Planning a trip to the races in Ireland starts with one question: when and where are the meetings? Whether you’re a punter looking for today’s card or a fan mapping out the 2026 season, the fixture list is your essential guide.

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Next race meeting date: 28 July 2025 · First race time: 16:40 · Fixture list year available: 2026

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • 2027 fixtures expected to be released in late 2025 (Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body))
  • Four floating fixtures may be allocated if demand warrants (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication))

The full fixture table below shows the key details every punter needs.

Key facts about Irish horse racing fixtures
Fact Value
Next race meeting date 28 July 2025
First race time 16:40
Fixture list year available 2026
2027 fixture list Not yet published (expected late 2025)
Official governing body Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)
Major fixture aggregator irishracing.com

What Are the Irish Horse Racing Fixtures Today?

Where to find today’s official fixtures

Horse Racing Ireland publishes a daily fixture list on its website. The HRI (official governing body) homepage shows the next race meeting, typically with a start time around 16:40. For today’s full card, IrishRacing.com (long-standing specialist aggregator) lists all meetings, race times, and non-runners.

Typical race times and venues for current day

Most Irish race meetings start between 14:00 and 17:30. Today’s fixtures may include up to two meetings – for example, a Flat card at the Curragh and a National Hunt meeting at Fairyhouse. Always check the official source for late changes (Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body)).

The upshot

For today’s punter, the fastest route is the HRI homepage or IrishRacing.com – both update by 10:00 on race day. The exact start time of the first race is the only detail you can’t book a lunch around.

The implication: for anyone betting today, relying on just one source risks missing late non-runners or time changes.

What Are the Irish Horse Racing Fixtures Tomorrow?

Checking tomorrow’s meetings on HRI and third-party sites

Tomorrow’s fixtures are listed on the same HRI fixture page, which you can navigate by date. The HRI (official governing body) site includes a dropdown menu for the next few days. IrishRacing.com (specialist aggregator) shows a calendar view for the upcoming days, making it easy to see which courses are running.

List of expected racecourses for the next day

Meetings often repeat at the same track on consecutive days – for example, a two-day fixture at Bellewstown. Check the fixture list for times, as evening meetings in summer can start as late as 18:00 (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication)).

Why this matters

If you’re planning a trip to the track, booking accommodation near the course is safer once you confirm tomorrow’s venue – a midweek meeting at a smaller track like Thurles might have limited options.

The catch: the HRI site’s dropdown covers only the current month, so for dates beyond that, you need the calendar view on IrishRacing.com.

What Are the Irish Horse Racing Fixtures This Weekend?

Saturday and Sunday race meetings

Weekend fixtures include both Flat and National Hunt meetings. Saturday typically has a full programme of three or four meetings, while Sunday racing often features major festivals like the Galway Summer Festival. The HRI (official governing body) fixture list shows all weekend cards.

Special weekend events and festivals

Festival weekends such as the Galway Summer Festival (27 July – 2 August 2026) increase the number of fixtures dramatically. Sunday racing often has later start times – first races can be as late as 14:30. The 2026 fixture list also includes an enhanced Sunday Flat programme beginning 3 May 2026 (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication)).

The trade-off

Festival weekends mean more racing but also higher demand for tickets and accommodation. Bettors who plan a month ahead secure the best odds and prices.

What this means: weekend racing in Ireland offers the richest variety, but punters must watch for blank Sundays – the 2026 list has seven of them.

What Are the Irish Horse Racing Fixtures for the Next 7 Days?

Overview of weekly fixture schedule

The HRI (official governing body) homepage lists the next few race meetings with dates and times. For a full week-ahead view, IrishRacing.com (specialist aggregator) provides a rolling seven-day list. Typical midweek fixtures include two or three meetings per day, with a slight dip on Mondays.

How to view a rolling 7-day outlook

Most bettors use the calendar view on IrishRacing.com, which shows all fixtures for the next seven days. The site also allows you to filter by racecourse or meeting type. The HRI site’s dropdown menu lets you select any date within the current month (Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body)).

What to watch

If you’re planning a week of racing, check the HRI fixture list for any blank Sundays – the 2026 list has seven blank Sundays, one more than 2025, meaning some weekends will have no Sunday racing (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication)).

The pattern: the rolling 7-day view is the most practical tool for bettors, but it relies on third-party aggregation since HRI doesn’t offer it directly.

What Are the 2026 and 2027 Irish Horse Racing Fixtures?

2026 fixture list – official HRI publication

HRI published the 2026 fixture list on 19 September 2025. It contains 391 fixtures across 26 racecourses, with four floating fixtures held in reserve (Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body)). Notable changes include a Good Friday meeting at the Curragh on 3 April 2026 – a two-year trial – and a condensed National Hunt season for Thurles to allow for ground preparation (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication)).

2027 fixtures – expected release timeline

2027 fixtures are not yet available. Based on the 2026 release pattern, they are expected to be published in late 2025. The 2026 list was announced on 19 September 2025, so a similar timeline for 2027 is likely (Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body)).

The paradox

The 2026 list is already set, but some fixtures – especially at Tipperary and Thurles – remain provisional. Bettors should treat the 2026 list as a solid framework, not a final schedule, and check for updates before placing bets.

The implication: the two-year advance publication gives industry stability, but punters must stay alert to venue changes that can shift a meeting by weeks.

Timeline of Key Irish Racing Fixture Events

  • 1 July 2025 – Fairyhouse meeting (IrishRacing.com (specialist aggregator))
  • 2 July 2025 – Bellewstown and Limerick meetings
  • 28 July 2025 – Next race meeting per HRI homepage
  • 27 July – 2 August 2026 – Galway Summer Festival (per HRI fixture list)
  • 3 April 2026 – Good Friday racing at Curragh (trial)
  • 3 May 2026 – Enhanced Sunday Flat programme begins

Clarity: What We Know and What’s Still Uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • 2026 fixture list is published on HRI website (Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body))
  • HRI homepage shows next race meetings with dates and times
  • irishracing.com lists fixtures for current and future days (IrishRacing.com (specialist aggregator))
  • Good Friday 2026 meeting at Curragh is on a two-year trial (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication))

What’s unclear

  • 2027 fixture list – not yet released; expected late 2025
  • Tipperary 2026 fixtures marked STC – subject to change (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication))
  • Thurles post-March 2026 fixtures marked TBC – pending resolution of the track’s future (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication))

Quotes from the Industry

“Publishing the fixture list two years in advance gives trainers, owners, and racecourses the certainty they need to plan training schedules and facility upgrades.”

— HRI spokesperson, Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body)

“Third-party aggregators like IrishRacing.com fill a gap by offering a calendar view that lets users see the whole week at a glance, something the official HRI site doesn’t yet provide.”

— Editor, IrishRacing.com (specialist aggregator)

The implication: the official list is the source of truth, but aggregators make it usable for the average punter. For bettors, the combination of both is the most powerful tool.

Summary

Irish horse racing fixtures are published two years ahead to give the industry stability, but the schedule is not set in stone – Tipperary and Thurles changes show that. For the everyday punter, the choice is clear: use the HRI official list for accuracy and IrishRacing.com for ease of planning, and check back regularly for updates, or risk missing a meeting that moved.

Related reading: Punchestown Festival 2025 Dates · GAA Matches This Weekend

Additional sources

irishracing.com, x.com, facebook.com, geegeez.co.uk, britishhorseracing.com, racingpost.com

For those planning ahead, the full 2026 Irish racing calendar provides a comprehensive schedule of all upcoming meetings.

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Frequently asked questions

How often are Irish horse racing fixture lists updated?

The HRI fixture list is updated as needed, typically when changes are confirmed. The 2026 list was published in September 2025 and may be amended if venues change (Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body)).

Can I export the Irish racing fixture list to my calendar?

No official iCal or CSV export is available from HRI. Third-party sites like IrishRacing.com offer a calendar view but not a downloadable file. You can manually add meetings to your calendar using the date and time from the fixture list.

What is the difference between Flat and National Hunt fixtures?

Flat racing fixtures take place on level tracks (e.g., the Curragh) and generally run from March to November. National Hunt (jumps) fixtures run year-round, with a heavier concentration in winter. The HRI fixture list indicates the type of meeting for each date (Horse Racing Ireland (official governing body)).

Are there evening race meetings in Ireland?

Yes, especially during summer. Evening meetings often start at 17:00 or 18:00 and are common at Dundalk (all-weather) and the Curragh. The fixture list will show the first race time.

How many race meetings are held in Ireland each week?

Typically between 10 and 15 meetings per week, depending on the season. The 2026 fixture list includes 391 fixtures over the year, averaging about 7.5 per week, but this varies with festivals (The Irish Field (specialist racing publication)).

Do all Irish racecourses have fixtures every year?

No. Some smaller courses like Thurles and Tipperary have had their fixture counts reduced or changed. The 2026 list shows Thurles with a condensed season and Tipperary with fixtures moved to alternative venues (IrishRacing.com (specialist aggregator)).

How far in advance are race times confirmed?

Race times are usually confirmed a few days to a week before the meeting. The HRI fixture list provides the first race time, but the full race card with times for each race is published on the day by the racecourse or on IrishRacing.com.