Overview

• Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender confirmed the Wednesday–Saturday idea is under exploration, with no decision taken and consultations to come.
• Total Festival attendance has dropped from 280,627 in 2022 to 218,839 this year, pressuring revenues for owner the Jockey Club.
• Cheltenham has already announced 2026 customer measures, including cutting daily capacity to 66,000, freezing ticket prices and reducing the price of a pint by 30p, alongside a minor card reshuffle.
• Similar scheduling ideas were considered previously, including a 2022 Wednesday start that was abandoned and a five‑day plan that was dropped, with the meeting having run over four days since 2005.
• Industry data show rising crowds at several major meetings this year, and supporters say a Saturday finale could broaden the audience, though any effect remains under evaluation.