101 Years of the Connemara Pony Show: Your 2026 Guide
The Connemara Pony Show takes place every August at the Showgrounds in Clifden, four days in the middle of the month when this quiet west Galway town becomes the centre of the Connemara pony world. In 2026, the show runs from 18th to 21st August, marking 101 years of an event that draws breeders, competitors, and visitors from across Ireland and well beyond. If you’re in Connemara in August, it’s definitely worth planning around.
What Is the Connemara Pony Show?
The Connemara Pony Show is the premier annual showcase for the Connemara pony breed, held at the Showgrounds in Clifden, Co. Galway. Four days of competition bring together breeders, owners, and competitors from Ireland and abroad, with over 400 ponies on show across a range of equine classes.
Alongside the pony competition, there’s a dog show, Irish dancing, domestic arts, and craft stalls throughout the showgrounds. It’s accessible for general visitors with no particular interest in horses, particularly on Wednesday when the programme is at its most varied.
For things to do in Clifden during show week and beyond, the town is a well-serviced base with good restaurants, pubs, and shops all within easy reach of the showgrounds.
101 Years of the Connemara Pony Show
The first Connemara Pony Show was held on 15th August 1924 in Roundstone, organised shortly after the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society was established in 1923 to preserve and improve the native breed. That first show drew 500 entries overall. From Roundstone, the show moved to Recess, then spent many years in Carna, before the 24th annual show moved to Clifden in 1947, where it has been held ever since.
2026 marks the 101st edition.
The show has expanded considerably from its Roundstone origins, but its core purpose hasn’t shifted: bringing the Connemara pony in front of judges, breeders, and buyers in the region the breed comes from. Every pony competing must be registered with the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society, which maintains the stud book and sets the breed standard that has governed the native pony since the 1920s.
In-Hand and Ridden Pony Classes
The in-hand and ridden classes are the heart of the four-day programme. Wednesday 19th August is the main in-hand show day, when ponies are judged on conformation, type, and movement without a rider. Classes cover broodmares, foals, fillies, colts, and stallions across various age and registration categories, with the Supreme Championship decided from the day’s class winners.
Thursday 20th August moves to ridden classes, with categories spanning lead rein for riders aged 3 to 10, through junior classes and up to open adult sections. New for 2026 is the Young Rider Derby, open to riders aged 16 to 25, jumping a timed course with fences no higher than 1m. Thursday’s ridden programme starts at around 7.30am, so it’s the day to plan for if you want to see the full class action.
Friday 21st August covers working hunter classes, the Clifden High Performance Final, and a puissance competition, before closing with the Parade of Champions.
Events and Entertainment at the Showgrounds
The Connemara Pony Show is worth a visit even if equine classes aren’t your main interest. Wednesday is the most varied day for general visitors. The Supreme Championship runs alongside a dog show, entries accepted from noon with competition beginning at 2pm, an Irish dancing display, and the Domestic Arts, Crafts and Produce Show, which features ICA competitions for baked goods, jams, handcrafted items, and garden produce. Craft stalls line the edge of the showgrounds throughout all four days.
Tuesday 18th August opens with the All-Ireland Connemara Pony Three-Year-Old Loose Jumping Final, a championship class in which three-year-old registered ponies jump without a rider. It’s an unusual format and tends to draw a crowd, making it a good event to catch if you’re arriving on the opening day.
Local Attractions and Activities in Clifden
Clifden is a practical and lively base for a show week stay. The town has a good range of pubs, cafés, and restaurants within walking distance of each other, and it fills up considerably during August. Accommodation goes quickly, so booking well ahead of the show makes sense.
The surrounding area offers plenty to extend a trip. Kylemore Abbey is roughly 20 minutes east by car, set in a glacial valley with formal walled gardens open to visitors. Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park, just past Letterfrack, is a straightforward hill walk with wide views over the bog and coast. The Sky Road loop starts just outside Clifden town and is one of the more rewarding drives or cycles in the region. Clifden Castle, the ruined estate of the D’Arcy family, is a short walk from the town centre and is rarely crowded even at peak summer.
Wednesday is the main day of the Connemara Pony Show, bringing the town to life with a packed programme of events. Alongside the famous pony competitions, visitors can enjoy the lively street market, the popular Dog Show, and traditional Irish dancing performances, creating a festive atmosphere for the whole family.
Connemara Pony Show: Essential Visitor Information
The Connemara Pony Show 2026 runs from Tuesday 18th to Friday 21st August at the Showgrounds, Clifden, Co. Galway. Gate admission prices for 2026 had not been published at time of writing, so be sure to check connemaraponyshow.ie for confirmed details closer to the date. Clifden town has pay and display parking, with a free public car park nearby.
Wednesday is the best day for visitors wanting variety. Thursday is the day to plan around if the ridden classes are the draw. The full events schedule is now available on the official site.
Plan Your Visit to the Connemara Pony Show 2026
The show brings a significant influx of visitors to Clifden every August, and properties in the town and surrounding area fill up fast. If you’re planning a stay for show week, or using Clifden as a base for a wider Connemara trip, Connemara Holiday Lettings has a range of properties in and around the town, from town centre apartments to cottages and houses on the edge of Clifden, all with local knowledge behind the booking.