Confused by the new format for the All-Ireland football championship? Here’s how it works

The 2026 All-Ireland football championship is set to unfold under a revised format, featuring 16 competing counties. This new structure aims to streamline the path from the initial field to the coveted All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Sixteen counties have secured their place in the series. These include the eight teams that reached their respective provincial finals: Kerry, Cork, Westmeath, Dublin, Armagh, Monaghan, Roscommon, and Galway. Joining them are the seven top-ranked counties from this season's National Football League – Donegal, Mayo, Meath, Louth, Derry, Tyrone, and Cavan – along with last year's Tailteann Cup winners, Kildare.

The new format's primary change lies in how the 16 teams will be narrowed down. Round 1 saw the eight provincial finalists pitted against the other eight qualified teams. The eight winners from this round advance to Round 2A, where an open draw will determine four matches, with the first team drawn receiving home advantage. The winners of these Round 2A matches proceed directly to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while the losers enter Round 3.

Meanwhile, the eight losers from Round 1 will compete in Round 2B, also featuring an open draw with home advantage for the first team drawn. These matches are knockout fixtures, with winners moving to Round 3 and losers being eliminated. Round 3 itself is also a knockout stage, where the losers from Round 2A and the winners from Round 2B will be drawn into four fixtures. Victory in Round 3 secures a spot in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Throughout these draws, efforts will be made to avoid repeating pairings from provincial finals or earlier rounds of the All-Ireland series. The schedule outlines Round 2A & 2B matches for June 13th/14th, Round 3 for June 20th/21st, quarter-finals for June 27th/28th, semi-finals for July 11th/12th, and the All-Ireland Final on Sunday, July 26. The Tailteann Cup is also running concurrently with a similar format.