live racing on four consecutive days, from December 26th to December 29th.

The new arrangement is designed to provide each of Britain’s prominent festive jump meetings with its own dedicated platform, enhancing their visibility and appeal to racegoers, betting audiences, and television viewers.

New Schedule Structure

The revised program addresses a long-standing fixture clash that previously occurred on December 27th between Kempton Park and Chepstow. By separating these major events, the sport’s flagship meetings will now command individual attention.

Kempton Park’s Ladbrokes Christmas Festival will maintain its tradition of opening the festive racing on Boxing Day, featuring the prestigious King George VI Chase. The following day, December 27th, will see Kempton host the Kauto Star Chase.

Chepstow’s Coral Welsh Grand National will take center stage on December 28th, offering a prime slot for this historic steeplechase. Rounding out the festival, Newbury’s Coral Challow Hurdle has been awarded a permanent fixture on December 29th.

To bolster the television schedule further, Hereford’s race meeting has been moved to December 27th, providing an additional day of broadcast coverage.

Industry Collaboration and Aims

This initiative was developed through close collaboration among key industry stakeholders, including Entain, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), ITV Racing, the BHA, and major racecourses such as Kempton, Chepstow, and Newbury. The overarching goal is to cultivate a more cohesive and commercially attractive Christmas racing proposition.

Richard Wayman, BHA Director of Racing, expressed optimism about the changes: “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 Racing’s Enhanced Role

The overhaul significantly strengthens ITV Racing’s position as the primary free-to-air broadcaster for major British racing events. Since assuming the BHA’s principal broadcasting rights in 2017, ITV has become the terrestrial broadcaster for marquee fixtures like the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National, and Royal Ascot.

Richard Willoughby, ITV Racing’s Programme Editor, highlighted the broadcaster’s long-standing ambition: “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.”

Commercial Benefits

For commercial stakeholders, the restructured calendar is intended to maximize betting turnover and media exposure during a crucial trading period for the industry. Simon Clare, Entain UK PR Director, commented on the agreement: “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.”

Clare also noted the potential for increased returns at a time when racing revenues face significant pressure and bookmakers are dealing with rising taxes and increased regulation.

The fixture changes are set to take effect for the 2026 festive period, with the industry hopeful that this revamped schedule will establish Christmas as the premier showcase week for British jump racing on free-to-air television.

This development is relevant to PlayVideoPoker readers who may also be interested in sports betting and the broader gambling industry. Understanding how major sporting events are scheduled and broadcast can provide insights into promotional opportunities and audience engagement within the betting sphere.

Source: SBC News, https://sbcnews.co.uk/sportsbook/2026/07/06/itv-christmas-horse-racing/