Festival of the Connemara Pony

Celebrating 101 years of the Connemara Pony Show, the annual Connemara Pony Festival & Show is a week-long celebration of the breed, attracting visitors, breeders, and owners from around the globe. Held in Clifden, Co Galway, the highlight of the festival is the Connemara Pony Show, a world-famous event that dates back to 1924. As the premier event for the breed, it features the largest display of Connemara Ponies anywhere in the world, with over 400 ponies on show.

These ponies are a distinctive breed, known for being strong, intelligent, and hardworking. Their qualities make them well-suited for the wild, rugged landscape of Connemara, the Galway region that gave them their name. Ponies also have a genial disposition, which makes them excellent pets, and a powerful build that makes them great jumpers and show ponies.

During the festival, ponies compete in various classes, including in-hand, ridden, and working hunter competitions, as well as a puissance competition. The spectacle of the ponies demonstrating their prowess in front of experienced judges is a major draw for visitors, and a win is a source of great pride for the pony’s owner.

In addition to the pony competitions, the festival also features a variety of non-pony activities, such as a dog show, an Irish dancing exhibition, and domestic arts and craft stalls with regional competitions for baked goods, jams, and more.

Below is a breakdown of the daily events scheduled: (For up-to-date information see the Event Website.)

The world's largest showcase of Connemara ponies 18th-21st August 2026 – 101 Years of the Connemara Pony Show

• Day 1 – Tuesday 18th August
  Highlights: Loose Jumping Championships & Show Launch
• Day 2 – Wednesday 19th August
  Highlights: In-hand Show Day & Supreme Championship, Domestic Arts, Dog Show & Irish Dancing
• Day 3 – Thursday 20th August
  Highlights: Ridden Classes & Championship
• Day 4 – Friday 21st August
  Highlights: Working Hunter Classes & Championship, Parade of Champions