Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-07-19
Irish Champions Festival 2026
The Irish Champions Festival is Ireland's flagship flat-racing meeting of the year — three days of top-tier Group 1 racing split between Leopardstown (Saturday) and the Curragh (Sunday and a supporting weekday card). Introduced in 2014 as a deliberate end-of-summer championship meeting for Ireland, it now stands alongside Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood as one of the three must-watch European flat festivals.
Run each September, the festival packs the Irish Champion Stakes (Leopardstown, Group 1, 1m 2f) and the Irish St Leger (Curragh, Group 1, 1m 6f) into back-to-back afternoons, alongside the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1 2YO fillies), the Flying Five (G1 5f sprint) and the Matron Stakes (G1 1m fillies).
The 2026 Festival opens on Friday 11 September 2026. Daily racecards, going updates and declared runners are published the morning of each day — this page updates automatically as each detail is confirmed.
At a glance
- Courses: Leopardstown (right-handed, 1m 6f round) + the Curragh (right-handed, 2m round)
- Dates: 3 days (Friday–Sunday)
- Group 1 races: 5 across the three days
- Prize fund: €4.5m+ across the meeting
- Broadcast: Racing TV (UK) + RTÉ (Ireland); selected highlights on ITV
- First run in current format: 2014
The festival is widely seen as the toughest 3YO middle-distance championship in Europe — Irish Champion Stakes winners regularly step up to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe three weeks later. Read on for the 2026 day-by-day schedule, the signature races, how to watch, and a full raceday guide.
Where to Bet
Place your bets with a trusted, licensed bookmaker.
Promo code BETFRED50. New UK & Gibraltar customers only, 18+. Register and deposit a minimum of £10 using debit card, Apple Pay or Truelayer Instant Bank Transfer (e-wallets and prepaid cards excluded). Place a first bet of £10 or more at minimum odds of Evens (2.0) on any sportsbook market within 7 days of registration. Once settled you receive 3 × £10 sports free bets and 2 × £10 acca free bets (4+ selections, win only). Free bets are credited within 10 hours of qualifying-bet settlement and expire 7 days after credit. Free-bet stake is not returned with winnings. One offer per person, household, IP address and device. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
Promo code BET40GET20. New UK customers, 18+. Register with the code and place a first bet of £40 or more at Evens (2.0) or greater. Receive 2 × £10 free bets: the first credited automatically once the qualifying bet settles, the second 24 hours later. Free bets must be placed at minimum odds of 4/1 (5.0), expire 24 hours after credit, and the free-bet stake is not returned with winnings. Debit card deposits only. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
50% of your first-day net losses refunded as a free bet, capped at £25. New UK customers aged 18+ only — one offer per person, household, IP address and device. Customers registered with GAMSTOP cannot claim. Minimum deposit £10 via Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit, Apple Pay or bank transfer; PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and prepaid cards are not supported. KYC identity verification must be completed before the free bet is credited. Free bet is stake-not-returned. Verify the qualifying-stake threshold, minimum-odds requirement and free-bet expiry on QuinnBet's live welcome-offer page before claiming. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
New customers, 18+. Choose the sports bonus at sign-up, make a first deposit and receive a 100% bonus up to £50 in your Sports Bonus balance. To convert the bonus to cash, wager it 10x within 30 days. Single bets below Evens (2.00) do not qualify; accumulators do not qualify if any selection is below 1/2 (1.50). Virtual Sports, voided, cancelled, drawn, cashed-out and free-bet wagers do not count towards wagering. Only the first settled bet per event counts. Withdrawing before the wagering requirement is met forfeits the bonus balance including bonus winnings. Real-money funds are used before bonus funds. Deposits via Skrill or Neteller are not eligible. Not valid in conjunction with other promotions. Odds, bet and payment limits apply. 10bet general and promotion T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs.
New UK & Ireland customers, 18+. Opt in at registration (no promo code). Deposit £10+ by debit card and place a £10 fixed-odds qualifying bet at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) — single or each-way, not in-play and not cashed out. Receive £60 in bonuses: 3 × £10 fixed-odds free bets plus 6 × £5 sports spread bets, credited over consecutive days; free bets valid 28 days from issue. IMPORTANT: the 6 × £5 are SPREAD bets — sports spread betting carries the risk that losses can exceed your stake (Spreadex states 61% of its retail spread/CFD customers lose money). Sports spread-betting customers do not have Financial Ombudsman or FSCS recourse. A lone secondary advertises an 'up to £100' variant — always confirm the live terms on Spreadex's own sign-up page before opting in. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
Promo code WELCOME15. New UK customers, 18+. Register and place a first qualifying bet of at least £10 from your cash balance at odds of evens (2.0) or greater within 7 days of opening the account. Once the qualifying bet settles you receive £15 in free bets, credited as 3 x £5 tokens. Free-bet stake is not returned with winnings. Free bets expire 7 days after they are credited. One offer per person, household, IP address and device. Confirm the current terms on BetGoodwin's own welcome-offer page before claiming. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
New UK customers, 18+. Minimum deposit £10. Place a £10 qualifying single at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50), settled within 14 days. Receive £30 in free bets (stake not returned). Free bets must be accepted within 7 days and expire 7 days after acceptance. No promo code required. Best Odds Guaranteed on UK & Irish racing. Operated by LiveScore Betting and Gaming (Gibraltar) Ltd, UKGC 56859. Confirm the current terms on LiveScore Bet's own promotions page before claiming. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
18+. BeGambleAware.org
2026 Festival schedule
2026 Festival schedule
The Irish Champions Festival runs across three afternoons split between two courses:
Saturday — Leopardstown Champions Day
- Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1, 1m 2f) — the Festival's signature race. Winner's role-call includes Sea The Stars, Dylan Thomas, Giant's Causeway.
- Matron Stakes (Group 1, 1m) — fillies' and mares' championship mile.
- Red Mills Irish Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1, 1m 2f).
Sunday — Curragh Champions Day
- Irish St Leger (Group 1, 1m 6f) — open-age stayers' championship. One of the oldest classics in the world.
- Flying Five Stakes (Group 1, 5f) — the Festival's sprint championship.
- Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1, 7f) — the 2YO fillies' championship.
Third day — National Hunt / midweek handicap card
Typically a Friday or Monday Curragh card of supporting handicaps and Group 2s — gives buffer for the Group 1 prep.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Festival start | Friday 11 September 2026 |
| First race off time | TBA |
| Going | TBA |
| Typical daily field size | per Group 1 |
Trials and build-up
- Juddmonte International (York, August) — often produces the Irish Champion favourite; York-form translates strongly.
- Prix du Moulin (Longchamp, early Sept) — the French miler championship; Matron Stakes contenders often use it.
- Ebor Festival (York, August) — produces Irish St Leger contenders from the Lonsdale Cup (G2 2m).
Ante-post markets
Irish Champion Stakes ante-post books open after the July Cup (early July). York's Juddmonte International (mid-August) sharpens the market. 4 places each-way as standard; books open 15-20 declared runners typical for the Group 1s. The Irish Champions Festival is the single biggest ante-post betting event in Ireland each year.
History and signature races
History and signature races
The Irish Champions Festival was launched in its current form in 2014 — a deliberate strategic move by Horse Racing Ireland and the courses (Leopardstown + Curragh) to create a two-course, championship-tier September meeting that could anchor the late flat season in Ireland before the Arc.
Individual Group 1 races within the festival are much older. The Irish Champion Stakes (then run as the Joe McGrath Memorial) dates to 1976, and the Irish St Leger is the oldest Group 1 in the festival — first run in 1915.
The signature races
Irish Champion Stakes (Saturday, Leopardstown, 1m 2f G1) — the headline. A 1m 2f championship that has been won by arguably the greatest modern middle-distance horses: Sea The Stars (2009), Giant's Causeway (2000), Dylan Thomas (2006, 2007), High Chaparral (2003), Hurricane Run (2005), Magician (2013), Golden Horn (2015), Almanzor (2016). A win here, followed by an Arc, is the signature double-header of a European 3YO champion season.
Irish St Leger (Sunday, Curragh, 1m 6f G1) — the oldest of the festival's Group 1s. Unlike the English St Leger which is restricted to 3YOs, the Irish St Leger is open to all ages from 3 upwards. Vinnie Roe (2001-2004) won it four times — a record matched by no other horse in any Group 1 in Europe. Yeats (2008) won it between his Gold Cup wins at Ascot.
Flying Five Stakes (Sunday, Curragh, 5f G1) — the festival sprint championship. Open to all ages; often attracts Japanese and Australian raiders ahead of the Prix de l'Abbaye.
Moyglare Stud Stakes (Sunday, Curragh, 7f G1) — the 2YO fillies' championship. Winners regularly step up to win the 1000 Guineas + Oaks the following year.
Matron Stakes (Saturday, Leopardstown, 1m G1) — the open-age fillies'/mares' mile championship.
Irish flat-racing dominance
The Irish Champions Festival both reflects and drives Irish flat-racing's modern dominance. Ballydoyle (Aidan O'Brien's stable) has the single most successful record at the festival of any European trainer in history. Moyglare Stud — whose name carries the 2YO fillies' race — is the largest thoroughbred breeding operation in Europe. Coolmore, the Aga Khan Studs, Godolphin and Juddmonte Farms all target the festival heavily.
Recent champions
This section updates after each year's meeting — see /racing-news/ for the most recent race result articles.
TV coverage and how to watch
TV coverage and how to watch
The 2026 Irish Champions Festival is broadcast live on Racing TV (UK) and RTÉ Sport (Ireland), with selected highlights on ITV.
Ireland terrestrial — RTÉ
RTÉ Sport carries the full Irish Champions Festival live on RTÉ Two each day, free-to-air in Ireland. The Irish Champion Stakes and Irish St Leger are national event-tier broadcasts — RTÉ's Derek Thompson-era coverage regularly features full parade-ring, paddock and post-race analysis.
UK — Racing TV
Racing TV carries every race of the three-day festival live in the UK. Subscription or day-pass required. The festival is one of Racing TV's highest-profile flat-season broadcasts.
UK — ITV highlights
ITV Racing typically picks up the Irish Champion Stakes and Irish St Leger as part of its UK Saturday afternoon schedule when they align with the ITV Saturday slot. Coverage is partial (not every race) and depends on the ITV scheduling vs UK festivals on the same weekend.
Sky Sports Racing
Sky Sports Racing does not hold rights to the Irish Champions Festival — it's Racing TV's meeting. Sky will show the complementary UK Saturday fixtures.
International
- US: TVG / FanDuel Racing for the Group 1s; US-turf-betting punters follow the festival heavily.
- Australia: Sky Thoroughbred Central — the Irish Champion Stakes often attracts Australian attention ahead of Melbourne Cup prep.
- Japan: Green Channel — the Flying Five Stakes and Moyglare Stud Stakes are regularly watched by Japanese breeders.
Replays
Racing TV subscriber archive + RTÉ Player keep the races on demand after the event. The Racing Post and Horse Racing Ireland's YouTube channels post the Group 1 race videos within hours.
Off-time reminders
Irish Champion Stakes is traditionally the 17:05 (Irish time) race at Leopardstown Saturday. Expect TBA to match the published schedule within 1-2 minutes — Irish racing runs tight on the TV clock.
Raceday at Leopardstown and the Curragh
Raceday at Leopardstown and the Curragh
Leopardstown — Saturday (Irish Champion Stakes Day)
Leopardstown Racecourse is at Foxrock, Dublin 18, D18 W1P9 — 10km south of Dublin city centre. Direct from Dublin city by Luas (Green Line to Central Park stop), or by car via the M50 (exit 14 or 15).
Enclosures: Premier Enclosure (best views + paddock + reserved bar access), Grandstand (main public), Picnic Area (free grass-banking at the far end). Premier sells out first — book 3-4 weeks in advance for the Irish Champion Stakes.
The Curragh — Sunday (Irish St Leger Day)
The Curragh is at Newbridge, Co. Kildare, R56 E577 — 50km southwest of Dublin, in the heart of Ireland's thoroughbred breeding country. By car (45-60 min from Dublin city via the N7). A special bus service typically runs on festival days.
The Curragh is one of the oldest and flattest racecourses in the world — 2 miles around, wide, right-handed, and almost perfectly level (no camber, minimal gradient). The 1m 6f Irish St Leger is run on the full stamina course.
Enclosures: The Curragh redeveloped its grandstand in 2019 — the new Stands area is premium; the Paddock enclosure is the main public; the Lawn enclosure (picnic-style) is free access.
On the day
- Gates open ~10:30am at both courses.
- First race ~1:30pm on Saturday (Leopardstown) and ~1:45pm on Sunday (Curragh).
- Irish Champion Stakes is traditionally the 17:05 race on Saturday — the sixth on the card.
- Irish St Leger is traditionally the 16:45 race on Sunday.
Dress code
Leopardstown Premier: smart-casual strongly recommended; many attendees wear suit-and-tie or dress-and-hat for the Champion Stakes. Curragh Stands: same — smart business-casual. Paddock / Lawn: no dress code but festival crowd dresses up. Irish racing festivals are social events — expect smart-dress, especially in the parade ring.
Food and drink
Leopardstown has excellent on-course hospitality (Fillies Cafe, Leopardstown Pavilion). The Curragh's 2019 rebuild added premium dining options. Both courses offer picnic packages for the outer enclosures. Guinness is of course widely available — the festival's unofficial ambassador.
Betting
Tote facilities and on-course bookmakers at both courses. Irish bookmakers (Paddy Power, Boylesports, BoyleSports) have a heavy on-course presence. Online punting from the stands is popular — our bookmaker comparison guide covers UK-friendly options. Each-way markets on the Group 1s typically offer 4 places as standard.
Sources & verification
Race details, dates, prize money and trends in this piece were cross-checked against:
- Wikipedia — Irish Champions Festival
- Leopardstown Racecourse — official site
- Curragh Racecourse — official site
[Source: cross-referenced as of the lastUpdated date in this article's meta.yaml.]
Share this article
Research the field with the AI Race Predictor
Our model publishes calibrated win-probability estimates for UK races — a second opinion to understand a race, not tips. It's open about its record: it doesn't beat the market, and we show exactly how it does.
Work it out & learn the basics
Gamble Responsibly
Gambling should be entertaining and not seen as a way to make money. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help and support is available.