The Rás Tailteann returns to Carlow in 2026. Taking place from May 20th to May 24th, 2026, Rás Tailteann is Ireland’s biggest international cycling stage race. The event will start in Portlaoise, Co Laois on Wednesday, May 20th, heading south-west to finish in Kilmallock, Limerick.

Stage two will begin in Rathmore, Co Kerry, with cyclists going through Kenmare, West Cork, the famed Tunnel Road / Caha Pass, Glengarriff and Gougane Gap before finishing in the Rás stronghold of Banteer, Co Cork. Stage three starts from Mitchelstown, Co Cork crossing into Wexford and finishing in Enniscorthy, a town well known for producing dramatic Rás finishes. Stage four sees Rás Tailteann return to the Wicklow Mountains for the first time in eight years, starting in Carlow and finishing in Baltinglass. Riders will tackle the iconic Drumgoff / Shay Elliott Memorial and Wicklow Gap climbs on what promises to be one of the decisive days of the race.

The final stage will again start in Carlow, before crossing the plains of Carlow and Kildare, including the Category 3 Hill of Allen, and finishing in Dunboyne, Co Meath, where three laps of a testing finishing circuit will decide both the stage winner and the overall champion of Rás Tailteann 2026.

Carlow is no stranger to the Rás Tailteann as the town has hosted stages of the international cycling stage race in previous years, including 2013, 2015 and the last stage start and finish having been held in 2018.