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When is the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival?

conrad-castleton
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Last updated: 04 Feb 2025
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Conrad Castleton 04 Feb 2025
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  • We bring you the dates and vital information about the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival
  • This two-day meeting will start on Saturday 31st January in 2026
galopin leopardstown
Paul Townend returns after riding Galopin Des Champs to win The Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. (Getty)

When is the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival?


The 2026 Dublin Racing Festival will be run at Leopardstown racecourse on Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February, 2026.

What is the Dublin Racing Festival?


The Dublin Racing Festival is a hugely popular horse racing meeting that's held in Ireland every year. Over the two days, eight excellent Grade One races will take place, including Ireland's versions of the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle. 

Who won at the 2025 Dublin Racing Festival?


The crowds at Leopardstown rose as one to salute Galopin Des Champs in 2025, as Willie Mullins' star claimed a hat-trick of Irish Gold Cup wins. State Man completed his own three-timer in the Irish Champion Hurdle on day two. Ballyburn, Majborough, Solness and Kopek Des Bordes also claimed impressive victories.

Which horses will run in the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival?


Galopin Des Champs will be a ten-year-old by the time the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival rolls around, but he could return to Leopardstown to try and win his fourth Irish Gold Cup. State Man will likely return too. Ballyburn could be running against Galopin Des Champs at next year's meeting, and Majborough will likely be aimed at the 2026 Dublin Chase.

Where is the Dublin Racing Festival run?


The Dublin Racing Festival is run at Leopardstown racecourse, situated in Dublin, Ireland.

Where can I watch the Dublin Racing Festival?


The Dublin Racing Festival will be shown on channels like ITV and RacingTV, but the easiest way would be to stream the race live. If you plan on watching the racing via your mobile or tablet, then bookmakers such as bet365 will allow you to stream the race live.

Dublin Racing Festival Live Streaming 


The bet365 live streaming service covers a wide range of horse racing on a daily basis. Here's how to stream the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival live online:

  1. Visit bet365 > live streaming > horse racing
  2. Log-in or register for an account (use the bet365 bonus code NEWBONUS if opening a new account)
  3. Registered depositing users can then watch and bet on live horse racing.

Dublin Racing Festival Live StreamHorse Racing Live Streaming with bet365WATCH HERE
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Dublin Racing Festival History


The Dublin Racing Festival has been a hugely popular creation since it's creation in 2018. For two days, Ireland's finest National Hunt horses will gather at Leopardstown racecourse, and do battle in a range of top-quality races. 

Prestigious prizes like the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Irish Gold Cup will be handed out. Several important novice races will also be run during the Dublin Racing Festival, as well as some lucrative handicaps and a couple of top quality bumpers.

Day one of the Dublin Racing Festival is headlined by the Irish Champion Hurdle, a race which has been won by greats like Hurricane Fly and Istabraq during its history. Three further Grade Ones will be handed out at Leopardstown on Saturday, including the Dublin Chase, the Irish Arkle and the Nathaniel Lacy.

The second and concluding day at Leopardstown also features four Grade One races, with the feature being the Irish Gold Cup. Juveniles will fight for supremacy in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, while the Chanelle Pharma and Flogas Novices' Chase will also be on the line.

Willie Mullins has been the dominant force at the Dublin Racing Festival in recent years. Mullins targets the meeting with his best horses, as he looks to collect all of the prize money and prepare his stars for the Cheltenham Festival.

In 2024, Mullins won all eight of the Grade One races at the Dublin Racing Festival, on his way to becoming Irish and British Champion Trainer that year. 2025 saw Mullins win six of the eight Grade One races, with stars like Galopin Des Champs, State Man and Ballyburn claiming impressive victories.

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