The Royal Ascot 2026
For five days a year, the small town of Berkshire in England transforms into the epicentre of horse racing as 250 000 spectators descend on the town to attend the Royal Ascot. As the UK’s oldest and most renowned horse racing festival, the Royal Ascot takes place at the Ascot Racecourse.
The elite thoroughbred horse racing event dates back to 1711 when Queen Anne declared it the perfect stretch for horses to gallop. The first race took place in August that year when seven horses competed in the first Her Majesty’s Plate for 100 Guineas. Ultimately, a horse named Doctor, owned by the Duke of St. Albans, won the race. If you’re interested in attending a prestigious gathering, The Royal Ascot 2026 promises to continue this remarkable legacy of sport and tradition.
The 2026 Royal Ascot takes place from Tuesday the 16th of June until the 20th. Over these five days, 35 horse races will take place with over £10 million in prize money available, making it Britain’s richest racing festival. Above all, the Royal Ascot is about tradition, and one of the oldest traditions is the Royal Procession, which dates back to 1825. Every racing day begins with the king and other members of the royal family arriving in a horse-drawn carriage. The horses then pull the carriage in front of the pavilion full of spectators along the straight mile. This, in turn, signals the start of the races.
Royal Ascot is More Than Just a Horse Racing Event
The Royal Ascot is more than a horse race it is a cultural event with live music and festivities taking place throughout the five days. In addition, spectators can expect champagne bars, Michelin Starred food, and of course afternoon tea (high tea).
Fashion also plays a big part in the event, with most spectators dressing in fancy hats and designer dresses in the hope of being photographed. Furthermore, organisers enforce very strict dress codes for patrons attending certain enclosures. The Royal Enclosure is the most expensive and prestigious ticket for the event, with a ticket costing around R50 000 per person. Consequently, the dress code for this area is particularly strict: men must wear a morning dress, waistcoat, tie, black hat, and formal black shoes. Business suits do not qualify. Women, on the other hand, must wear a formal dress with the hemline around the knee or longer, as well as a hat.
The Races Taking Place at the Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is one of the most prestigious horse racing festivals in the world, attracting elite thoroughbreds, top jockeys, and racing enthusiasts from across the globe. Spanning five action-packed days, the meeting features a mix of Group 1 contests, competitive handicaps, and thrilling sprint races. Furthermore, each day brings its own headline events, giving punters plenty of opportunities to analyse form, spot value, and enjoy some of the finest horse racing on the calendar. Below, we take a closer look at the races taking place on each day of the Royal Ascot 2026 festival. In total, 35 races take place over the five days.
Tuesday 16 June – Day 1
Three feature or Group 1 races take place on the first day of the event. These include the Queen Anne Stakes, King’s Stand Stakes, and St James’s Palace Stakes. As a result, this stands as one of the strongest opening days of any horse race event.
Wednesday 17 June – Day 2
Wednesday’s feature is a Group 1 race called the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. In addition, the other major races on the day are the Queen’s Vase and Royal Hunt.
Thursday 18 June – Day 3
Moving into the middle of the week. The feature race on Day 3 is the Gold Race, run over a distance of 4 000 metres (2½ miles).
Friday 19 June – Day 4
On Friday, two major races take place: the Coronation Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup.
Saturday 20 June – Day 5
Finally, Day 5 of the Royal Ascot features the highlight and biggest race of the event. The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is an elite sprint that draws massive betting interest from around the world.
Popular Betting Markets around the Royal Ascot
South Africans betting on the Royal Ascot will be happy to hear that many betting markets are available. Both World Sports Betting and Hollywoodbets cover the race, o keep an eye out for the odds. Meanwhile, South Africans can look forward to the Durban July which falls on the 4th of July this year. Bookmakers will make odds for one of South Africa’s premier racing events available soon. Also have a look at the Royal Ascot Betting Guide from last year which is very similar to this year.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
With so much world-class racing on offer during Royal Ascot, choosing the right bookmaker can make a big difference to your betting experience. The best horse racing betting sites provide competitive odds, extensive race coverage. As well as live betting markets, and exciting promotions throughout the festival. In addition, leading betting sites such as 10bet often offer enhanced place terms, free bets, and special horse racing bonuses that can add extra value to your wagers. Below, we highlight some of the top horse racing betting sites for South African punters looking to get involved in the Royal Ascot action.
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The Major Betting Markets Around the Races are:
The win is the most commonly placed bet. It is simply betting on which horse will finish in first place.
Each-Way is a two part bet. One half goes on the horse to win, while the other half goes on the horse to place.
Straight forecast involves betting on the 1st and 2nd place finishers in order.
Tricast, however, requires betting on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in the correct order.
Combination forecast, finally, involves betting on a mix of horses that can finish in any order.