Aintree is, of course, home to the Grand National Festival, three days of top-class racing – including the world-famous Grand National itself – in early April. Ladies Day, which takes place on the second day of the Grand National Festival, is primarily a fashion-led occasion, but also features significant action on the racecourse. The principal races are the Mildmay Novices’ Chase, Top Novices’ Hurdle and Melling Chase, all Grade 1 contests, while the supporting card includes three ‘Premier Handicap’ races, not least the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences.
Aintree Racecourse does not impose a strict dress code, but that does not racegoers from dressing to the nines, in search of the coveted Style Awards, namely ‘Best Dressed’, ‘Best Hat’ and ‘Best Suited’, with prizes worth over £10,000 in total. Ladies Day is hugely popular with fashionistas nationwide and, according to the Jockey Club, the 2026 event attracted a record attendance of 53,102, with bookings among the 18-24 age group more than double compared with 2025. Indeed, Ladies Day at Aintree is a fun day out for groups of ladies, many of whom choose to coordinate their outfits.
Popular fashion choices for ladies include formal dresses, jumpsuits and pantsuits although, granted that Merseyside in early April is not renowned for its balmy temperatures, some form of outerwear is also a wise choice. A classic blazer or tailored coat, for example, can add structure and sophistication to any outfit, as well as providing a degree of protection against the elements. Bold, bright colours are very much en vogue, whether it be florals, prints or polka dots of any size. Extravagant, eye-catching headwear is also the order of the day. The winner of the ‘Best Hat’ award in 2026, Sarah Williams, from St. Helens, for example, topped off her shimmering pink and gold outfit with a matching, bespoke hat, adorned with flowers and butterflies, by Gillys Millinery. She told the ‘Liverpool Echo’, “In this instance, the hat was the wow factor and everything fit in around it.”