With the main GAA season over for 2026, you could make the mistake of thinking that Croke Park will be quiet for the rest of the year. That couldn’t be further from the truth, though. The stadium in Dublin will still see plenty of action from now until the new season starts.
Not only that, but there are big events on the horizon for next year. Croke Park is the heart of sports, entertainment and culture in the capital, and it’s been that way for over 100 years. Before we look ahead to the future events, let’s explore the highlights of 2026 so far.
2026 Events at Croke Park
Dublin is no stranger to major events, and Croke Park is usually the venue. It’s not just in recent times that it has been entertaining spectators. It began in the 1880s, although the name came later. Sporting events have been causing a stir there ever since. For example, in 1972, Muhammad Ali made his first visit to Ireland to fight Al Lewis there.
Last year, Croke Park saw special events that filled the stadium with an electric atmosphere. The NFL Dublin Game brought the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings to the stadium. While Ireland wasn’t part of the NFL International games this year, there were still plenty of exciting events happening.
Sports
Fans of live events and online sports betting had a packed fixture list to enjoy. It’s not quite over yet, but almost! January began with Hurling and Allianz National League matches. February saw two cup finals: the Sigerson Cup Final followed by the Fitzgibbon Cup Final. The Leinster Football Final took place in May, as did the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups.
The summer continued with hurling and football finals, culminating in the LGFA Finals Triple Header and the Camogie Finals Triple Header. Croke Park also saw some soccer action, with Manchester United narrowly beating Leeds on penalties. Then, Katie Taylor ended her professional boxing career on a high in September after beating Flora Pili.
Concerts
It’s not only about the sports, though. Croke Park has welcomed some pretty iconic musical guests this year. First came The Weeknd, with two shows at the end of August. His After Hours Til Dawn Tour went down a treat, and the Weeknd was supported by special guest Playboi Carti.
A week later, the legend that is Jon Bon Jovi performed at Croke Park. Bon Jovi performed their Forever Tour at the venue to a packed stadium of around 80,000 fans. As one of the largest stadiums in Europe, Croke Park is often included in high-profile tours; Coldplay, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and the Rolling Stones have all played there.
Seeing Out the Year
While it’s fair to say that the fixtures list is almost done, there are still quite a few goings-on worth noting at Croke Park in the final few weeks of the year. The sports calendar has a little more left to give. Plus, let’s not forget that the stadium is the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Here’s what Dubliners and visitors can look forward to in the coming months.
Sports
There are two sporting fixtures left on the list for 2026. Both of them happen in December. At the start of the month, on 5 and 6 December, it’s the Leinster Club Hurling & Football Finals. Then, the last event of the year will take place on Saturday 12 December; it’s the LGFA Club Finals, which include the Intermediate and Senior deciders.
Tours and Events
Of course, even when there are no fixtures, there’s still a lot to see at Croke Park. It’s home to the GAA Museum, and visitors can book stadium and skyline tours. Additionally, there are some special guided tours planned, including Tales from the Pale, a spooky skyline tour. Plus, for Halloween, there are the Teidí tours for younger visitors.
On 21st November, the museum will mark the anniversary of Bloody Sunday with a commemorative guided tour. To close the year, the Santa Experience will bring a festive spirit to the venue from 28 November until 23 December.
A Look Ahead to 2027
With a little time to reset, Croke Park will be back again in 2027 to entertain Dubliners and visitors to the city. While some events and dates are still to be announced, others have already been finalised and are much anticipated. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s to come in 2027.
Sports
National Football League games will continue to take place at the venue. It’s said that Dublin and Meath will continue to share the Croke Park bill if their home games coincide next year. The LGFA has already confirmed its Master Fixtures Plan, with the All-Ireland Championships concluding at Croke Park over the summer.
Draws for the provincial football championships are yet to take place. Meanwhile, we await the announcement to confirm whether the NFL will return in 2027.
Tours and Events
The museum will continue to offer immersive experiences demonstrating the best of Irish culture and the history of the country’s national sports. The regular tours will continue, showing off the best of Dublin, but keep an eye on announcements for special events and themed tours.
It also runs a virtual book club, which will continue in 2027. The GAA Museum Book Club reads and reviews GAA books, and includes author interview videos.
Concerts
Perhaps the most talked-about event for 2027 at Croke Park is not even connected to sports. It’s a concert with another big name arriving to entertain fans. After his 12 sold-out shows at Wembley this summer, Harry Styles will be back on tour in 2027. The Guinness World Record holder is moving on from residencies. He’ll visit North America and Europe for his Together, Together tour in 2027.
Styles will be at Croke Park on 18, 20 and 21 August 2027. Each city will have its own special guest, with Kylie Minogue, Tinashe and Tears for Fears included on that list.
Photo Credit: Pierre Goiffon for Unsplash
