The Jumps season in Ireland ends with a bang next week so check out everything you need to know about the Punchestown Festival including the date, full running order and TV Schedule.
Punchestown Festival Date 2026 & Race Schedule
With 40 spectacular races scheduled over the five days of the Punchestown Festival, we’ve got everything you need to know.
It starts on Tuesday, 28th April and the final day will be on Saturday, 2nd May. See the full Punchestown Festival schedule below.
We’ve also looked into the Punchestown Gold Cup betting odds with an early preview of Wednesday 29th April’s feature race.
Last year’s winner Galopin Des Champs will not be back to defend his crown. Instead the market is led by Willie Mullins duo Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File.
WATCH: Galopin Des Champs Dazzles In Punchestown Gold Cup
Punchestown Festival Schedule 2026
Five days of action is in store, so see the schedule of all 40 races below. 12 Grade 1s will take place over the course of the week.
There will also be a record amount of prize money on offer this year with €3.6 million up for grabs across the five days at Punchestown.
Tuesday 28th April 2026 – Punchestown Festival Day 1
- 14:30 – Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup
- 15:05 – Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final
- 15:40 – Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
- 16:15 – Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 16:50 – Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
- 17:25 – Goffs Defender Bumper
- 18:05 – William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1)
- 18:35 – Willie Coonan Memorial Flat Race
Wednesday 29th April 2026 – Punchestown Festival Day 2
- 14:30 – Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
- 15:05 – Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final
- 15:40 – Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle
- 16:15 – Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 16:50 – Race And Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H Flat Race (Grade 1)
- 17:25 – Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Steeplechase (Grade 3)
- 18:05 – Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)
- 18:35 – Weatherbys GSB Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3)
Thursday 30th April 2026 – Punchestown Festival Day 3
- 14:30 – Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle
- 15:05 – Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed)
- 15:40 – Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross-Country Chase
- 16:15 – Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
- 16:50 – Frontline Security Handicap Chase
- 17:25 – Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
- 18:05 – Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 18:35 – J P & M Doyle (C&G) Flat Race
Friday 1st May 2026 – Punchestown Festival Day 4
- 15:40 – Stanley Asphalt Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup
- 16:15 – Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase
- 16:50 – Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Chase (Grade 2)
- 17:25 – Quinnbet Novice Handicap Chase (Listed)
- 18:00 – Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 18:40 – Boodles Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 19:10 – FRS Fencing Handicap Hurdle
- 19:40 – Punchestown INH Flat Race
Saturday 2nd May 2026 – Punchestown Day 5
- 14:30 – HOWDEN Cross-Country Chase
- 15:05 – Punchestown Handicap Chase
- 15:40 – SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 16:15 – Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (Listed)
- 16:50 – Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 17:30 – Lawlors Of Naas Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
- 18:00 – Sebden Steel Celebrating 30 Years In Business (Pro-Am) Flat Race
- 18:35 – Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity Race
How To Watch 2026 Punchestown Festival
The Punchestown Festival will be available to watch on Racing TV.
Racing TV is a subscription-based channel in the UK and Ireland, but if you do not have access then every race at Punchestown will be available to watch on all betting sites.
Some betting sites will require a deposit or money in your account to watch (sometimes as little as £1). However, sites like Paddy Power and Sky Bet allow all users with an account to watch any race in the UK and Ireland without needing to deposit.
Also, keep an eye on the ITV Racing schedule incase any of the 12 Grade 1 races at Punchestown get added.
