Abstract: Based on small deformation theory, the gross potential energy equation of in-plane elastic bending for two kinds of cable arches with an inner-staggered arrangement cable (fixed-long uniform distribution and radiation from two support ends) subjected to a uniformly distributed radial load is set up. Based on energy principle, the Ritz method is used to solve the elastic buckling critical load and buckling mode of the structure under this loading regime. The results show that the proposed method has an adequate precision and efficiency. The axial extension and shear deformation of the arch has a little effect on the critical load and is ignored. For the first type of cable arches, the buckling mode is anti-symmetry while for the second type of cable arches, the most of buckling modes is anti-symmetry and the rest is symmetry. The inner-staggered arrangement form of a cable has a large role on advance of global stability for an arch. The critical load increases with an increase of cross section area of a cable, decreases with an increase of slenderness of an arch, first increases and then decreases with an increase of rise-to-span of the arch. An initial tensile force has a little effect on a critical load.