Dublin Racing Festival
31st January - 1st February 2026
Frankie Dettori
RacingBreaks.com Founder & Ambassador
Experience the thrill of jump racing at its finest with the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. Over two action-packed days, Ireland’s top horses, jockeys, and trainers come together for a world-class celebration of National Hunt racing.
From unmissable Grade 1 contests to future stars on the road to Cheltenham, the Dublin Racing Festival blends sporting drama with a vibrant social scene and the warm Irish hospitality Dublin is famed for.
At RacingBreaks.com, we make your trip seamless with handpicked hotels, official tickets, hospitality upgrades, and bespoke packages. Whether you’re a racing enthusiast or simply looking for an unforgettable weekend away, this is your chance to experience it all in style.
Ruby Walsh
RacingBreaks.com Ambassador
Dublin Racing Festival Experiences
Make your Dublin Racing Festival experience a memorable one with one of our carefully curated hotel packages.
We offer a wide range of accommodation options to suit every style and budget - all paired with official tickets, airport & race day transfers, and optional hospitality to ensure a seamless and stress-free trip.
Clayton Hotel Leopardstown ★★★★
from £369 per person
Why stay here?
Ideal location by racecourse
Popular restaurant & bar
Free drink at hotel
Easy access to airport
Conveniently located less than a mile from Leopardstown Racecourse this hotel is always extremely popular amongst racegoers for the Dublin Racing Festival weekend. With easy access to both Dublin Airport and the city centre it is the ideal location to experience racing and enjoy the city of Dublin.
What's included:
- Return airport transfers
- Two (or more) nights accommodation
- Breakfast each morning
- Complimentary drink at the hotel
- Complimentary Racing Post
- Return racecourse shuttle transfers
- Weekend admission ticket
- On-site Racing Breaks staff to assist
Book 3 nights & receive a FREE invite to our exclusive drinks evening with Ruby Walsh!
SOLD OUT
Clayton Hotel Charlemont ★★★★
from £379 per person
Why stay here?
Central location
Popular onsite restaurant
Close to bars & restaurants
Easy access to airport
Ideally situated along Dublin’s Grand Canal and with easy access to both Leopardstown Racecourse and Dublin Airport, while being just minutes from the vibrant city centre, The Clayton Hotel Charlemont is the perfect base to combine world-class racing with the best of Dublin.
What's included:
- Return airport transfers
- Two (or more) nights accommodation
- Breakfast each morning
- Complimentary Racing Post
- Return tram transfers to Leopardstown
- Weekend admission ticket
- On-site Racing Breaks staff to assist
Book 3 nights & receive a FREE invite to our exclusive drinks evening with Ruby Walsh!
Limited Rooms!
Marker Hotel Dublin ★★★★★
from £649 per person
Why stay here?
Luxury 5* hotel
Award winning restaurant
Stunning rooftop bar
Luxurious pool & spa
Ideally situated along Dublin’s Grand Canal and with easy access to both Leopardstown Racecourse and Dublin Airport, while being just minutes from the vibrant city centre, The Clayton Hotel Charlemont is the perfect base to combine world-class racing with the best of Dublin.
What's included:
- Return private airport transfers
- Two (or more) nights accommodation
- Breakfast each morning
- Complimentary drink at the hotel
- Complimentary Racing Post
- Return private racecourse transfers
- Weekend admission ticket
- On-site Racing Breaks staff to assist
Book 3 nights & receive a FREE invite to our exclusive drinks evening with Ruby Walsh!
Last few rooms!
Dublin Racing Festival Ticket & Enclosure Options
There are two main options for racegoers at Leopardstown during Dublin Racing Festival weekend, General Admission & Premium Level Seats.
Upgrading to the Premium Level gives you a dedicated seat on the 3rd floor of the grandstand offering stunning views over the racecourse. It also gives you access to exclusive bars & lounges within the grandstand that guests with a General Admission ticket cannot access.
You can choose to upgrade on one or both of the racedays, the choice is yours!
General Admission
Included as standard
General Admission tickets give access to the entire racecourse enclosure including the lower level of the Grandstand. Guests can view the Parade Ring and Winner's Enclosure as well as accessing great views of the track including the Winning Post from the steps in front of the grandstand.
Premium Level Seats
Upgrade from £90 per day
Located on the third floor of the grandstand, premium level seats offer a reserved stadium seat for the day, access to the Premium Level of the Grandstand and the Circle Lounge area on the 3rd floor. This ticket also offers access to everywhere that the General Admission ticket allows you.
Dublin Racing Festival Hospitality Options
Secure your base for the day in one of Leopardstown's popular hospitality offerings.
There are a couple of options available over Dublin Racing Festival weekend, both with fantastic views of the racing and exceptional service to ensure you are provided with the best possible experience.
Molly Malones at the Pavilion
from £245 per person
Molly Malones at the Pavilion offers an ideal dining location overlooking the final bend on the track and for those that wish to venture outside, a viewing lawn. Enjoy a delicious 3 course buffet lunch throughout the day with table service drinks.
What's included:
✔ Admission ticket
✔ Three course buffet lunch
✔ Table service drinks
✔ Racing tipster to take you through the days card
✔ Racecard
✔ TV racing coverage
✔ Tote & Betting service
✔ Tables of 10 (shared tables for smaller groups)
Saturday - SOLD OUT
Sunday - Limited Spaces!
The 1888 Restaurant
from £295 per person
The 1888 Restaurant offers a laid back modern charm situated on the second floor of the grandstand. This central location is right in the heart of the action with views over the parade ring on one side and access to the grandstand and stunning race track views on the other.
What's included:
✔ Admission ticket
✔ Gourmet à la carte menu
✔ Full bar & waitress service
✔ Racing tipster to take you through the days card
✔ Racecard
✔ TV racing coverage
✔ Tote & Betting service
✔ Tables of 10 (shared tables for smaller groups)
Saturday - Limited Spaces!
Sunday - SOLD OUT
Racing Breaks Exclusive Drinks Evening with Ruby Walsh
Book any 3 night experience and receive a free invitation!
Join us in Dublin on Friday evening, the night before the start of the Dublin Racing Festival gets under way, for our exclusive Racing Breaks Drinks Evening with Ruby Walsh!
RacingBreaks.com ambassador Ruby Walsh will take guests through some of the big races of the weekend and offer his expert insight & tips!
Enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness and hear from Ruby and some other special guests at this event that is exclusively for RacingBreaks.com customers.
A great way to kick off the weekend!
Extend your Trip / Trip Extras
Why not take the opportunity to extend your stay in Dublin and visit some of the cities most famous attractions?
Add an extra night or two to your itinerary and head out to explore the city, or visit locations such as the Guinness Storehouse or Jameson Distillery! Whatever you're planning our team can help!
Guinness Storehouse
Jameson Distillery
About the Dublin Racing Festival
Immerse yourself in the races that have produced icons of jumps racing; Samcro, Supasundae, Edwulf, Arkle, Hurricane Fly Sizing John, Florida Pearl, Brave Inca, Istabraq, Moscow Flyer, Douvan, Sizing Europe and Jodami. Witness new heroes as they emerge and watch the best of talent from Ireland and Britain fight it out for two massive title – the Unibet Irish Gold Cup and the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle.
The Dublin Racing Festival will combine the best that the city has to offer over one weekend – join the party for the best of Dublin culture, music, fashion, food and jump racing that will simply take your breath away. Dazzle your senses in our jubilant celebration of Dublin with a full entertainment programme that supports culture, comedy, music, culinary delights and fashion. Savour the atmosphere that is unique only to Dublin - full of welcome, easy conversations, wit, warmth and humour.
The Racedays
The Dublin Racing Festival is two days of high quality National Hunt Racing with no less than eight Grade 1 races across the weekend! Saturday features the Irish Gold Cup, whilst Sunday's feature race is the Irish Champion Hurdle.
Our overnight experiences include tickets to both days however tailored trips can created if you wish to just attend one of the racedays.
Irish Gold Cup Day
Saturday 31st January 2026
Day One of the Dublin Racing Festival features highly anticipated four Grade One's with the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, the feature.
Throughout its history the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup has served as a leading trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Four horses have won both events in the same year; Jodami, Imperial Call, Sizing John & Galopin Des Champs.
Irish Champion Hurdle Day
Sunday 1st February 2026
Day Two of the Dublin Racing Festival also features four Grade One's including The Irish Champion Hurdle, among other competitive Grade 2 and Grade B Races.
The Irish Champion Hurdle has been won by some of the best Hurdlers around such as the legendary Honeysuckle from the year 2020-2022, State Man (2023) and Apple's Jade (2019).
Reviews
"Just attended the Dublin racing festival with a group of mates, we stayed in the Clayton hotel close to racecourse absolutely spot on. 2 great days at the races, one day we upgraded to premium tickets and were lucky we sat and watched every race with Willie Mullins only a few seats away.
Really enjoyed the relaxed racing feel a Leopardstown easy to move about get drink and bet compared to previous experiences at Cheltenham. Hotel was reasonable for Guinness €6 had music and entertainment on both nights, food standard hotel prices, chicken curry rice chips €20. But can’t fault racing breaks spread payments over the year, good communication in the lead up and everything went smoothly. Thanks we will certainly be booking with you again in the future."
Peter, 2024