The Royal Dublin Society is pleased to announce that the Competition Schedule for the 2026 RDS Dublin Horse Show is now available, marking an important milestone as preparations continue for this year’s Show, which will take place from the 5th to 9th August 2026.
The release of the Schedule provides competitors, breeders, and equestrian enthusiasts with full details of the extensive programme of classes and competitions that underpin Ireland’s most prestigious equestrian event.
The 2026 Schedule reflects the RDS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing competition standards and supporting excellence across Irish equestrian sport, and highlights several significant developments introduced for this year’s Show.
These include the introduction of new qualifier structures for key performance classes, such as the Working Hunter Horses, ensuring that the highest calibre horse-and-rider combinations progress to the Show in August.
In addition, the 2026 Show will feature the inaugural RDS Elite Show Jumping Foal Sale, an exciting new initiative developed in partnership with Goffs. This sale will provide Irish breeders with a world-class platform to showcase top-quality youngstock to an international audience, further strengthening Ireland’s position as a global leader in sport horse breeding.
The competition framework is also supported by major enhancements to the entry and qualification process, with the upgraded SJI Live system introducing automated eligibility checks, improved transparency, and the innovative “Golden Ticket” system for qualified combinations.
Qualifiers Underway Nationwide
The road to the 2026 RDS Dublin Horse Show is now firmly in motion, with the national qualifier programme already delivering strong engagement across the country, and it will encompass the following over the next few weeks:
- 33 days of qualifier competitions
- 175 individual qualifier classes
- 44 qualifier categories
- 26 shows and venues nationwide
- Over 8,000 individual entries
This extensive qualifier network underlines the scale and reach of the Dublin Horse Show, ensuring that the very best combinations from across Ireland earn their place at the Show in August.
Commenting on the release of the Schedule, Fiona Sheridan, Show Director, said:
“The publication of the Competition Schedule is always a significant moment in the lead-up to the Show. This year is no different and it reflects the scale, quality, and ambition of the Show; while also highlighting the important developments we have introduced across qualifiers, competition structures and breeder initiatives. With qualifiers already underway across the country and strong entry numbers to date, we are looking forward to welcoming the very best of Irish and international equestrian sport to the RDS Showgrounds this August”.
The RDS encourages all prospective competitors to review the Competition Schedule in detail and to familiarise themselves with the relevant eligibility criteria, qualification pathways and entry processes.
The 2026 RDS Dublin Horse Show Competition Schedule is now available at: https://www.dublinhorseshow.com/equestrian-information/competition-schedule/
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
RDS Equestrian Department
Email: equestrian@rds.ie
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