There’s a moment every Irish racing fan knows: Thursday evening, you realise you’ve no idea what’s running on Saturday. Whether you’re planning a day at the track with family or scanning the card for a bet, the official fixture list is the single page that answers everything. With the 2026 schedule now published by Horse Racing Ireland, holding 391 meetings across 26 courses, planning your racing year has never been more straightforward.

4 related posts

Race meetings per year in Ireland: about 350 ·
Governing body: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) ·
2026 fixture list published: Yes, on HRI website ·
Number of racecourses in Ireland: 26 ·
Galway Summer Festival 2026: July 27 – August 2

Quick snapshot

1Today’s Fixtures
2This Weekend’s Fixtures
32026 Fixture List
4Next 7 Days
  • Upcoming race meetings, daily schedule, course locations (Horse Racing Ireland (official fixture page))
  • Check Irishracing.com for racecards and entry lists (IrishRacing.com (specialist racing data))
Why this matters

For the punter juggling work and family, knowing the fixture list a week ahead means you can pick the one Saturday that fits. With 391 meetings spread across the year, missing a good card is a choice, not a accident.

The six key facts that anchor the entire Irish racing calendar sit in this quick-reference table. Each row draws from official HRI data or confirmed course schedules.

Category Detail
Governing body Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)
Number of racecourses 26
Annual race meetings approx. 350
Official fixture list URL https://www.hri.ie/fixture-list
2026 fixture list published Yes
Next major festival Galway Summer Festival (July 27 – Aug 2, 2026)
Total 2026 fixtures 391 (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body))
Enhanced Flat Summer Sunday programme Yes, included in 2026 list (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body))
Curragh 2026: early fixture Sunday 15 March 2026 (The Curragh (racecourse operator))
Curragh 2026: Irish Derby Sunday 28 June 2026 (The Curragh (racecourse operator))
Curragh 2026: Irish Oaks Saturday 18 July 2026 (The Curragh (racecourse operator))
2027 fixture list status Not yet published (as of July 2025)

What are the Irish horse racing fixtures today?

Today’s race meetings

  • Check the Horse Racing Ireland (official fixture page) for the current day’s schedule.
  • IrishRacing.com provides racecards and entry lists for today’s meetings (IrishRacing.com (specialist racing data)).
  • Most racecourses post first race time on their own website.

First race times and venues

  • First race times vary: weekday meetings typically start around 1:30–2:00 PM, weekend meetings may start earlier.
  • Evening meetings are common in summer months, with first races as late as 4:30–5:00 PM.
  • For example, Cork scheduled races on Thursday 19 March 2026 (IrishRacing.com (specialist racing data)).
Bottom line: The punter who checks HRI’s official list gets the fixture dates, but adding IrishRacing.com unlocks racecards and entries for the same day.

What are the Irish horse racing fixtures this weekend?

Saturday fixtures

  • Saturday 25 July 2026: Curragh is on the schedule, featuring the FBD Hotels Phoenix Sprint Stakes (IrishRacing.com (specialist racing data)).
  • Saturday meetings typically have the highest attendance and the richest prize money.
  • Check HRI’s 2026 fixture list for full Saturday schedule.

Sunday fixtures

  • Sunday meetings often include family-friendly events and later start times.
  • The Curragh’s 2026 schedule includes Sunday 15 March and Sunday 24 May (Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas) (The Curragh (racecourse operator)).
  • HRI’s 2026 list includes an enhanced Flat Summer Sunday programme (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body)).

Notable weekend meetings

  • Galway Summer Festival (July 27 – August 2) runs across a full week but includes key weekend days.
  • Punchestown Festival (April) and Dublin Racing Festival (February) are also weekend-anchored.
  • Weekend fixtures at the Curragh in 2026 include the Irish Derby (Sunday 28 June) and Irish Oaks (Saturday 18 July) (The Curragh (racecourse operator)).
The trade-off

Saturday racing draws bigger crowds and better horses, but Sunday racing offers a more relaxed day out. For the family planner, Sunday’s enhanced summer programme from HRI means more options without the Saturday crush.

Bottom line: HRI’s enhanced Sunday programme gives the casual spectator more weekend options without the Saturday prices, while the serious bettor gets seven days of studying across three or four meetings per week.

What are the Irish horse racing fixtures for 2026?

2026 fixture list overview

  • The 2026 fixture list was launched by Horse Racing Ireland and comprises 391 fixtures across 26 Irish racecourses (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body)).
  • This includes an enhanced Flat Summer Sunday programme (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body)).
  • Full calendar is available at Horse Racing Ireland (official fixture page).

Key dates and festivals

  • Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown (February 2026).
  • Punchestown Festival (April 2026).
  • Galway Summer Festival (July 27 – August 2, 2026).
  • Curragh key dates: Irish 2000 Guineas (Sat 23 May), Irish 1000 Guineas (Sun 24 May), Irish Derby (Sun 28 June), Irish Oaks (Sat 18 July) (The Curragh (racecourse operator)).
  • Carnival De Leop at Leopardstown (August 2026).
  • Christmas racing at Leopardstown and Limerick (December 2026).

Where to download the full 2026 calendar

  • Official source: Horse Racing Ireland (official fixture page).
  • Alternative sources: IrishRacing.com (specialist racing data) and Sports Betting Tipsters (fixture aggregator).
  • Printable PDF calendars are available from HRI and some third-party sites.
Bottom line: The 2026 fixture list is the definitive planning tool. The spectator aiming for festivals should book the Galway window and the Curragh classics early, while the casual bettor can rely on the enhanced Sunday programme for weekend racing without weekday clashes.

What horse racing is on Sunday in Ireland?

Sunday race meetings

  • Sunday meetings are held regularly across the year, with enhanced summer Flat racing programmes.
  • Key Sunday dates for 2026 at the Curragh: 15 March, 24 May (Irish 1000 Guineas), 28 June (Irish Derby) (The Curragh (racecourse operator)).
  • Naas, Fairyhouse, and Punchestown also host Sunday meetings throughout the season.

Typical Sunday schedule

  • First race times on Sunday are often 30 minutes to an hour later than Saturday — typically 2:00 PM or 2:30 PM start.
  • Sunday cards tend to have 6–8 races, compared to weekend peak cards of 8–10.
  • Family-friendly features: many courses offer kids’ activities, cheaper admission, and food stalls on Sundays.

Sunday racing highlights

  • The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Sunday 28 June 2026) is Ireland’s richest race (The Curragh (racecourse operator)).
  • Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (Sunday 24 May 2026) — a classic fillies race (The Curragh (racecourse operator)).
  • HRI’s enhanced Flat Summer Sunday programme adds more quality Sunday fixtures (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body)).
Bottom line: HRI’s enhanced Sunday programme gives the family planner more options without the Saturday crush, while the serious bettor can still find quality racing at the Curragh classics.

Where can I find the official Irish horse racing fixture list?

Horse Racing Ireland website

  • The official source is Horse Racing Ireland (official fixture page).
  • Includes downloadable PDF calendars for 2026 and 2027 (2027 not yet published as of July 2025).
  • HRI is the governing body for Irish racing, so this is the authoritative source.

Third-party aggregators

  • IrishRacing.com (specialist racing data) — racecards, entries, results, and advance fixture views.
  • Sports Betting Tipsters (fixture aggregator) — lists individual race dates for 2026.
  • These are useful for specific meeting details but should be cross-checked with HRI for official confirmation.

Printable PDF calendars

  • The HRI fixture list page offers a downloadable PDF of the full 2026 calendar.
  • Some racecourses (e.g., The Curragh (racecourse operator)) publish their own printable fixture cards.
  • Third-party sites may also offer printable versions, but HRI’s remains the official reference.
Bottom line: HRI’s website is the single authoritative source for the official fixture list, while IrishRacing.com provides the racecards and entries that turn fixture dates into actionable betting data.

Confirmed facts

  • HRI publishes annual fixture lists in advance (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body)).
  • 2026 fixture list is available on HRI website (Horse Racing Ireland (official fixture page)).
  • Galway Summer Festival is scheduled for July 27 – August 2, 2026 (Horse Racing Ireland (official fixture page)).
  • 391 fixtures allocated for 2026 across 26 racecourses (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body)).
  • Enhanced Flat Summer Sunday programme included in 2026 list (Horse Racing Ireland (governing body)).
  • Curragh key 2026 dates: Irish 2000 Guineas (23 May), Irish 1000 Guineas (24 May), Irish Derby (28 June), Irish Oaks (18 July) (The Curragh (racecourse operator)).
  • Cork scheduled meeting on Thursday 19 March 2026 (IrishRacing.com (specialist racing data)).
  • Fairyhouse and Tramore scheduled for 1 January 2026 (Sports Betting Tipsters (fixture aggregator)).
  • Punchestown scheduled for 11 and 12 January 2026 (Sports Betting Tipsters (fixture aggregator)).
  • Navan scheduled for 17 January 2026 (Sports Betting Tipsters (fixture aggregator)).
  • Thurles scheduled for 18 January 2026 (Sports Betting Tipsters (fixture aggregator)).

What’s unclear

  • Exact race times for meetings beyond the current week may change — always check HRI or course websites for final schedules.
  • 2027 fixture list is not yet published (as of July 2025).
  • Some early-season fixtures (e.g., Cork on 3 January, Naas on 4 January) rely on third-party aggregators and may be subject to confirmation by HRI.

Timeline signal

  • 2026 February: Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown
  • 2026 April: Punchestown Festival
  • 2026 23 May: Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh (The Curragh (racecourse operator))
  • 2026 24 May: Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh (The Curragh (racecourse operator))
  • 2026 28 June: Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh (The Curragh (racecourse operator))
  • 2026 18 July: Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh (The Curragh (racecourse operator))
  • 2026 July 27 – August 2: Galway Summer Festival
  • 2026 August: Carnival De Leop at Leopardstown
  • 2026 December: Christmas racing at Leopardstown and Limerick

What’s next

The 2027 fixture list is not yet published, but based on the 2026 release cycle, it is expected to appear on the HRI website in the second half of 2026. For now, the 2026 calendar is the definitive guide for planning your racing year.

“We have launched the 2026 fixture list. There are 391 fixtures allocated across 26 Irish racecourses.”

— Horse Racing Ireland, via Facebook (governing body announcement)

“The 2026 fixture list includes an enhanced Flat Summer Sunday programme.”

— Horse Racing Ireland, via Facebook (governing body announcement)

The implication for anyone planning a racing trip in 2026: the Galway Summer Festival alone draws over 150,000 visitors across its week-long run, and the Curragh’s Classic fixtures (Irish Derby, Irish Oaks) are the year’s richest days. For the casual spectator, the enhanced Sunday programme means more family-friendly options without the Saturday prices. For the serious bettor, the 391-fixture spread across 26 courses means every week offers at least three or four meetings to study.

For the Irish racing fan with a calendar in hand, the choice is clear: book the festival weeks early, keep Sunday afternoons free, and let the HRI fixture list be your single source of truth.

Additional sources

geegeez.co.uk, readhorseracing.com

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Frequently asked questions

How often are Irish horse racing fixtures updated?

HRI updates the fixture list annually, publishing the full calendar for the coming year. Within a given season, minor adjustments may be made for inclement weather or course maintenance, but the published list is considered definitive.

Can I get a printable version of the Irish racing calendar?

Yes. The HRI website offers a downloadable PDF of the full fixture list. Some racecourses, like the Curragh, also publish their own printable fixture cards.

Are there any evening race meetings in Ireland?

Yes. Evening meetings are common during the summer months, with first races often as late as 4:30–5:00 PM. These are especially popular at courses like Leopardstown and the Curragh.

Do all Irish racecourses have the same opening times?

No. Opening times vary by course and meeting. Most courses open gates 2–3 hours before the first race. Always check the specific course website for exact times.

How do I know if a race meeting is cancelled?

Race cancellations are announced on the HRI website, the course’s official website, and via IrishRacing.com. Social media channels for HRI and individual courses also provide updates.

What is the difference between a fixture list and a race card?

A fixture list shows which courses are running on which dates. A race card provides detailed information about each race on a specific day, including runners, jockeys, and betting odds.

Are Irish horse racing fixtures available in a mobile app?

No single official HRI app aggregates all fixtures, but IrishRacing.com’s mobile site and apps provide racecards and fixture views. The HRI website is also mobile-friendly.

Do Irish fixtures include point-to-point meetings?

The HRI fixture list primarily covers National Hunt and Flat racing at licensed racecourses. Point-to-point meetings are organized separately by the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) and are not included in the HRI fixture list.

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