James Maxwell
Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-05-03
Looking for the current Royal Ascot Week?
Our live guide has 2026+ racetimes, TV coverage and runners as they're confirmed.
See the Royal Ascot Week live hubRoyal Ascot 2026 runs from Tuesday 16 June to Saturday 20 June — five days, 35 races, eight Group 1s, the world's most prestigious flat-racing festival. All five days are broadcast live on ITV Racing, free-to-air with a UK IP, with full coverage from the Royal Procession through to the closing race.
This guide covers the complete TV schedule, off-times for every race, free streaming options, and how to follow Royal Ascot from anywhere in the UK.
Quick reference:
- Dates: Tue 16 - Sat 20 June 2026
- Course: Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire (postcode SL5 7JX)
- TV (UK, free-to-air): ITV1 + ITV4 + ITVX (streaming)
- TV (UK, subscription): Racing TV (full card, all races including those not on ITV)
- First race each day: typically 2:30pm BST
- Last race each day: typically 5:35-6:00pm BST
- Royal Procession: 1:55pm-2:00pm daily (covered live by ITV Racing)
- Eight Group 1s: Queen Anne (Tue), King Charles III (Tue), Prince of Wales's (Wed), Coronation Stakes (Fri), Gold Cup (Thu), Commonwealth Cup (Fri), Diamond Jubilee (Sat), St James's Palace Stakes (Tue)
The big races by day at a glance:
- Tuesday: opening day. Queen Anne Stakes (G1, 1m), Coventry Stakes (G2, 6f, juveniles), King Charles III Stakes (G1, 5f, sprinters), St James's Palace Stakes (G1, 1m, 3yo colts).
- Wednesday: Prince of Wales's day. Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1, 1m2f), Queen Mary Stakes (G2, 5f, juvenile fillies), Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap, 1m, the meeting's most-bet handicap).
- Thursday: Ladies' Day / Gold Cup day. Gold Cup (G1, 2m4f, the staying championship), Norfolk Stakes (G2, 5f, juveniles), Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap, 1m).
- Friday: Coronation Stakes day. Coronation Stakes (G1, 1m, 3yo fillies), Commonwealth Cup (G1, 6f, 3yo sprinters), Sandringham Handicap.
- Saturday: Diamond Jubilee day. Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1, 6f, sprint championship), Hardwicke Stakes (G2, 1m4f), Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap, 6f).
For the full festival overview see our Royal Ascot 2026 preview; for what to wear see our Royal Ascot 2026 dress code guide; for our daily tipping see the Royal Ascot 2026 tips piece (refreshes each day of the festival).
ITV Racing schedule, all five days
ITV Racing carries the full main card live every day of Royal Ascot 2026. Coverage typically opens around 1:30pm BST with paddock build-up and the Royal Procession at 1:55-2:00pm, and runs through to 6:00-6:30pm depending on the day's final off-time.
| Day | Date | ITV channel | Broadcast window (BST, indicative) | Anchor presenters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (opening) | Tuesday 16 June 2026 | ITV1 | 1:30pm - 5:00pm | Ed Chamberlin, Francesca Cumani |
| Day 2 (Prince of Wales's) | Wednesday 17 June 2026 | ITV1 / ITV4 | 1:30pm - 5:00pm | Ed Chamberlin, Francesca Cumani |
| Day 3 (Ladies' Day / Gold Cup) | Thursday 18 June 2026 | ITV1 | 1:30pm - 5:30pm | Ed Chamberlin, Francesca Cumani |
| Day 4 (Coronation) | Friday 19 June 2026 | ITV1 | 1:30pm - 5:00pm | Ed Chamberlin, Francesca Cumani |
| Day 5 (Diamond Jubilee) | Saturday 20 June 2026 | ITV1 | 1:00pm - 5:30pm | Ed Chamberlin, Francesca Cumani |
[Note: ITV channel allocation flexes day-to-day depending on competing live sport; ITV1 carries the headline races on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday by convention. Saturday's coverage starts earlier (1:00pm) given the Diamond Jubilee finale. Final on-screen schedule confirmed by ITV in the week of the meeting.]
What ITV's coverage includes
- All seven main-card races each day, including the eight Group 1s across the meeting
- Royal Procession live at 1:55pm-2:00pm daily — the King and senior royals enter the parade ring before racing
- Paddock build-up + parade-ring punditry before each race (Luke Harvey, Matt Chapman, Megan Nicholls)
- Race-day interviews in the winner's enclosure (Oli Bell, Sally Ann Grassick)
- Results, replays and post-race analysis at the end of each card
- Studio analysis between races covering trainer/jockey form, going updates, ante-post markets
Royal Procession — start time and protocol
The Royal Procession runs between approximately 1:55pm and 2:00pm BST each day. Five horse-drawn carriages enter the course from the Golden Gates at the top of the High Street and proceed down the home straight to the parade ring, where the King and Queen take the salute before the first race. ITV Racing covers it live each day. Post-Procession, the first race goes off at approximately 2:30pm.
Music and ceremonial elements
The Bands of the Household Division play before racing each day. The traditional Friday singing around the bandstand after the seventh race remains in the schedule (subject to weather), with ITV typically cutting away after the seventh race finishes. Saturday's card closes with God Save The King before the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
For our broader bookmaker offers comparison covering Royal Ascot extras (NRNB, BOG status, extra-place specials), see our bookmakers index.
Race times for every Royal Ascot 2026 day
The seven-race main card runs in a 30-minute interval pattern each day. Confirmed off-times below are based on the historical Royal Ascot template — the Ascot Authority confirms the final on-screen schedule in the week of the meeting and we'll patch any changes here as the festival approaches.
Tuesday 16 June 2026 — Opening Day
| Off-time | Race | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:30pm | Queen Anne Stakes | 1m | G1 |
| 3:05pm | Coventry Stakes | 6f | G2 (juveniles) |
| 3:40pm | King Charles III Stakes | 5f | G1 (sprint) |
| 4:20pm | St James's Palace Stakes | 1m | G1 (3yo colts) |
| 5:00pm | Ascot Stakes | 2m4f | Heritage Handicap |
| 5:35pm | Wolferton Stakes | 1m2f | Listed |
| 6:10pm | Copper Horse Stakes | 1m6f | Handicap |
Wednesday 17 June 2026 — Prince of Wales's Day
| Off-time | Race | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:30pm | Queen Mary Stakes | 5f | G2 (juvenile fillies) |
| 3:05pm | Queen's Vase | 1m6f | G2 (3yo) |
| 3:40pm | Duke of Cambridge Stakes | 1m | G2 (older fillies & mares) |
| 4:20pm | Prince of Wales's Stakes | 1m2f | G1 |
| 5:00pm | Royal Hunt Cup | 1m | Heritage Handicap |
| 5:35pm | Kensington Palace Stakes | 1m | Handicap (fillies) |
| 6:10pm | Windsor Castle Stakes | 5f | Listed (juveniles) |
Thursday 18 June 2026 — Ladies' Day / Gold Cup Day
| Off-time | Race | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:30pm | Norfolk Stakes | 5f | G2 (juveniles) |
| 3:05pm | King George V Stakes | 1m4f | Handicap (3yo) |
| 3:40pm | Ribblesdale Stakes | 1m4f | G2 (3yo fillies) |
| 4:20pm | Gold Cup | 2m4f | G1 (staying championship) |
| 5:00pm | Britannia Stakes | 1m | Heritage Handicap (3yo colts) |
| 5:35pm | Hampton Court Stakes | 1m2f | G3 (3yo) |
| 6:10pm | Buckingham Palace Stakes | 7f | Handicap |
Friday 19 June 2026 — Coronation Day
| Off-time | Race | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:30pm | Albany Stakes | 6f | G3 (juvenile fillies) |
| 3:05pm | Commonwealth Cup | 6f | G1 (3yo sprinters) |
| 3:40pm | Sandringham Stakes | 1m | Handicap (3yo fillies) |
| 4:20pm | Coronation Stakes | 1m | G1 (3yo fillies) |
| 5:00pm | Duke of Edinburgh Stakes | 1m4f | Handicap |
| 5:35pm | Hardwicke Stakes | 1m4f | G2 (older horses) |
| 6:10pm | Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes | 5f | Handicap |
Saturday 20 June 2026 — Diamond Jubilee Day
| Off-time | Race | Distance | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:30pm | Chesham Stakes | 7f | Listed (juveniles) |
| 3:05pm | Jersey Stakes | 7f | G3 (3yo) |
| 3:40pm | Hardwicke Stakes [moved to Friday for 2026] | 1m4f | G2 |
| 3:40pm | Wokingham Stakes | 6f | Heritage Handicap |
| 4:20pm | Diamond Jubilee Stakes | 6f | G1 (sprint championship) |
| 5:00pm | Golden Gates Stakes | 1m | Handicap (3yo) |
| 5:35pm | Queen Alexandra Stakes | 2m5f | Conditions race (the festival's traditional closer, 6 furlongs longer than the Gold Cup) |
[Off-times above use the Royal Ascot historical 30-minute template. Final times confirmed by Ascot Racecourse approximately 5 days before the meeting; we'll refresh this guide if the schedule changes.]
For our day-by-day analysis of each card see Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday previews.
How to stream Royal Ascot 2026 (UK)
Free streaming — ITVX
ITVX is the simplest free option. It carries the live ITV Racing feed for every day of Royal Ascot 2026, free to anyone with a UK IP and a registered ITVX account. Works on browser, mobile (iOS / Android), smart TVs, Chromecast, Fire TV.
- Cost: Free (with ads). Optional ITVX Premium £3.99/month removes ads.
- Coverage: Same as the linear ITV broadcast — full main card each day plus the Royal Procession.
- Catch-up: Each day's coverage is available on demand for 30 days after the broadcast.
- Account required: Yes, but free to create. UK postcode requested.
Setup at a glance: download the ITVX app or visit itv.com/itvx → create an account or sign in → search "Royal Ascot 2026" → start watching. Live coverage starts ~1:30pm BST each day.
Paid streaming — Racing TV
Racing TV carries every race, including the supporting card races that ITV doesn't show on the main broadcast. Useful if you want the full card or follow the smaller-field handicaps + Listed races.
- Cost: Subscription via Racing TV Player; standard monthly is around £30.
- Coverage: All seven races each day, full UK and Irish racing alongside.
- Mobile + TV apps available.
Bookmaker streams (free with placed bet)
Most major bookmakers stream Royal Ascot to logged-in customers who have a placed bet on the meeting (typically £1 minimum). The race-card pages show a play icon next to each runner. Coverage quality is generally good but with a 5-15 second delay on the live broadcast.
Bookmakers offering live Royal Ascot streams include Bet365, Coral, William Hill, Paddy Power, Sky Bet, Betfred, Star Sports — most of these stream the FULL Royal Ascot card (not just the ITV-broadcast races).
What about outside the UK?
ITVX is geo-blocked outside the UK. International viewers can use:
- Sky Racing+ / TVG (US): Royal Ascot is broadcast live on TVG and Sky Racing+
- Sky Racing (Australia): full coverage live overnight
- Equidia (France): French-language coverage
- At The Races / SIS affiliated streams in some markets
A funded bookmaker account from a UK firm with a UK-IP VPN is the most reliable workaround for expats — though VPN use against geo-restricted content typically violates the streaming service's terms of use.
Mobile apps and notifications
For follow-along on the go:
- ITV Racing app (free) — race results + replays + race-time alerts
- Sporting Life app (free) — full racecards + tips + race alerts
- At The Races app (free) — live odds + result service + paddock comments
- Bookmaker apps (Bet365, Coral, Paddy Power) — bet + watch on phone
Most apps support race-time push notifications so you can be reminded 5 or 10 minutes before each race goes off.
Where to bet on Royal Ascot 2026
Royal Ascot is the most-bet flat racing meeting of the British year — turnover regularly exceeds GBP 200m across the five days. Most major UK bookmakers run special Royal Ascot offers including extra places (5+ places on big handicaps), Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG), Non-Runner-No-Bet (NRNB) on Group 1s, and money-back specials on second-placed beats by a head/short head.
Specialist racing bookmaker — Star Sports
Star Sports is the on-course bookmaker presence at Royal Ascot every year, with their racecourse-pitch teams in Tattersalls and the Royal Enclosure betting rings. They run dedicated Royal Ascot content through the meeting — stable visits, ambassador-trainer columns from George Boughey, and on-the-rails reporting from Simon Nott.
Important note for the post-2024 racing market: Star Sports withdrew Best Odds Guaranteed in December 2024 [OLBG 2026; Football Whispers 2026]. Value at the firm now comes through:
- Curated Star Boosts on selected runners each day (not market-wide)
- Selective race-day money-back specials on Group 1s and the Heritage Handicaps
- The on-course presence — they take large stakes from racecourse customers, the only specialist bookmaker that does
The Star Sports welcome offer for new accounts is BET20GET10 — GBP 20 single bet at evens or greater unlocks GBP 5 free bet on settlement, then a further GBP 5 [Bookies Bonuses February 2026]. See our Star Sports review for the full picture, plus the Ben Keith profile for the operator background.
Royal Ascot festival offers comparison
For the cross-bookmaker view of what's available specifically for Royal Ascot 2026 — extra places on the Royal Hunt Cup, Britannia, Wokingham, BOG availability, NRNB on the Group 1s, sign-up offer match — see our bookmakers index.
For our broader guide on the Royal Ascot festival itself, see the Royal Ascot 2026 preview and the Royal Ascot 2026 tips piece which refreshes daily through the meeting.
Responsible note
Royal Ascot is a marathon-not-sprint betting week — five days of high-quality, hard-to-beat racing where the bookmakers' overrounds are competitive but not generous. Bet only money you can afford to lose, set deposit limits, and take regular breaks. BeGambleAware.org.
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