Format for 2026 All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup
The Kerry and Donegal teams march in the pre-match parade behind The Artane Band before the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kerry and Donegal at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
A new format has been introduced for both the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Tailteann Cup for 2026 and is as below.
GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship
Counties Participating
The following 16 Counties shall be eligible to participate in GAA Football All-Ireland
Senior Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)
(a) The 8 Provincial Champions and Runners-Up
(b) The next 8 highest-ranked teams at the conclusion of the National League
Exception to (b): The previous year’s Tailteann Cup Winners, if not already
qualified as one of the teams in (a) or (b) above, shall be eligible instead of the
team in (b) with the lowest National League ranking at the conclusion of that
year’s National League.
Note
The ranking of teams in the National League referred to above shall be on the basis of
the outcomes of the National League, including those of Promotion and Relegation, of
the Competition Year. For the avoidance of doubt, a league final winner will be
considered a higher seed than the team they defeated in the final.
All-Ireland Championship
Round 1 (Eight Games)
23-24.05.2026 (Sat/Sun)& 30-31.05.2026 (Sat/Sun) *
The eight Provincial Champions and Runners-Up shall be drawn to play at Home against
the eight teams in (b) above.
*The finalist from the Munster & Connacht Provincial Finals will play their Round 1
games on the 23-24.05.2026, and the finalist from Ulster & Leinster will play their
Round 1 games on the 30-31.05.2026.
Round 2A (Four Games)
13-14.06.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The eight winners in Round 1 shall be drawn to play against each other in Round 2a,
with the first team drawn having Home Venue.
The draw will be subject to the avoidance of repeat Provincial Final pairings.
Round 2B (Four Games)
13-14.06.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The eight Losers in Round 1 shall be drawn to play against each other in Round 2, with
the first team drawn having Home Venue.
The draw will be subject to the avoidance of repeat Provincial Final pairings.
Round 3 (Four Games)
20-21.06.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The four losing teams from Round 2a will be drawn to play the four winning teams from
Round 2b, and a draw shall determine the Home Venue for each pairing.
The draw will be subject in the first instance to the avoidance of repeat Provincial Final
pairings and, where possible, repeat pairings from Round 1.
All-Ireland Quarter-Finals
27-28.06.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The four winners of Round 2a shall be drawn to play against the four winners of Round
3, subject in the first instance to the avoidance of repeat Provincial Final pairings and
where possible repeat pairings from Rounds 1 and 2.
All-Ireland Semi-Finals
11-12.07.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The four quarter-final winners shall play against each other in the Semi-Finals based on
a draw, subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings from the championship, where
possible.
All-Ireland Final
26-07.2026 (Sun) – (Replay 08.08.2026 (Sat))
The winners of the All-Ireland Semi-Finals shall meet in the All-Ireland Final. Venues for
Tier 1
Venues for the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final shall be determined by
the Central Competitions Control Committee.
The Tailteann Cup on display before the 2025 Tailteann Cup final match between Kildare and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
TAILTEANN CUP
Counties Participating
The remaining 16 Counties at the conclusion of the National League who have not
qualified for the Tier 1 Championship, and New York (who shall enter in at the
Preliminary Quarter Final stage).
Round 1 (Eight Games)
09-10.05.2026 (Sat/Sun)or 16-17.05.2026 (Sat/Sun) *
The 16 teams from the National League who have not qualified for the Tier 1
Championship shall be drawn to play against each other in an Open Draw, with the first
team drawn in each fixture having home venue.
*Any team involved in a Provincial Championship fixture on the weekend of 02-
03.05.2026, will play their game on the weekend of 16-17.05.2026.
Round 2A (Four Games)
23-24.05.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The eight winners in Round 1 shall be drawn to play against each other, with the first
team drawn having Home Venue.
Round 2B (Four Games)
23-24.05.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The eight Losers in Round 1 shall be drawn to play against each other, with the first
team drawn having Home Venue.
Round 3 (Four Games)
06-07.06.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The four losing teams from Round 2a will be drawn to play the four winning teams from
Round 2b, and a draw will determine Home Venue for each pairing.
The draw will be subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings from Round 1 where
possible.
Preliminary Quarter Final (One Game)
06-07.06.2026 (Sat/Sun)
A Round 2A winner will be drawn to play New York
This will be a home venue for the Round 2a winner (exception: if London is the Round 2a
winner, in which case, the game will be played at a neutral venue in Ireland).
Quarter-Finals (Four Games)
13-14.06.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The preliminary quarter final winner and the three remaining winners of Round 2A, shall
be drawn to play at Home against the four winners of Round 3.
The draw will be subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings from Rounds 1 and 2 where
possible.
Semi-Finals
20-21.06.2026 (Sat/Sun)
The four quarter-final winners shall play against each other in the Semi-Finals based on
a draw, subject to avoidance of repeat pairings from the championship, where possible.
Final
11.07.2026 (Sat)
The winners of the Tailteann Cup Semi-Finals shall meet in the Tailteann Cup Final.
The Tier 2 Winner shall be eligible for the Tier 1 Championship the following year,
regardless of league position.
Venues
Venues for the Semi-Finals and Final shall be determined by the Central Competitions
Control Committee. Notwithstanding any other provisions stated in relation to venues,
all games involving New York will take place in Ireland.
