Cheltenham Festival 2026 revellers including Georgia Toffolo turn heads with eye-catching outfits on day one of racing

EYE-popping hats, tweed skirts and champagne flowing – Cheltenham Festival is back with a bang.

Excited racing fans have arrived in style to kick off this year’s four-day event and have been joined by some very famous faces, including Georgia Toffolo and Zara Tindall.

Around 250,000 Cheltenham fans are expected to flock to the famous Gloucestershire racecourse for the world-class racing extravaganza.

While tweed is typically the fabric of choice at Cheltenham, some racegoers have opted to add some eye-catching accessories. 

Many attendees have grabbed attention for their feather-adorned hats or thigh-high boots.

While many are busy sipping champagne and placing bets, there has been an opportunity for some celeb-spotting too.

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Cheltenham regular Georgia Toffolo turned heads in a red two-piece Chanel suit with a black furry Jonny Beardsall Millinery hat finishing off the look.

The Made in Chelsea star, married to Brewdog founder James Watt, told her followers on Instagram: “Finally my favourite week of the year has arrived.

“I’m thrilled that Cheltenham is back. I’ve been up since dawn when the birds started singing. I’m so excited, get me on the course! Absolutely nothing beats that first day feeling.”

Meanwhile, royalty is also in the house with Mike and Zara Tindall in attendance.

Zara, who is a Fairfax & Favor ambassador, looked sensational in the brand’s £435 Regina High Heeled Boots.

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Day one of the festival is known as Champion Day, ending with Gold Cup day on Friday March 13.

Tomorrow is Ladies today, which was previously rebranded as Style Wednesday, followed by St Patrick’s Day on Thursday.

The Cheltenham awards panel now features a ‘slow fashion’ awards ceremony, which includes vintage outfits, or those put together from charity shops or online resellers.

Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham racecourse has hosted racing since 1815 and is one of the highlights in the racing calendar.

Traditionally racegoers have donned formal dress for the experience, but rules were relaxed by The Jockey Club in 2023.

They changed the policy to make racing more “accessible and inclusive”, with guests encouraged to wear whatever they feel “comfortable and confident in.”

While suits and formal dresses were commonplace in the past, now jeans, trainers and even tracksuits are permitted. 

The Jockey Club has said the old dress code had been “rather outdated in the 21st Century”, and wants spectators to be comfortable in the changeable British weather.

While some groups even opt for fancy dress, offensive clothing of any kind and replica sports shirts are still banned.

Famous faces Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp will both be at the Festival again as their horses aim for Cheltenham glory.

One horse we won’t be seeing this year is Sir Gino – Nicky Henderson’s superstar will miss the Champion Hurdle after fracturing his pelvis at Cheltenham’s Trials Day in January.

Willie Mullins‘ Galopin Des Champs is back at the festival for Friday’s Gold Cup, after being denied a third consecutive victory in the showpiece race by Inothewayurthinkin last year.

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