There is a reason the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is known simply as the Arc. Regarded as Europe's richest and most prestigious flat race, it draws the finest thoroughbreds, the greatest jockeys and a discerning international crowd to the tree-lined ParisLongchamp racecourse each October, all set against the backdrop of the Bois de Boulogne and one of the world's most beautiful cities. To attend is to combine world-class sport with the glamour of a Parisian autumn weekend, and it is precisely the kind of occasion Core Events was made to arrange. We combine Arc de Triomphe hospitality with travel, accommodation and race day logistics, delivered as one seamless experience from the UK and back.
This guide covers everything worth knowing, from how to buy tickets and where the race is held, to hospitality options at ParisLongchamp, the dress code, travelling from the UK and how a specialist can shape a truly bespoke race day weekend at one of Europe's leading sporting events.
For racing enthusiasts and businesses alike, the Arc offers something a domestic fixture cannot: a genuine occasion, sport and travel woven together into an unforgettable weekend. And while it makes a superb corporate day, it is far from corporate-only. Core Events arranges Arc experiences for couples, groups of friends and individuals marking a special occasion with exactly the same care.
With more than 40 years of combined experience arranging premium sporting hospitality, luxury travel and bespoke event experiences, the Core Events team has helped clients create seamless race day weekends tailored to their individual requirements. From official hospitality to travel, accommodation and concierge services, every itinerary is planned around the guest rather than the booking.
How Can I Buy Tickets for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?
Demand for the Arc is high and the best positions are secured early, particularly for the Sunday feature day. Book tickets for hospitality and premium race day experiences, with a specialist provider which offers by far the smoother route, especially for guests travelling from the UK. Rather than navigating an international ticketing process, arranging your own travel and hoping to piece the weekend together, Core Events secures your race day access and builds the entire trip around it. Get in touch with your preferred dates and group size, and our specialists will confirm what is available and shape a package to suit.
Where and When Is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Held in 2026?
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2026 takes place over the weekend of Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026 at the Hippodrome ParisLongchamp, with the feature race, the 105th running of the Arc, staged on the Sunday afternoon.
ParisLongchamp sits within the Bois de Boulogne on the western edge of Paris, a historic racecourse beautifully redeveloped in recent years into one of the finest racing venues in the world. The weekend format sees supporting races across both days, building to the Arc itself on Sunday, run over 2,400 metres and carrying a prize fund that makes it the richest flat race in Europe. Its location, a short distance from central Paris, is a large part of its appeal, placing world-class racing within easy reach of the city's hotels, restaurants and landmarks.
What Hospitality Packages Are Available at ParisLongchamp?
ParisLongchamp offers a range of hospitality, from elegant restaurant experiences to premium lounges and private facilities overlooking the track. The right choice depends on your group and the occasion.
| Option | Ideal For | Key Benefit |
| Restaurant and panoramic dining | Couples and smaller groups | Fine dining with grandstand views of the racing |
| Premium lounge hospitality | Corporate groups and social parties | A comfortable private base with dining, drinks and service |
| Exclusive private facilities | Larger groups and high-value occasions | Privacy, exclusivity and dedicated hosting |
Across all formats, the essentials remain consistent: excellent views of the track, quality dining, drinks and attentive service, with the level of privacy and exclusivity rising through the tiers. Because hospitality allocations at ParisLongchamp are released ahead of the event and demand is international, early enquiry is essential. Core Events can advise on the current options and match the right package to your requirements.
What's Included in a Premium Race Day Hospitality Experience at the Arc?
A premium Arc hospitality experience is a full day built around the racing, not simply a better seat. While inclusions vary by package, guests can typically expect the following.
- Reserved premium seating or a private facility, with excellent views of the track and finishing straight
- Fine dining, from multi-course lunches to gourmet menus reflecting the best of French cuisine
- Complimentary drinks throughout the day, from Champagne on arrival to wine with lunch
- A comfortable indoor base, a welcome retreat between races and from the autumn weather
- Dedicated hospitality staff on hand throughout
- Race day extras, from racecards to the buzz of a shared premium enclosure
Delivered as part of a Core Events package, this sits within a fully managed weekend, with travel, accommodation and transfers all arranged around it. The result is a race day where guests focus entirely on the spectacle and the occasion, with every practical detail handled in advance.
Is There a Dress Code for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?
The Arc is a stylish occasion, and while it is generally less formal than some British race meetings, dressing well is very much part of the experience, particularly in hospitality areas.
For hospitality and premium enclosures, smart or smart-elegant attire is expected. Many guests embrace the occasion with tailored suits, elegant dresses and autumn racing style, and it is an event where making an effort genuinely enhances the day. For general enclosures, dress is more relaxed, though smart-casual remains the sensible standard.
As a guide, think of it as a stylish autumn day out in Paris: polished, elegant and weather-aware, since early October can bring bright sunshine or a cooler breeze. Your Core Events contact will confirm any specific requirements for your chosen hospitality package before you travel.
What Travel Options Are Available for Attending the Arc from the UK?
One of the great appeals of the Arc is how accessible Paris is from the UK, and Core Events arranges the entire journey as part of your package.
- Eurostar offers a fast, city-centre-to-city-centre journey from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in around two and a half hours, arguably the most elegant way to travel
- Accommodation can be arranged to suit, from grand hotels in central Paris to boutique properties near the racecourse
- Transfers to and from ParisLongchamp are managed on race day, removing any concern over navigating the city
Planning an international racing weekend involves far more than securing admission. Our specialists regularly help clients compare hospitality options, travel arrangements and accommodation to create personalised experiences that maximise both convenience and value. Rather than booking trains, hotels and transfers separately and coordinating the timings yourself, a Core Events package brings it all together into one seamless arrangement. For a weekend that combines an international sporting occasion with a Paris city break, that end-to-end management is where a specialist truly earns its place.
How Can Core Events Arrange Bespoke Hospitality for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?
This is where working with a specialist transforms the experience. Rather than reselling a standard ticket, Core Events curates the entire weekend around your occasion, treating the race day as one element of a larger, seamlessly managed trip.
A bespoke Arc experience through Core Events can include:
- The right hospitality package matched to your group, occasion and budget
- Return travel by Eurostar or flights from your preferred UK departure point
- Accommodation at hotels chosen to suit your taste and location preferences
- Private transfers throughout the weekend, including to and from the racecourse
- Additional Parisian experiences, from fine dining to cultural highlights, woven around the racing
- A single dedicated point of contact, from first enquiry to your return home
Whether you are planning an intimate trip for two or a corporate weekend for a larger group, our specialists build the experience around exactly what you have in mind.
How Far in Advance Should I Book Tickets or Hospitality for the Arc?
Our guidance is to book as early as possible, ideally six months or more ahead, and earlier still for premium hospitality and travel during a busy Paris weekend.
The Arc draws an international audience, and hospitality allocations, prime accommodation and Eurostar availability all come under pressure as the race weekend approaches. Booking early secures the widest choice of hospitality tier, hotel and travel option, and avoids the compromises that come with leaving it late. Because the weekend combines a major sporting event with peak-season city travel, the various elements are best locked in together and well in advance.
If your timeline is shorter, it is still worth a conversation, as a specialist can often secure access and arrangements that are difficult to piece together independently.
Is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Suitable for Corporate Client Entertainment?
The Arc is an exceptional choice for corporate client entertainment. It combines world-class sport, international prestige and the glamour of Paris into a weekend that few other events can rival, making it ideal for entertaining valued clients, rewarding senior teams or hosting an occasion that leaves a lasting impression.
The format lends itself perfectly to relationship building. A race day at ParisLongchamp Racecourse offers hours of shared, relaxed time in an elegant setting, while the surrounding weekend, whether a Eurostar journey together, a fine dining evening or time exploring the city, deepens the experience further. For businesses seeking something more distinctive than a domestic fixture, an international racing weekend makes a genuinely memorable statement. Core Events builds bespoke corporate packages around your objectives, group size and budget.
Why Book Your Arc de Triomphe Experience Through Core Events Instead of Directly?
| What to Evaluate | Core Events | Booking Direct |
| Experience | 40+ years combined across sport and travel | Single-supplier focus |
| Scope | Race day, travel, accommodation and transfers as one package | Tickets only, logistics left to you |
| International ease | Whole weekend managed from the UK and back | Navigate French ticketing and travel yourself |
| Personalisation | Fully bespoke, built around your occasion | Standard tickets and inventory |
| Support | A dedicated advisor from enquiry to return | Limited or no personal support |
| Wider portfolio | Sport, concerts, fine dining and global travel | Single event |
Booking direct secures a ticket. Booking through Core Events secures an experience, with the entire weekend around the race handled by one team who know exactly what you want. And because the Arc sits within a much wider Core Events portfolio spanning global sport, concerts, fine dining and bucket-list travel, a race day in Paris can be one chapter in a longer relationship with a single trusted partner. Learn more about Core Events and the team behind the experiences.
Is a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Experience Worth It?
For anyone who loves racing, travel or simply a wonderful occasion, emphatically yes. The Arc combines some of the very best of the sport with the incomparable setting of Paris in autumn, delivering a weekend that stays with you long after the winner passes the post. Hospitality is what turns a great day into an effortless one, with the finest views, exceptional dining and every detail handled, and a Core Events package extends that ease across the entire trip.
With international demand high and the finest hospitality and travel secured well in advance, early planning is essential.
To discuss availability or request a tailored proposal for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, call the Core Events team on 0116 309 0000.