The Festival Schedule: April 9–11, 2026
The Randox Grand National Festival kicks off this Thursday, transforming Aintree into the global center of horse racing.
Opening Day (Thursday, April 9): Features four Grade One races. It is considered the “purist’s day,” offering top-tier racing at roughly half the ticket price of Saturday.
Ladies Day (Friday, April 10): A fusion of high fashion and elite racing. Expect crowds of over 40,000 and the famous Style Awards. (Sold Out)
Grand National Day (Saturday, April 11): The main event. The world’s most famous handicap steeplechase remains the biggest betting race in the British calendar. (Sold Out)
Runners & Riders: The 2026 Favourites
The weights have been released, and the market is beginning to solidify.
The Favourite: I Am Maximus (2024 winner) heads the weights and remains the market leader after a strong runner-up performance last season.
Top Contenders: Analysts are closely watching Grangeclare West, Iroko, Haiti Couleurs, and the 2025 defending champion, Nick Rockett.
Travel Guide: Getting to Aintree
With 150,000 spectators expected, public transport is the strongly recommended option.
Rail (The Best Bet): Merseyrail will run trains every 7.5 minutes during peak times. Wirral residents should take the Wirral Line to Moorfields and switch to the Aintree branch.
Pro Tip: Use the new “Tap & Go” contactless feature to avoid ticket queues.
Bus: Stagecoach is running a dedicated Grand National Shuttle from Liverpool City Centre (Elliot Street).
Road: Expect heavy congestion and temporary one-way systems. Use the Mersey Tunnels and follow signs for the A59. Note that only pre-booked vehicles are allowed to park on the Aintree site.
Exclusive Offers & Entertainment
Early Bird Discount: Get 20% off all food and beverages during the first hour of opening each day.
Drinks Deals: Look for £10 off Prosecco (Friday) and £10 off Champagne (Saturday).
The Festival Zone: The hub for live music and atmosphere with no formal dress code. Visit the Randox Health Experience to see 10 years of Grand National trophies.
The Grand Reveal: A free public event at Exchange Flags (Liverpool City Centre) today, Wednesday, April 8, from 3pm–6pm, followed by a light show at St John’s Beacon at 8:30pm.
Police & Safety Advice
Merseyside Police will have a high-visibility presence, including plain-clothes officers and live CCTV monitoring.
Security: Expect bag searches and badge checks. Forged tickets will be dealt with robustly.
Vigilance: Keep valuables out of sight and report anything suspicious to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline (0800 789 321) or staff.
Community: Respect local residents when leaving the course and use licensed taxis only.