March brings a defining stretch in the sporting calendar, with title races intensifying, global motorsport roaring into life and one of racing’s biggest festivals taking centre stage. From crucial Premier League fixtures and European knockout football to the start of the Formula 1 season and four unforgettable days at Cheltenham, the month offers a packed schedule of must-watch moments that will capture attention from start to finish.
Early March: Formula 1 Roars into a New Season
The 2026 Formula 1 season kicks off with the first flyaway races in Australia and Japan, but for UK fans, the excitement is best enjoyed on Sunday mornings with race re-runs, making it easy to catch up over breakfast.
- Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne: 6–8 March
- Chinese Grand Prix – Shanghai: 13–15 March, Sunday 15 March
- Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka: 27–29 March, Sunday 29 March
UK fans can enjoy the key moments from all three races without losing sleep, turning Sunday morning into the perfect time for F1 breakfast catch-ups.
Cheltenham Festival – Four Days of Jump Racing Drama
The Cheltenham Festival returns from Tuesday 10 March to Friday 13 March, delivering four consecutive afternoons of elite jump racing. Champion Day begins Tuesday with racing from 13:20 and the Champion Hurdle at 16:00, followed by Ladies Day on Wednesday with the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 16:00, St Patrick’s Thursday continuing the action from 13:20, and culminating in Gold Cup Day on Friday 13 March, with the iconic Cheltenham Gold Cup at 16:00 — the pinnacle of the National Hunt season and one of the most prestigious races in world horse racing.
Mid to Late March: Premier League Title Race Intensifies
The Premier League title race reaches a critical phase in March, with every result carrying major implications for the destination of the trophy.
For Arsenal, the pressure ramps up with a testing away fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday 4 March at 19:30 GMT, before returning home to face Everton on Sunday 15 March at 14:00 GMT, a match that could prove crucial as the title race begins to tighten.
Meanwhile, defending champions Manchester City face key tests of their own, hosting Nottingham Forest on Wednesday 4 March at 19:30 GMT, before travelling to face West Ham United on Saturday 14 March at 12:30 GMT, with both fixtures carrying major weight in the race for the title.
With momentum shifting week by week and the margins incredibly fine, March could prove to be the period where the championship race is ultimately decided.
European Football: Champions League Knockout Drama
The knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League are set, with six English clubs discovering their Round of 16 opponents. The fixtures are as follows:
- Chelsea vs Paris Saint‑Germain
- Liverpool vs Galatasaray
- Manchester City vs Real Madrid
- Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Newcastle United vs FC Barcelona
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Atlético Madrid
First legs will take place on 10–11 March, with second legs on 17–18 March as the race to the final continues.
March in Focus: Season-Defining Moments
From the roar of Formula 1 engines in Shanghai and the drama of Cheltenham’s famous final straight to a Prem