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.
