What are the official Irish Derby times for 2026?

The 2026 Irish Derby races are scheduled to start and finish on Friday at 4.50 pm and 8.30 pm, on Saturday at 1.15 pm and 5.15 pm, and on Sunday at 1.15 pm and 5.55 pm.

Where can I find the latest Irish Derby results today?

You can check today’s Irish Derby results at irishracing.com.

What is the prize money for the 2026 Irish Derby?

The prize money totals €1,250,000. First place takes €712,500. The remainder is distributed among second to eighth place, ranging from €237,500 to €18,750. The prize money totals €1,250,000. First place takes €712,500. The remainder is distributed among second to eighth place, ranging from €237,500 to €18,750.

Is there a dress code for the 2026 Irish Derby Festival?

There is no strict dress code for the 2026 Irish Derby. However, the tone is usually smart and formal: suits, chinos and collared jumpers for men; dresses and hats for women.

Who is the most successful trainer in Irish Derby results?

Aidan O’Brien is by far the most successful trainer in the Irish Derby. To date, he has won 17 titles, 11 more than the runner-up, Vincent O’Brien. His dominance at this festival is simply historic.

What are the best Irish Derby tips for the Group 1?

The best tips for the Group 1 Irish Derby are here at Bet Brothers Ireland. Visit us so you don’t miss a single one and place great bets on the 2026 Irish Derby.

Can I watch the Irish Derby today on my mobile?

Yes, of course. You can watch the Irish Derby today on your mobile via live streaming apps such as RTÉ Player, Racing TV and Virgin Media Play, including via bookmakers with streaming support such as DAZN Bet and Quinnbet.

Irish Derby Festival 2026

Last update at 28 April, 2026⏲️ Reading time: 6 minutes

Bookmakers for the 2026 Irish Derby Festival

Betting on the Irish Derby is very easy these days. There are many Irish bookmakers offering a variety of markets and guaranteed best odds. Here we’ll tell you which ones are the best so you can bet on this major event safely and legally with HD streaming in Ireland.

Comparison table: best bookmakers for the 2026 Irish Derby Festival

Bookmaker	Betting Strengths	Market Variety	Visit
Read review	Full HD streaming coverage and exclusive promotions for the 2026 Irish Derby.	Extensive: Winning Horse, Each-Way, Tricast and Forecast.	Bet now!
Read review	App optimised for the Irish Derby, ideal for quick bets from anywhere.	Good: Outright winner and Each-Way.	Bet now!
Read review	Enhanced odds on Irish Derby race results.	Good: Winner and Each-Way.	Bet now!

How to watch the races today in Ireland

There are several options for watching today’s races in Ireland for free or via subscription, many offering extensive coverage to follow the 2026 Irish Derby Festival live and all the races held in Ireland throughout the year at The Curragh and the country’s other 25 racecourses. Use them to follow every furlong in HD!

Live streaming and TV broadcast options

RTÉ Sport: This is Ireland’s national broadcaster and the number one choice for Irish viewers to watch the 2026 Irish Derby for free.
Racing TV: This is the most widely used subscription platform for watching racing in Ireland today; it holds the rights to broadcast the 2026 Irish Derby and every single race held in Ireland.
Live streams from bookmakers: Many Irish bookmakers offer live betting on local races and the 2026 Irish Derby with free HD streaming; only a few require a deposit or a prior bet.
Virgin Media: Specialises in news highlights featuring the best moments from the 2026 Irish Derby Festival and the season’s most important Irish races.

Festival info: Irish Derby Festival 2026

The Derby is the cradle of legends, a prestigious three-day festival held at The Curragh, Ireland’s largest and most important racecourse. It is here that the finest horses, jockeys and trainers in history compete. It is the jewel in the crown of Irish racing.

We will now provide you with detailed information about this festival, including dates, timetables, betting analysis and results for the 2026 Irish Derby.

General information for the 2026 Irish Derby Festival

Organiser	Dates	Venue	Edition
The Curragh Racecourse	26 June – 28 June 2026	The Curragh Racecourse, Co. Kildare, Ireland	161st Irish Derby

Key competition format details

The 2026 Irish Derby is a full-blown festival, not just another race. Over the three days, all sorts of social events take place, along with a total of 24 races (eight races per day).

It all kicks off on Friday with music, drinks and handicap races such as the Apprentice Derby. On Saturday, the standard of racing rises and the Best Dressed Lady competition takes place. Sunday is Irish Derby Day, the most eagerly awaited of all.

The Derby’s 16-furlong track does not have the typical irregular oval shape found at the vast majority of racecourses in Ireland. Instead, it has a curious horseshoe shape (“U”) with a 3-furlong uphill home straight that demands great speed and stamina; it is the ultimate test for horses with a pedigree of great strength. This sets the Irish Derby apart from the Galway Races, where greater agility and explosiveness are required.

Betting insights and Irish Derby results

Factor	Detail
Derby Favourites	Pierre Bonnard, Benvenuto Cellini and Lambourn are the three-year-old colts leading the list of favourites for the 2026 Clásica.
Top Trainers	Aidan O’Brien has historically dominated the Irish Derby (17 titles), with Vincent O’Brien coming closest to him (6 titles).
Track Conditions	The firm ground at Kildare in summer favours the speed of fast, light-footed thoroughbreds.

Key Festival Dates (Irish Derby Times)

Day	Date 2026	Main Event	Race Times (approx)
Friday	26 June	The Apprentice Derby	8.00 pm
Saturday	27 June	Ladies Day / The Pretty Polly Stakes	3.30 pm
Sunday	28 June	The Irish Derby (Group 1)	16:10

Markets and betting odds + Irish Derby Festival 2026

The markets for the Derby are wide-ranging and allow you to place bets on the winner and place bets. To use them correctly, take advantage of the best guaranteed odds for the 2026 Irish Derby and find out which stables have best prepared their horses to race at The Curragh, punters should follow today’s Irish Derby results and keep an eye on the updated markets and odds.

Irish Derby winner odds

Horse	Jockey	Current Price
Pierre Bonnard	Ryan Moore	Pending*
Albert Einstein	Wayne Lordan	Pending*
Lambourn	Tom Marquand	Pending*
Benvenuto Cellini	Dylan Browne McMonagle	To be confirmed*
Tennessee Stud	Colin Keane	Pending*

Pretty Polly Stakes odds

Horse	Jockey	Current Price
Whirl	Ryan Moore	Pending*
Minnie Hauk	Wayne Lordan	Pending*
Starford	Declan McDonogh	Pending*
Bedtime Story	Ryan Moore / Wayne Lordan / Dylan Browne McMonagle	Pending*
Gezora	Mickael Barzalona	Pending*

Betting advice / strategy and Irish Derby tips

If you want to place good bets on the Derby, it’s important to follow our tips and strategies as they’ll help improve your chances of success:

Follow the results of the Epsom Derby: historically, the best horses from Epsom tend to achieve the best results in the Irish Derby, due to the challenge posed by its tight bends and uneven ground.
The importance of pedigree: look at the horses’ lineage; genetics often play a key role in a horse’s speed, strength and stamina, ensuring they don’t run out of steam in the final furlongs of the Derby.
Identify up-and-coming horses: supporting handicap races offer a great opportunity to find good value odds and bet on promising horses, which are often diamonds in the rough.
Check out our tips for the 2026 Irish Derby: at Bet Brothers we have accurate tips to help you place winning Derby bets.

FAQ. Frequently asked questions

What are the official Irish Derby times for 2026?
The 2026 Irish Derby races are scheduled to start and finish on Friday at 4.50 pm and 8.30 pm, on Saturday at 1.15 pm and 5.15 pm, and on Sunday at 1.15 pm and 5.55 pm.
Where can I find the latest Irish Derby results today?
You can check today’s Irish Derby results at irishracing.com.
What is the prize money for the 2026 Irish Derby?
The prize money totals €1,250,000. First place takes €712,500. The remainder is distributed among second to eighth place, ranging from €237,500 to €18,750.
The prize money totals €1,250,000. First place takes €712,500. The remainder is distributed among second to eighth place, ranging from €237,500 to €18,750.
Is there a dress code for the 2026 Irish Derby Festival?
There is no strict dress code for the 2026 Irish Derby. However, the tone is usually smart and formal: suits, chinos and collared jumpers for men; dresses and hats for women.
Who is the most successful trainer in Irish Derby results?
Aidan O’Brien is by far the most successful trainer in the Irish Derby. To date, he has won 17 titles, 11 more than the runner-up, Vincent O’Brien. His dominance at this festival is simply historic.
What are the best Irish Derby tips for the Group 1?
The best tips for the Group 1 Irish Derby are here at Bet Brothers Ireland. Visit us so you don’t miss a single one and place great bets on the 2026 Irish Derby.
Can I watch the Irish Derby today on my mobile?
Yes, of course. You can watch the Irish Derby today on your mobile via live streaming apps such as RTÉ Player, Racing TV and Virgin Media Play, including via bookmakers with streaming support such as DAZN Bet and Quinnbet.