Festival 2026

Tuesday 28 April – Saturday 2 May 2026

We are celebrating the best of the best. Join us for brilliant sport, food, music, style and fun.

Festival Racing

Festival Social Scene

Plan Your Day

Festival overview

Bold, Energy

Gates open

12pm each day

First race

2.30pm Tue/Wed/Thu/Sat. 3.40pm Fri.

Last race

6.30pm Tue/Wed/Thu/Sat. 7.40pm Fri.

Venue close

8.30pm Tue/Wed/Thu/Sat. 9.30pm Fri.

Day ONE – Tuesday 28 April – William Hill Champion Chase Day

The opening day of the festival is one for the real racing fans with three brilliant Grade 1 contests featuring the William Hill Champion Chase.

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

Times	Race	Distance	Type
14:30	The Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup of €20,000	3 Miles 1 Furlong	Cross-Country Chase
15:05	The Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final of €100,000	2 Miles 4 Furlongs	Hurdle
15:40	The Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Listed) of €75,000	2 Miles 150 Yds	Hurdle
16:15	The GR1 PRL Champion Novice Hurdle of €125,000	2 Miles 100 Yds	Hurdle
16:50	The GR1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase of €125,000	3 Miles 200 Yds	Chase
17:25	The Goffs Defender Bumper of €100,000	2 Miles 100 Yds	Bumper
18:05	The GR1 William Hill Champion Chase of €300,000	2 Miles	Chase
18:35	The Willie Coonan Memorial Flat Race of €20,000	2 Miles 150 Yds	Bumper

Day TWO – Wednesday 29 April – Ladbrokes Gold Cup Day

The jewel in the crown of the entire event and possibly the Irish jump racing calendar. The Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup takes centre stage on day two. This race will always be known for providing Ruby Walsh with his final winner in 2019 on Kemboy.

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

Times	Race	Distance	Type
14:30	The Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle of €30,000	2 Miles 3 Furlongs 58 Yds	Hurdle
15:05	The Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final of €75,000	2 Miles 3 Furlongs 58 Yds	Hurdle
15:40	The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle of €20,000	2 Miles 3 Furlongs 58 Yds	Hurdle
16:15	The GR1 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle of €125,000	2 Miles 7 Furlongs 190 Yds	Hurdle
16:50	The GR1 Race And Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race of €100,000	2 Miles 132 Yds	Bumper
17:25	The GR3 Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Steeplechase of €100,000	2 Miles 4 Furlongs 80 Yds	Chase
18:05	The GR1 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup of €300,000	3 Miles 200 Yds	Chase
18:35	The GR3 Weatherbys GSB Irish EBF Mares Flat Race of €55,000	2 Miles 130 Yds	Bumper

Day THREE – Thursday 30 April – Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle Day

Stamina is the name of the game on day three with runners and riders lining up for the Ladbrokes centrepiece. The original racecourse sale, the Goffs Punchestown Sale, takes place after racing in the winners enclosure.

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

Times	Race	Distance	Type
14:30	The Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle of €20,000	2 Miles	Hurdle
15:05	The Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) of €40,000	2 Miles 90 Yds	Hurdle
15:40	The Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross-Country Chase of €40,000	4 Miles 1 Furlong	Cross-Country Chase
16:15	The Conway Piling Listed Handicap Hurdle of €75,000	2 Miles 7 Furlongs 110 Yds	Hurdle
16:50	The Frontline Security Handicap Chase of €75,000	2 Miles 75 Yds	Chase
17:25	The GR1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase of €125,000	2 Miles 75 Yds	Chase
18:05	The GR1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle of €300,000	2 Miles 7 Furlongs 130 Yds	Hurdle
18:35	The J P & M Doyle (C&G) Flat Race of €20,000	2 Miles 90 Yds	Bumper

Day FOUR – Friday 1 May – Boodles Champion Hurdle & Ladies Day

The penultimate day of the Festival. Considered by many to be the social highlight of the event. On the track current, past and potential champion hurdlers meet in the Punchestown feature whilst the Bollinger Best Dressed is unveiled in the Bollinger Garden.

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

Times	Race	Distance	Type
15:40	The Stanley Asphalt Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup of €20,000	2 Miles 5 Furlongs	Bush-Fence Chase
16:15	The Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase of €30,000	3 Miles 160 Yds	Chase
16:50	The GR2 Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Chase of €80,000	2 Miles 5 Furlongs 55 Yds	Chase
17:25	The Quinnbet Novice Handicap Chase (Listed) of €100,000	2 Miles 4 Furlongs 55 Yds	Chase
18:00	The GR1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle of €125,000	2 Miles 4 Furlongs 140 Yds	Hurdle
18:40	The GR1 Boodles Champion Hurdle of €300,000	2 Miles 45 Yds	Hurdle
19:10	The FRS Fencing Handicap Hurdle of €20,000	2 Miles 45 Yds	Hurdle
19:40	The Stables Restaurant Naas INH Flat Race of €20,000	2 Miles 2 Furlongs 181 Yds	Bumper

Day FIVE – Saturday 2 May – SBK Festival Finale Day

Festival Saturday is the ultimate wrap party for the Irish jump racing season. Festival goers of all ages travel from every corner of Ireland and beyond to celebrate the achievements of Irish jump racing. The racing fans of tomorrow are entertained in the Junior Jockey Club Fun Zone whilst the season champions are crowned in the winners enclosure.

*Please note the timings are subject to change.

Times	Race	Distance	Type
14:30	The HOWDEN Cross-Country Chase of €20,000	3 Miles 90 Yds	Cross-Country Chase
15:05	The DAR Golf Handicap Chase of €75,000	3 Miles 7 Furlongs 68 Yds	Chase
15:40	The GR1 SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle of €125,000	2 Miles 4 Furlongs	Hurdle
16:15	The Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Listed Handicap Chase of €75,000	3 Miles 104 Yds	Chase
16:50	The GR1 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle of €125,000	2 Miles	Hurdle
17:30	The Lawlors of Naas Listed Handicap Hurdle of €100,000	2 Miles 4 Furlongs 118 Yds	Hurdle
18:00	The Sebden Steel Celebrating 30 Years In Business (Pro-Am) Flat Race of €20,000	2 Miles	Bumper
18:35	The 35th Running Of The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund "Have the conversation – say YES to Organ Donation" Punchestown Charity Race	1 Mile 7 Furlongs	Charity Race

Need to know more?

Festival FAQs

Are there buses for the Festival? +

Yes. Marathon Travel run a return service to and from Dublin City Centre to Punchestown on all five days. Andy's of Naas also run shuttle services to and from the track from Naas town on all five days of the Festival.

How long do the races go on for? +

A typical race day takes place across 3.5–4 hours of live racing. There are usually 7–8 races across the card with approximately a half hour between each race.

What is the dress code? +

Smart casual is advised but be sure to dress for the elements. It can be cold, wet and windy so a good coat is recommended.

Wheelchair and limited mobility access? +

Punchestown issues complimentary access to one carer per person. We are a wheelchair friendly venue with a limited mobility car park area for vehicles with the appropriate badge. There are public cafes, restaurants and bars on ground level and all buildings have lifts. Wheelchair toilets are available in all buildings, and there are wheelchair viewing platforms at the parade ring and on the main grandstand.

What time should I arrive? +

Gates typically open two hours before the first race.

How do I get there? +

See our Getting Here page for details on car, bus, train and shuttle options.