Highlighted Meetings

Dante Festival – 13 to 15 May
The season opens with three days of quality flat racing, anchored by the Al Basti Equiworld Dante Stakes on the Thursday. The Dante is a significant trial for the Derby, which makes it one of the more watched early-season fixtures in the north.

Music Nights – May, June, and July
Four music evenings are confirmed for 2026: Re-Take That on 23 May, Becky Hill on 27 June, Craig David on 24 July, and Tom Grennan on 25 July. The July dates form the Music Showcase Weekend — two consecutive evenings of racing and live performance. Full details are on the music nights page.

John Smith’s Cup – Saturday 11 July
One of the most competitive handicaps of the summer at York, the John Smith’s Cup draws large crowds and tends to produce a strong betting card across the day.

Ebor Festival – 19 to 22 August
The flagship meeting of the York season. Four days of the highest-quality flat racing, including the Juddmonte International, the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, and the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap — Europe’s richest flat handicap. This is the meeting that books up earliest across all hospitality options. Full information is on the Ebor Festival page.

Autumn Fixtures – September and October
The season closes with the Family Raceday on 6 September and two October meetings — Countryside Day on the 9th and the Coral Sprint Trophy on the 10th. The October fixtures are popular with guests who find the summer meetings fully booked, and the autumn atmosphere on the Knavesmire has its own appeal. AR Events also runs the Dante Final Furlong Suite on Friday 9 October.

Choosing the Right Date for Your Group

The right fixture depends on what your group is looking for. A few practical points:

The Ebor Festival is the obvious first choice for corporate entertaining or a special occasion, but it requires the earliest planning. Hospitality across all options — private boxes, restaurants, and AR Events exclusive days — fills up faster for this meeting than any other.

The music nights in June and July suit mixed groups where some guests are more interested in the evening entertainment than the racing itself. The Summer Music Saturday on 27 June and the Showcase Weekend in late July work particularly well for this.

The May and October fixtures tend to have more availability and often suit groups who are booking closer to the date, or who want a quality day at York without the Ebor-level pricing and crowds.

If you want to discuss which fixture best fits your group size, budget, and type of event, the private suite guide and hospitality restaurants pages outline what’s available. The itinerary page covers how a typical day runs if anyone in your group is new to racecourse hospitality.

Check Availability and Book

To confirm availability for any 2026 fixture or to discuss which hospitality option suits your group, contact the AR Events team directly.