Thousands of British racing fans are heading to Benidorm instead of Cheltenham for the 2026 Festival, with travel bookings up 65% and hotel reservations soaring 225% compared to last year. The phenomenon dubbed 'BeniChelts' sees fans swapping the traditional Gloucestershire event for cheaper drinks, sunshine, and a more relaxed atmosphere. Travel retailer On the Beach reports this year will be the biggest ever for the Spanish alternative.

Regular attendees cite rising costs as the main driver, with accommodation near Cheltenham becoming increasingly expensive. Stephen Dahl, who has attended Benidorm's version since 2020, explains that what was once a niche choice has grown significantly. While prices have increased slightly, he maintains it offers better value than paying £150 daily at the UK event. Some fans still split their week between both locations, with racing podcaster Racing Lee attending Cheltenham's first two days before flying to Spain for Gold Cup Day.

Cheltenham Racecourse has responded by reducing daily capacity from 68,500 to 66,000 and introducing discounted ticket windows to combat the trend. Despite these changes, opening day attendance reached 57,242, up from 55,498 in 2025. Chief executive Guy Lavender acknowledges the shift but emphasizes that nothing compares to the in-person experience, noting they expect over 220,000 racegoers across the four days.