Ballinasloe Show 2026 promises a spectacular weekend of agriculture, horses, livestock and family entertainment
Ballinasloe Show is set to return to the heart of Ballinasloe on Saturday, September 26th, and Sunday, September 27th, bringing together two action-packed days of horses, ponies, livestock, dogs, agriculture and rural tradition at Ballinasloe Showgrounds.
One of the great traditional agricultural shows, Ballinasloe Show 2026 will feature an extensive programme of competitions for show ponies, ridden ponies, registered Connemara ponies, cobs, horses, young horses, mares and foals, geldings, fillies, loose jumping, working hunters, donkeys, cattle, sheep and dogs.
With eight All-Ireland Championships among the weekend’s attractions, the 2026 Show promises outstanding competition alongside a welcoming day out for exhibitors, spectators and families.
Saturday – Connemaras, Cobs, loose jumping, donkeys and dogs
Saturday, September 26th, will get the weekend off to a busy start, with several major sections beginning from 10 am.
Registered Connemara gelding classes will feature the final of the Easyfix All-Ireland Registered Connemara Pony Gelding of the Future, while the Cob section will culminate in the All-Ireland Niall & Ronan Daly Cob of the Future.
The showgrounds will also host the horse and pony loose jumping competitions from 11 am, including the finals of the All-Ireland EquiTrans Horse Transport Loose Jumping Horse Champion and Loose Jumping Pony Champion, with more than €2,000 in prize money advertised across the loose jumping competitions.
At 2 pm, the Gerry Stronge Calving & Security Cameras and John Harney and ISA All-Ireland Donkey Mare and Foal Championship will take place, celebrating another important part of Ireland’s rural and agricultural heritage.
Dogs will have their day too, with the Wags ‘n’ Tails Dog Show beginning at 2 pm. The programme includes classes for a wide variety of breeds, the All-Ireland Native Breed Dog Championship, and the Wags ‘n’ Tails Champion Dog of the Show.
Sunday – a huge programme across the showgrounds
The action continues on Sunday, September 27th, when an extensive schedule of horse, pony and livestock classes takes centre stage.
Show pony classes begin from 10 am and include the Seamus McEvoy Champion Pony, while the ridden pony section features The Pillar House Champion Ridden Pony.
Connemara enthusiasts can look forward to a particularly strong programme. Among the featured competitions are the Parkmore Stables Ballinasloe and Fr Christy McCormack All-Ireland Connemara Three Year Old Filly & Mare of the Future, The Donohue Family Champion Connemara Pony, and Grenham’s Bar/Off Licence Champion Ridden Registered Connemara.
The horse sections will also showcase some of the best young and ridden stock at the show. Featured titles include the Noonan Cuddy & O’Neill Champion Mare, the John Harney Champion Gelding and Champion Filly, and the Bernadette & Mark Blehen Memorial Cup for Champion Young Horse.
The Irish Draught programme will feature the Jim Derwin International Horse Dealer All-Ireland Irish Draught Colt Foal Champion and All-Ireland Irish Draught Filly Foal Champion.
Ridden horses will compete for the Robbie O’Connor Sports Horse Champion, while the main arena will be busy from 9.30 am with Working Hunter classes, including the Garbally Oil Champion Working Hunter Horse and Champion Working Hunter Pony.
Cattle and livestock remain at the heart of the show
Ballinasloe Show’s agricultural roots will be proudly represented throughout Sunday, with a substantial cattle programme featuring commercial and pedigree cattle classes, supported by Liffey Meats. Among the featured cattle competitions is the O’Connor’s Food Hall Best Butchers Heifer.
Alongside cattle, the overall show programme also includes sheep and other livestock, ensuring that agriculture remains firmly at the centre of this long-standing community event.
A great day out for all the family
Ballinasloe Show is about much more than competition. It is a celebration of agriculture, horses, livestock, community, tradition, rural people and rural life, bringing exhibitors and visitors together in the centre of Ballinasloe.
With such a broad programme spread across two days, organisers are encouraging families, farming communities, horse and pony enthusiasts, breeders, competitors and visitors from across Ireland to make a weekend of it.
Ballinasloe Show 2026 takes place on Saturday, September 26th, and Sunday, September 27th, at Ballinasloe Showgrounds (H53K274) in the centre of Ballinasloe. Free parking is available.
For entries and further information, see ballinasloeshow.ie or contact 087 3675757.
