The Cheltenham Festival 2026 gets underway on Tuesday but it appears that despite a reduction in prices, some punters are now choosing to fly to Spain to take in the racing instead
British tourists have flocked to Benidorm for the Cheltenham Festival(Image: Getty Images)
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is set to draw punters from all over the world as they aim to get their horse racing fix. But it appears that some are deciding to fly away from the UK in an effort to take in the festival – Spanish town Benidorm the location of choice for a growing group.
The festival gets underway at Cheltenham Races on Tuesday afternoon, with four days of racing, betting and drinking on the agenda. And while tickets are expected to be snapped up, some punters have joined a growing flock of fellow enthusiasts taking in the festival elsewhere.
According to The Sunhotel bookings in Benidorm have risen an eye-watering 225 percent around the festival, with The Marina Resort Hotel becoming an extremely popular location. The resort provides big screen TVs, pool parties and live DJ sets to make the festival a real occasion.
Plenty of punters also attend in racing-themed fancy dress. Prices for drinks are also markedly more affordable over in Spain, with the cheapest pint expected to cost around £1.70, compared to around £7.50 at Cheltenham – albeit that is a reduction on last year.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page
READ MORE: Cheltenham tips: Tuesday’s best bets for EVERY race from our top tipster NewsboyREAD MORE: Sir AP McCoy names the two horses he ‘cannot split’ as his Cheltenham Festival bankers
Zoe Harris, chief customer officer of package holiday firm On the Beach, said: “We’re so close to hearing the Benidorm roar erupt as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle gets underway.
“It’s clear from the number of punters heading over that this is shaping up to be the biggest Cheltenham Festival Benidorm has ever seen.
“The bars will be packed from first race to last and you’re guaranteed to hear the cheers echoing down the strip with every winner.”
The growing trend of a Cheltenham-themed Benidorm trip comes after organisers of the festival have confirmed a number of changes for the 2026 edition. The price of Guinness and beers and cider has been reduced to £7.50, while there is also a minor reduction to spirits.
Race-goers are also permitted to take their drinks anywhere around the venue, having previously been limited. There is also an improvement to the drinks and food on offer, while a new PA system has also been installed.
Ladies Day has been reintroduced to the calendar for the first time since 2019, with female attendees on the rise. Overall numbers will also look slightly different. The overall capacity of the racecourse has been slightly reduced from 68,500 to around 66,000.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us – and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
