Christmas Horse Racing 2026: King George VI Chase Dec. 26, Welsh Grand National Dec. 28

The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase is on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2026 at Kempton Park, off at 2:30 p.m. UK time, which is 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET), according to The Jockey Club’s race card. Two days later, on Monday, Dec. 28, the Coral Welsh Grand National moves to Chepstow, a day later than Dec. 27, when it was run in 2025. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) says Independent Television (ITV) will cover four consecutive days, Dec. 26 to 29.

When are the four Christmas racing days in 2026?

The BHA’s July 2, 2026 announcement lists the four days. Times below are UK time, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), as the courses print them. The Eastern column is our conversion: UK time minus 5 hours. Times and races are subject to change, Kempton says.

Date	Course and day	Feature race	Gates open (UK / ET)	First race (UK / ET)	Last race (UK / ET)
Sat., Dec. 26	Kempton Park, Ladbrokes King George VI Chase Day	King George VI Chase, 2:30 p.m. UK, 9:30 a.m. ET	10:30 a.m. / 5:30 a.m.	12:45 p.m. / 7:45 a.m.	Not posted
Sun., Dec. 27	Kempton Park, Kauto Star Chase Day	Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, 1:55 p.m. UK, 8:55 a.m. ET	11:00 a.m. / 6:00 a.m.	12:45 p.m. / 7:45 a.m.	3:37 p.m. / 10:37 a.m.
Mon., Dec. 28	Chepstow, Coral Welsh Grand National Day	Welsh Grand National, off time not yet announced	10:05 a.m. / 5:05 a.m.	12:05 p.m. / 7:05 a.m.	3:35 p.m. / 10:35 a.m.
Tue., Dec. 29	Newbury, Coral Challow Hurdle Day	Challow Hurdle, time not yet announced	Not announced	Not announced	Not announced

The BHA adds that Chepstow’s card comes with races from Leicester, and Newbury’s with races from Doncaster. Leicester and Doncaster times were not in the sources read.

What time is the King George VI Chase in 2026?

Kempton’s Day 1 race card puts the Grade 1 Ladbrokes King George VI Steeple Chase, run over 3 miles, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2026. That is 9:30 a.m. ET. The Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1, 2 miles) is at 1:55 p.m., or 8:55 a.m. ET, on the same card. Kempton’s festival hub page places the Christmas Hurdle on day two, but the Day 1 race card lists it on Dec. 26, so the table follows the more specific race card.

In 2025, The Jukebox Man, ridden by Ben Jones, won the King George, Kempton’s page says.

What are the Kempton Christmas Festival race times?

Kempton’s pages list two days, Saturday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 27, 2026. The Jockey Club’s race cards give these times.

Race	Date	UK time	Eastern (ET)
Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1, 2 miles)	Sat., Dec. 26	1:55 p.m.	8:55 a.m.
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1, 3 miles)	Sat., Dec. 26	2:30 p.m.	9:30 a.m.
Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1, 3 miles)	Sun., Dec. 27	1:55 p.m.	8:55 a.m.
Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2, 2 miles)	Sun., Dec. 27	2:30 p.m.	9:30 a.m.

The Day 2 page also names the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, without a time in the sources read.

Why did the Welsh Grand National move to Dec. 28?

Chepstow said on July 3, 2026 that the new date is part of “an exciting new initiative from the British Horseracing Authority, ITV Racing, and Entain” and “removes the current clash between Kempton and Chepstow on 27 December.” Existing ticket holders “will be contacted directly,” the course said.

The BHA’s plan gives Dec. 28 to Chepstow, “with races from Leicester,” and Dec. 29 to Newbury, “with races from Doncaster.” Kempton keeps Dec. 26 and 27.

What do Welsh Grand National tickets cost and when do gates open?

Chepstow’s event page for Monday, Dec. 28, 2026 lists gates at 10:05 a.m. UK time, 5:05 a.m. ET, the first race at 12:05 p.m. UK, 7:05 a.m. ET, and the last at 3:35 p.m. UK, 10:35 a.m. ET. Advance admission was £29.00 on Nov. 8, 2026, and the page says booking in advance costs less than the on-the-day price. The race distance and runners are not yet announced.

Kempton’s festival page describes a “Festive Four” ticket covering Kempton on Dec. 26 and 27, Chepstow on Dec. 28 and Newbury on Dec. 29.

Who won the Welsh Grand National in 2025?

In 2025 the race was run on Saturday, Dec. 27, and Haiti Couleurs, ridden by Sean Bowen, won it, RTÉ reported on Dec. 27, 2025.

How can you watch Christmas racing from the United States?

The BHA names ITV for all four days, Dec. 26 to 29. ITV’s own listings will give channel times. United States television and streaming channels are not yet announced in the sources read.

Free Christmas racing 2026 watch guide

The printable lists each posted race time in UK time and four U.S. time zones, with a pick column, and marks the Welsh Grand National and Newbury times as to be announced. Mark Dec. 26 to 29 on the December 2026 printable calendar, and see when Boxing Day falls in the UK. Another winter sports date list is the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Darts Championship schedule, and the December 2026 dates list has the rest of the month.