Irish Horse Racing Calendar

Irish Horse Racing Calendar: The Big Races and Festivals Through the Year

Ireland's racing year at a glance

Irish racing is built around its festivals. The year starts with the Dublin Racing Festival, builds through the Easter meetings and Punchestown, then moves into the Curragh classics, the seven days of Galway, and the Irish Champions Festival in September.

It's also a country that punches well above its weight. Irish-trained horses win a big share of the top races at Cheltenham every March, and the Irish breeding industry supplies top horses to the whole world.

Galway Festival Races

Confirmed 2027 dates for the major festivals

These dates come from the published 2027 fixture lists and racecourse announcements. Check each racecourse before you book anything.

The Irish Derby Festival and the Irish Oaks are both run at the Curragh.

Irish Racing Dates

January and February: the Dublin Racing Festival

One of the newest big events in the calendar (it began in 2018) and already one of the best. Two days of jumps racing at Leopardstown, with plenty of Grade 1 contests across the weekend.

Irish Gold Cup: the main event on day one, and a key pointer for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Irish Champion Hurdle: the highlight of day two, and a major clue for the Champion Hurdle.

It takes place over the St Brigid's Day bank holiday weekend at the end of January or start of February. It's the most important trial for the Irish contingent at Cheltenham.

March and April: Easter racing

Fairyhouse Easter Festival: the home of the Irish Grand National, run on Easter Monday. It's the big domestic handicap chase of the year.
Punchestown Festival: a five-day jumps festival at the end of April, finishing in early May. It's the finale of the Irish jumps season and often features the Cheltenham and Aintree stars for a final meeting. Prime highlights include the Champion Chase on the opening day, the Punchestown Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle.

Good Friday racing at the Curragh is also part of the 2027 fixture list, as the second year of a two-year trial.

May: the Irish Guineas

The Irish 2000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas are both run at the Curragh over the Guineas Festival weekend. They're the first two Irish Classics of the year, and the early-season test for Ireland's best three-year-olds.

June and July: the Derby and the Oaks

Irish Derby Festival (Curragh, 25 to 27 June 2027): the main event is the Irish Derby, the biggest Flat race in Ireland and one of the most valuable middle-distance races in Europe for three-year-olds.
Irish Oaks (Curragh, Saturday 17 July 2027): the fillies' classic over a mile and a half.
June and July: the Derby and the Oaks

Together with the Guineas and the St Leger, these make up the five Irish Classics, all of which are run at the Curragh.

Late July and August: Galway and the summer festivals

Galway Festival Race

The Galway Summer Festival is Ireland's biggest and most famous racing festival, seven days of racing in the last week of July running into August. It's as much a social occasion as a sporting one, with Ladies Day on the fourth day and music, fashion and a very big crowd.

The feature races are the Galway Plate (a big handicap chase) and the Galway Hurdle (a big handicap hurdle). Prize money is above €2 million across the festival.

Other August fixtures include the Tramore Festival (12 to 15 August 2027) and the Curragh summer series.

September: the Irish Champions Festival

A weekend of racing split between two courses. Leopardstown hosts Saturday, with the Irish Champion Stakes, one of the richest and best races in the Flat calendar and a regular winner of the best middle-distance horses in Europe. The Curragh hosts Sunday, with the Irish St Leger, the final Irish Classic of the year.

The Listowel Harvest Festival follows later in September, a hugely popular seven-day meeting in County Kerry.

Sligo Racecourse, Ireland

October to December: the winter jumps

Down Royal Festival (Northern Ireland, late October or early November): the first big jumps festival of the winter, including the Champion Chase.
Punchestown and Fairyhouse winter meetings (November): the start of the Grade 1 programme for the new jumps season.
Leopardstown Christmas Festival (26 to 29 December): four days of top-class jump racing, with the big Grade 1 prizes on St Stephen's Day.

A new all-weather track at Tipperary is also due to open on 23 October 2027, which adds to Ireland's winter Flat racing.

Irish Horse Racing Calendar FAQ

When is the Dublin Racing Festival in 2027? Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January 2027, at Leopardstown.

When is the Punchestown Festival in 2027? Tuesday 27 April to Saturday 1 May 2027.

When is the Galway Races in 2027? Monday 26 July to Sunday 1 August 2027.

When is Irish Champions Weekend in 2027? Saturday 11 September at Leopardstown and Sunday 12 September at the Curragh. The Irish Champion Stakes is on the Saturday.

What are the Irish Classics? The Irish 2000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas, Irish Derby, Irish Oaks and Irish St Leger. All are run at the Curragh.

What's the biggest race in the Irish Horse Racing Calendar? For the Flat, the Irish Derby and the Irish Champion Stakes are the headline races. Over jumps, the Irish Grand National, the Irish Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup lead the way.

World Horse Racing Calendar