At Punchestown Racecourse · Punchestown, Naas, Co. Kildare
Only the published dates are confirmed for this programme.
Punchestown Premiere Weekend runs across Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026 and is generally reckoned to mark the real start of the National Hunt season at the track best known for its spring Festival. Punchestown, just outside Naas, is Ireland’s dedicated home of jump racing, and the November fixture brings some of the sport’s better-known horses and trainers back out after their summer break, with two full days of steeplechase and hurdle racing rather than the single-day midweek meetings the track runs earlier in the autumn.
Expect a proper winter racing atmosphere: horses jumping fences and hurdles in front of a crowd wrapped up for the weather, heated bars and food stalls in the enclosures, and big screens around the course for anyone who wants to follow the action away from the rail. Because it spans a full weekend rather than a single card, the meeting tends to draw a bigger and more varied crowd than Punchestown’s regular midweek fixtures, from committed National Hunt regulars to people using it as a weekend day out. Exact race times and the full card for both days are published closer to the meeting on the racecourse’s own site, along with enclosure options and ticket prices, so it is worth checking punchestown.com in the weeks beforehand rather than turning up on spec.
Punchestown Racecourse is a few kilometres south east of Naas town, just off the M7 motorway and well signposted on race days. From Dublin, the drive takes around 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, and the racecourse’s own car parks are typically well organised for a fixture of this size, though allow extra time on the Saturday of a two-day meeting. Naas town, the nearest rail-served hub, is on the Dublin Heuston line via Sallins & Naas station, with taxis available for the short onward journey to the track. Punchestown also runs shuttle bus services from Naas on major fixture days - check the racecourse website for confirmed times nearer the date.
Programme checked on 10 October 2026. First race around 12:00, subject to change. Admission: From EUR 20; senior/student EUR 20 on the day with ID. Announced dates: 2026-11-21, 2026-11-22.
Heading to Punchestown Racecourse in Naas? Kildare has plenty more to see. Read the Naas area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.
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