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sport · Monday 27 July 2026 · Racing daily from morning 
Galway Races Summer Festival 2026
At Ballybrit Racecourse · Ballybrit, Galway, Co. Galway
At Ballybrit Racecourse · Ballybrit, Galway, Co. Galway
The Galway Races Summer Festival is one of the great social and sporting occasions on the Irish calendar - seven days of thoroughbred racing at Ballybrit Racecourse that draws over 150,000 people from across Ireland and beyond. It is not purely a racing crowd. Families, fashion lovers, punters nursing a form guide and visitors who have never placed a bet in their lives all find a reason to come. The festival runs from Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August 2026, and the atmosphere builds day by day until the whole city has a particular hum to it.
The programme runs to 49 races across the week, with more than €2 million in prize money on offer. Two days stand out above the rest.
Wednesday 29 July - Galway Plate Day is the racing highlight. The Galway Plate is a Grade A handicap steeplechase, one of the most competitive jump races in Ireland, with a field of runners that brings the best horses and trainers in the country to Ballybrit. Gates open at 2.30pm, first race at 5.10pm.
Thursday 30 July - Ladies Day is the social peak of the week. The Guinness Galway Hurdle - the festival’s richest flat race - runs alongside the Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat competitions. Gates open at 11.15am, first race at 2.10pm. Dress code is taken seriously; the stands fill with colour.
Sunday 2 August - Mad Hatters Day is aimed at families, with over 20 free children’s activities running alongside the racing. Family tickets start from around €42.50.
Live music runs each evening, with acts for 2026 including Jimmy and Claudia Buckley and The Galway Tenors. The food offering at Ballybrit covers everything from full restaurants to street food. Dress codes apply in the members and reserved enclosures; general admission is more relaxed.
Ballybrit Racecourse sits about 3 km east of Galway city centre. By road, it is well signed from the N6 and N18, and parking is available on site, though arriving early on the busier days - particularly Wednesday and Thursday - is strongly recommended as the roads around Ballybrit fill up fast. Bus Eireann and local operators run dedicated race-day services from Galway city centre and Eyre Square; these are the most straightforward option if you plan to enjoy a drink. Galway railway station on Eyre Square connects the city to Dublin Heuston (just over two hours), with onward bus connections to the racecourse.
Race week takes over the whole city, with pubs, restaurants and streets more lively than at almost any other point in the year. The Salthill promenade is a short drive from Ballybrit, Galway Bay seafood is worth seeking out, and the Latin Quarter holds its own in the evenings. There is more to see in Galway and across Co. Galway.
Heading to Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway? Galway has plenty more to see. Read the Galway area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.