Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe draw to be unveiled at Paris ceremony

France Galop will unveil the barrier draw for the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe during an official launch ceremony in Paris on the evening of October 1 as part of a new initiative designed to build anticipation ahead of Europe’s richest race.

Under French racing procedures, the starting stalls for the Group 1 feature will still be allocated electronically on the morning of October 1 under the supervision of a Commissioner of Justice, but the draw will remain confidential until the evening event.

The revised format will also apply to the Qatar Arabian World Cup, while entry deadlines for both races have been brought forward by one day ahead of final declarations on October 1.

A similar presentation-style approach has been adopted in Australia for the barrier draw of the $20 million Everest at Randwick, where connections and invited guests gather for a live televised unveiling of the field.

Entries for the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are scheduled to close at 10.30am local time on Wednesday, May 20.