← All events
sport · Saturday 27 June 2026 · 2:00pm 
The Curragh Racecourse - Summer Flat Racing
At The Curragh Racecourse · The Curragh, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
At The Curragh Racecourse · The Curragh, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Saturday 27 June 2026 falls on the middle day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, the biggest flat racing weekend in the Irish calendar. The Curragh has been the home of Irish flat racing for over 150 years, and a summer Saturday here is as much a social occasion as a sporting one - the parade ring buzz, the roar at the finish line, and a grandstand designed for serious comfort all add up to a day that holds its own against anything in Britain or Europe. It suits first-timers as much as seasoned punters; under-18s go free, and the atmosphere is inclusive rather than stuffy.
The June meeting at The Curragh sits within the Irish Derby Festival weekend, which runs from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 June. Saturday’s card typically features the Group 1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes alongside a full supporting programme of handicaps and maiden races. The two-mile right-handed track gives fine sightlines from almost anywhere in the grandstand, and the Moyglare Kidszone keeps younger visitors occupied between races. Multiple bars, sit-down restaurants, and casual food stalls are spread across the venue. Tote betting and on-course bookmakers both operate on race days. Dress code is smart casual - no beachwear or sports gear. Aim to arrive at least an hour before the first race; turnstiles open roughly two hours beforehand. No outside food or drink may be brought in.
The Curragh is about 50 minutes from Dublin on the M7 - exit at junction 12 for the racecourse. Free car parking is available on site. If you prefer public transport, complimentary shuttle buses run on race days from both Newbridge train station and Kildare train station, which are served by regular Irish Rail services from Heuston. Newbridge is on the main Dublin-Limerick/Cork intercity line, so connections from most of the country are straightforward.
Newbridge town is a five-minute drive from the racecourse and worth a stop - Newbridge Silverware and its café are a reliable draw, and the River Liffey walk through town is pleasant on a fine June evening. There is more to see in Newbridge and across Co. Kildare.
Heading to The Curragh Racecourse in Newbridge? Kildare has plenty more to see. Read the Newbridge area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.