# Irish Guineas Festival 2026 TV Guide: ITV, Racing TV & RTÉ Sport

_Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival at the Curragh, Saturday 23 to Sunday 24 May 2026. Irish 2000 Guineas Saturday at 15:40 BST, Irish 1000 Guineas Sunday at ~15:15. ITV Racing live UK; RTÉ Sport live Ireland; Racing TV both days. Plus Tattersalls Gold Cup Sunday._

*Source: [https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/irish-guineas-festival-2026-tv-guide/](https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/irish-guineas-festival-2026-tv-guide/) · last updated 2026-05-10*

**Saturday 23, Sunday 24 May 2026. The Curragh, Co. Kildare. Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival.**

The 2026 Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival is **the Curragh's flagship two-day Group-1 weekend** and the first Irish Classics fixture of the season. **Saturday 23 May** stages the **Irish 2000 Guineas** (G1, 1m, 3yo c/g) at **15:40 BST**; **Sunday 24 May** stages the **Irish 1000 Guineas** (G1, 1m, 3yo fillies) at approximately **15:15 BST** plus the **Tattersalls Gold Cup** (G1, 1m2½f, 4yo+) at **15:55 BST**, a triple Group 1 across the weekend.

**TV summary:**

| Day | Headline race | Off-time | UK live | Ireland live | Streaming |
|-----|---------------|---------:|---------|--------------|-----------|
| **Sat 23 May** | **Irish 2000 Guineas** | **15:40** | **ITV Racing** | **RTÉ Sport** | ITVX, Racing TV |
| **Sun 24 May** | **Irish 1000 Guineas** | **~15:15** | **ITV Racing** | **RTÉ Sport** | ITVX, Racing TV |
| **Sun 24 May** | **Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1)** | **15:55** | **ITV Racing** | **RTÉ Sport** | ITVX, Racing TV |

**Key broadcast notes:**

- **ITV Racing** (UK free-to-air): Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani present coverage of all three Group 1s plus selected supporting races each day. UK coverage on ITV1 / ITV4 simulcast / ITVX live stream + 30-day catch-up.
- **RTÉ Sport** (Ireland free-to-air): RTÉ One / RTÉ Two carry coverage; RTÉ Player offers live stream + catch-up.
- **Racing TV** (UK + Ireland subscription): full HD coverage of every race on both days. Single-day pass available at £6.99.

**Tattersalls** has extended sponsorship of the Irish Guineas Festival to 2028 [Tattersalls press release].

This guide breaks the schedule down day-by-day with off-times, plus the streaming and free-replay options. For the [Irish 2000 Guineas 2026 preview](/racing-news/irish-2000-guineas-2026-preview/), [Irish 1000 Guineas 2026 preview](/racing-news/irish-1000-guineas-2026-preview/) and [Tattersalls Gold Cup 2026 preview](/racing-news/tattersalls-gold-cup-2026-preview/) for the verdicts.

## Saturday 23 May: Irish 2000 Guineas Day

**Gates open: ~12:00 BST. First race: ~13:30. Last race: ~17:30.**

**Live TV: ITV Racing (UK) + RTÉ Sport (Ireland) + Racing TV (UK + Ireland subscribers).**

| # | Off-time | Race | Class | Distance |
|---|---------:|------|-------|----------|
| 1 | 13:30 | Listed Stakes / G3 not confirmed | LR | 7f |
| 2 | 14:05 | G3 supporting race | G3 | 1m |
| 3 | 14:35 | Listed Stakes not confirmed | LR | 6f |
| 4 | 15:05 | Class 2 Handicap | C2 | 1m |
| 5 | **15:40** | **Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas (G1, 3yo c/g)** | **G1** | **1m** |
| 6 | 16:15 | G3 / Listed not confirmed | G3/LR | 1m4f |
| 7 | 16:50 | Class 2 Maiden | C2 | 7f |

**Headline race:** the **Irish 2000 Guineas** at **15:40 BST**. **Field Of Gold (Gosden, 2025 winner) is 4yo and ineligible** for the 3yo-only Classic. **Distant Storm (Appleby / Buick)**, the 2026 (English) 2000G 3rd, heads the Newmarket form-line carrier list at 7/1-8/1; **Aidan O'Brien is four-handed**: Officer, Henri Matisse, Twain, Camille Pissarro.

For the verdict see [Irish 2000 Guineas 2026 preview](/racing-news/irish-2000-guineas-2026-preview/).

## Sunday 24 May: Irish 1000 Guineas Day + Tattersalls Gold Cup

**Gates open: ~12:00 BST. First race: ~13:30. Last race: ~17:30.**

**Live TV: ITV Racing (UK) + RTÉ Sport (Ireland) + Racing TV.** This is a double-Group-1 day: **the first time in the season's calendar** that two Group 1s run on the same UK-broadcast card.

| # | Off-time | Race | Class | Distance |
|---|---------:|------|-------|----------|
| 1 | 13:30 | Listed Stakes not confirmed | LR | 7f |
| 2 | 14:05 | Class 3 Handicap | C3 | 1m4f |
| 3 | 14:35 | G3 supporting race | G3 | 5f |
| 4 | **15:15** | **Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (G1, 3yo fillies)** | **G1** | **1m** |
| 5 | **15:55** | **Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1, 4yo+)** | **G1** | **1m2½f** |
| 6 | 16:30 | Listed Stakes not confirmed | LR | 6f |
| 7 | 17:05 | Class 2 Handicap | C2 | 1m4f |

**Headline races:**

- **Irish 1000 Guineas** at **15:15 BST**: the fillies' Classic. Aidan O'Brien typically four-handed; the Newmarket 1000G form line transfers.
- **Tattersalls Gold Cup** at **15:55 BST**: the older horses' G1, 1m2½f. **38 entries**; **Calandagan (Graffard)** and **Daryz (Graffard)**: world-#1-rated horse + 2025 Arc winner, lead a strong French challenge. **Minnie Hauk (A O'Brien)** receiving weight is the Coolmore angle per Aidan O'Brien's Mon 4 May confirmation that she'd skip the Huxley for this.

For verdicts see [Irish 1000 Guineas 2026 preview](/racing-news/irish-1000-guineas-2026-preview/) and [Tattersalls Gold Cup 2026 preview](/racing-news/tattersalls-gold-cup-2026-preview/).

## Why the Tattersalls Gold Cup elevates this weekend

Most pre-2024 Irish Guineas weekends staged just two Group 1s, the colts' and fillies' Classics. **The Tattersalls Gold Cup's growth into a genuine European G1** (with Coolmore, Graffard, and Godolphin all contesting recent renewals) means the 2026 weekend has **three G1s across two days**, with combined prize money over **EUR 1.5 million**. **For UK punters, this is a more concentrated G1 weekend than Royal Ascot's individual days.**

## Streaming options

### ITV / ITVX (UK, free)

**ITV1** carries live coverage of both days from approximately **13:30 BST through 17:30 BST**. Free-to-air via Freeview / Sky / Virgin / Freesat / BT TV.

**ITVX** ([itv.com/watch](https://www.itv.com/watch)) is ITV's live stream + on-demand platform. **Free with email registration.** Live stream + 30-day on-demand catch-up of all three Group 1s. UK-only (geo-restricted; UK VPN works for travelling viewers).

### RTÉ Sport (Ireland, free)

**RTÉ One** and **RTÉ Two** carry coverage of both days for Irish viewers. **RTÉ Player** ([rte.ie/player](https://www.rte.ie/player)) offers live stream + catch-up, free with registration.

### Racing TV (UK + Ireland, subscription or day pass)

**Racing TV** ([racingtv.com](https://www.racingtv.com)) covers **all 14 races across both days** in full HD with paddock walks + post-race interviews + analyst-led replays.

- **Sky Channel 426 / Virgin Channel 535**: as part of a sports add-on bundle
- **RacingTV.com web stream**: £29.98/month subscription, or **£6.99 single-day pass** (buy two for £13.98 to cover both days)
- **Racing TV iOS / Android app**: same access tier

### Sky Sports Racing (UK + Ireland, sports subscription)

**Sky Sports Racing** typically carries selected supporting races on both days for Sky Sports subscribers. **Less dedicated coverage** than Racing TV for Group races, best used as a supplementary feed if you already have Sky Sports.

### Free post-race options

**ITV Racing's YouTube channel** publishes Group 1 race replays + jockey/trainer interviews within 30 minutes of each race. Free, no registration. **Racing Post**, **Sporting Life** and **At The Races** all publish written race reports + free video replays within 60 minutes.

For the verdict on each race see our [Irish 2000 Guineas 2026 preview](/racing-news/irish-2000-guineas-2026-preview/), [Irish 1000 Guineas 2026 preview](/racing-news/irish-1000-guineas-2026-preview/) and [Tattersalls Gold Cup 2026 preview](/racing-news/tattersalls-gold-cup-2026-preview/).

## Irish Guineas Festival 2026 TV Guide: FAQ

### What time is the Irish 2000 Guineas 2026?

**Saturday 23 May 2026 at 15:40 BST** at the Curragh. Live on ITV Racing (UK) + RTÉ Sport (Ireland).

### What time is the Irish 1000 Guineas 2026?

**Sunday 24 May 2026 at approximately 15:15 BST** at the Curragh. Off-time confirmed at 48-hour declarations on Friday 22 May.

### What time is the Tattersalls Gold Cup 2026?

**Sunday 24 May 2026 at 15:55 BST** at the Curragh.

### Is the Irish Guineas Festival on free TV?

**Yes, both days.** ITV Racing carries both days free-to-air in the UK; RTÉ Sport carries both days free-to-air in Ireland. ITVX and RTÉ Player both offer free live streams + catch-up with email registration.

### Can I watch all three Group 1s for free?

**Yes, via ITV1 / ITVX in the UK or RTÉ One / RTÉ Player in Ireland.** Both broadcasters carry full coverage of the Irish 2000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas, and Tattersalls Gold Cup.

### Is Racing TV worth it for the Irish Guineas weekend?

**Yes if you want full coverage of every race + paddock walks + analyst content.** The £6.99 single-day pass is the right format for one-off viewers; the £29.98/month subscription pays back if you watch flat racing more than 1-2 days per month.

### Where can I bet on the Irish Guineas Festival 2026?

Most major UK bookmakers carry all three Group 1s. **Best Odds Guaranteed** is available on day-of-race at Bet365, William Hill, Coral, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, and Betfred. Each-way places are 1/4 odds at 3 places for 8-12 runner Group 1s.

For our [bookmaker reviews](/bookmakers/) see the bookmakers hub.

> **Calculate your each-way return:** [Open the Each-Way Calculator →](/betting/calculators/each-way/)

> **Responsible betting reminder:** the Irish Guineas Festival is competitive Group 1 racing. Use small stakes, each-way bets in big fields, and stop when you've reached your budget. Free help: [BeGambleAware.org](https://www.begambleaware.org).