Ladies Day Aintree 2026: Start times, banned items, road closures

This year's annual Ladies Day at Aintree Racecourse is set to welcome its biggest crowd in almost 15 years.

Kicking off on Friday, thousands are set to head to Merseyside for a day of fashion, entertainment and - of course - horseracing.

Ladies Day takes place on the second day of the racecourse's world famous Randox Grand National Festival.

Organisers said bookings among 18-24-year-olds had more than doubled for Ladies Day, year on year, with this year's crowd expected to be the biggest since 2012.

Here's everything you need to know.

The gates for Ladies Day at Aintree Racecourse will open at 10:30 BST on Friday, with the first race to kick off at 13:45 BST.

Races will then take place every 30 minutes or so, with the final race to start at 17:15 BST.

Here is the full schedule for the day's races:

13:45: William Hill Handicap Hurdle

14:20: Mildmay Novices' Chase

14:55: Top Novices' Hurdle

15:30: Melling Chase

16:05: Topham Chase

16:40: Sefton Novices' Hurdle

17:15: Debenhams Hurdle

Ladies Day at the Grand National Festival is one of the biggest fashion days of the year.

Some spectators get dressed to the nines, wearing their best outfits to Aintree. However, there is actually no official style code for the Aintree Grand National.

Ladies Day also features the annual Style Awards, where there will be major prizes awarded for the Best Dressed, Best Suited and Best Hat.

Attendees to any of the Grand National events are advised not to bring a bag larger than a small handbag (30cm x 10cm x 20cm) with them.

There will not be a place to leave luggage onsite.

No food or drink will be allowed onto the course, including alcohol and picnics.

Organisers said while perfume and aftershave is allowed, attendees may be asked to spray some onto themselves to prove that it isn't harmful.

You can read more information here.

Attendees can get to Aintree by car, train or bus.

Parking at the Steeplechase Car Park can be pre-purchased online.

Merseyrail will run a special timetable for the three-day festival, with trains running more regularly between Liverpool city Centre and Aintree station before the start and finish of the races on each day.

You can find out more about train travel on the Merseyrail website.

Aintree can also be reached by bus on services 300, 310 and 345 both to and from Liverpool.

A number of roads in and around Aintree will be closed to faclitate transport mamagement for the festival, including Melling Road, Seeds Lane, Greenwich Road and Heysham Road.

A map of the road closures is available here.

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