Cheltenham Festival 2026 Weather Update - Day-by-day forecast for Festival week
The Cheltenham area, hosting the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, is expected to experience a mix of weather conditions throughout the week. Starting March 7th, the forecast includes occasional light rain and scattered showers, with the most notable rainfall expected on March 13th—Gold Cup day. The overall rainfall pattern suggests that the event will be conducted on varying grounds, predominantly good-to-soft, with some areas potentially being soft. Given March typically sees 50–60 mm of rain in Gloucestershire, this forecast aligns with seasonal norms.
- Mostly dry weather expected for Cheltenham Festival 2026
- The only significant rain forecast is for March 13th, Gold Cup Day
- Predicted conditions suggest Good-To-Soft ground, possibly soft in places
Here is a detailed, day-by-day weather forecast for the Cheltenham area during Cheltenham Festival week, using information gathered by the Met Office.
We've barely had a rainless day in the UK since the start of January. The Met Office reported that many areas of the UK endured their wettest winter on record, leading many to presume that this year's Cheltenham Festival would be run on fairly testing ground.
However, the beginning of March has ushered in dry spells and occasional bouts of sunshine, bringing the dull, soggy winter to an end.
The ground plays a crucial part in proceedings at the Cheltenham Festival. Trainers, owners and punters alike will be refreshing their weather apps regularly in the build-up to "the greatest show on turf", which begins on Tuesday, March 10th.
We've used information from the Met Office and other widely used numerical weather models to produce this detailed weather forecast for the build-up to, and the week of the Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Weather Forecast
| Date | Expected Temperature (°C) | Rain Timing | Estimated Rainfall (mm) | General Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 7th | High 11 / Low 6 | 13:00–16:00 light rain band; 20:00–22:00 isolated drizzle | 1–3 mm | Mostly cloudy morning with occasional brighter periods. Weak frontal rain moves through mid-afternoon. |
| March 8th | High 10 / Low 5 | 08:00–10:00 drizzle; 17:00–19:00 scattered showers | 0.5–1.5 mm | Predominantly cloudy day with brief sunny intervals between light showers. |
| March 9th | High 11 / Low 4 | 14:00–17:00 brief passing showers | 0.5–1 mm | Broken cloud with occasional sunshine. Showers short-lived and localised. |
| March 10th | High 10 / Low 3 | Mostly dry; possible light drizzle late evening | 0–0.3 mm | Variable cloud cover with some sunshine; generally dry conditions. |
| March 11th | High 9 / Low 2 | 10:00–12:00 scattered showers; 18:00–21:00 additional brief showers | 0.5–1 mm | Slightly cooler air moving south. Cloudy periods with occasional light showers. |
| March 12th | High 9 / Low 2 | 07:00–09:00 light drizzle early morning | 1–2 mm | Early fog or mist patches lifting to cloud with occasional brighter spells. |
| March 13th | High 10 / Low 4 | 12:00–16:00 steady rain; 20:00–23:00 scattered showers | 3–5 mm | Atlantic frontal system brings the wettest conditions of the period. |
| March 14th | High 11 / Low 5 | 05:00–07:00 early drizzle possible | 0.3–1 mm | Mix of cloud and sunshine as the previous weather system clears. |
Based on the figures above, it seems that Gold Cup day (March 13th) is the only day when Cheltenham racecourse will receive a significant amount of rain. It's now expected that the 2026 Cheltenham Festival will be run on Good-To-Soft ground, possibly Soft in places.
Typically, Cheltenham receives about 50–60 mm of rainfall during March, so this level of rainfall would fall within a normal range for early spring in Gloucestershire.
Forecast certainty declines with time because small changes in Atlantic low-pressure systems can shift rainfall timing across southwest England.
2026 Cheltenham Festival Tips
We always take the weather into account when attempting to predict what might happen during National Hunt racing's most famous event. Visit our 2026 Cheltenham Festival page to read free previews of all 28 races.
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