2026 is set to be a strong year for sport in Dublin, with a wide range of major fixtures bringing international competition and local talent. From football and equestrian to authentic Irish sport, the sports calendar offers plenty for visitors loooking to experience Dublin at its most dynamic.
At Croke Park, the home of Gaelic games, the All-Ireland Senior Championships will once again take centre stage. The seaosn brings together the leading Gaeilic football and hurling counties, delivering summer fixtures defined by skill pace and tradition in one of Europe's most recognisable sporting arenas.
The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) continues its long-standing tradition with the Dublin Horse Show, an annual event that blents elite international competition with a distinctive social atmosphere. Show jumping and dressage sit alongside exhibitions and hospitality, making it one of the city's most established summer events.
International sport also features at the Aviva Stadium, with 2026 welcoming American college football to Dublin as part of the Aer Lingus College Football classic. The season opens with TCU Horned Frogs facing the Carolina Tar Heels, an exciting global addition to the city's sporting programme. Throughout Autumn 2026, the Aviva Stadium becomes a focal point for major Irish football, hositing a series of high-profile fixtures that bring international competition and knockout drama to Dublin. UEFA Nations League matches see the Republic of Ireland face strong European opposition in October and November, while the FAI Men's Cup Final adds a defining moment to the domestic football calendar.
With major venues spread across the city and a fully stocked calendar throughout the year, Dublin offers a compelling destination for sports-led travel in 2026. Book your stay with us and experience it from the centre of it all.
