Watch The July Festival live this week and witness the finest horses and jockeys take centre stage in a celebration of speed, style and atmosphere at Newmarket.
At a glance
- The July Festival date: 9–11 July 2026
- Watch July Festival on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
- Watch July Festival from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off
How to watch The July Festival on TV
ITV will screen some of the action from The Debenhams July Festival live and for free on ITV and ITVX across the three days, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.
ITV Racing will broadcast the first four races on Thursday and Friday, as well as the first six on Saturday, while Racing TV will cover every race.
You don’t need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.
If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.
What time is the July Cup?
The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup will run at 4.35pm and will be the sixth of eight races at Newmarket on Saturday 11 July.
How to watch The July Festival from anywhere
If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.
There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.
The July Festival race times
Races in bold will be shown on ITV.
Thursday 9 July: Ladies’ Day
| Start time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1.50pm | The Bahrain Trophy | 13f |
| 2.25pm | The Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes | 6f |
| 3pm | The Bet Boost at bet365 Handicap Stakes (Heritage Handicap) | 6f |
| 3.35pm | The Princess of Wales’ Stakes sponsored by The Kingdom of Bahrain | 12f |
| 4.10pm | The British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes | 6f |
| 4.45pm | The Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes | 8f |
| 5.20pm | Federation of Bloodstock Agents Handicap Stakes | 8f |
Friday 10 July: Festival Friday
| Start time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1.50pm | The Handicap Stakes | 10f |
| 2.25pm | The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (sponsored by bet365) | 6f |
| 3pm | The bet365 Trophy | 14f |
| 3.35pm | The Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Falmouth Stakes | 8f |
| 4.10pm | The Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes | 7f |
| 4.45pm | The Handicap Stakes | 5f |
| 5.20pm | The Handicap Stakes | 7f |
Saturday 11 July: July Cup Day
| Start time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1.40pm | The Fillies’ Handicap Stakes | 7f |
| 2.15pm | The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (sponsored by bet365) | 7f |
| 2.50pm | The bet365 Mile Handicap | 8f |
| 3.25pm | The bet365 Superlative Stakes | 7f |
| 4pm | The bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) | 7f |
| 4.35pm | The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup | 6f |
| 5.10pm | The Handicap Stakes | 12f |
| 5.45pm | The Handicap Stakes | 6f |
What is The July Festival?
Newmarket is the home of British horseracing and The July Meeting dates back to 1765. The July Course itself is known for its intimate, relaxed, and picturesque summer garden-party feel, in contrast to the more formal spring Rowley Mile events.
The pinnacle of the three days is the July Cup, which is recognised as one of the most prestigious sprint races in the world and a highlight of the British racing calendar. The Group 1 Flat race is open to horses aged three years or older and run over 6f.
Many future classic and Group 1 winners first make their mark in juvenile races during the festival.
- To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
You may also be interested in:
A bluffer’s guide to reading a racecard
Major UK horseracing events for your calendar in 2026
A beginner’s guide to betting
If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.
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