FAQ’S

• Tickets must be purchased online in advance at www.npa.ie/tickets-2026 to guarantee entry on your chosen day. The NPA can only guarantee entry for pre-purchased tickets.
• Tickets may be available at the gate only if the event is not sold out.
• The gate price is €35.
• Tickets are day-specific and valid only for the date selected at the time of purchase.
• Tickets must be scanned at entry. We recommend printing your ticket or saving a screenshot of the barcode for quicker access.

• Adults: €30. A 10% discount applies to orders of 10 or more adult tickets purchased in a single online transaction.
• Senior citizens: €25. ID may be required.
• Secondary school students: €25.
• Secondary school group rate: €16 per student for 10 or more tickets purchased online through group bookings.
• College students: €30. A 10% discount applies to orders of 10 or more college student tickets purchased in a single online transaction.
• Children under 12: Free when accompanied by a paying adult.

• Campervan and caravan parking must be pre-booked online at www.npa.ie.
• The fee is €60 per plot for up to five nights, from Sunday, 13 September to Friday, 18 September.
• There is no nightly rate available.
• A campervan parking ticket is separate from your event admission ticket.

• Tickets will be sent directly to your email address after purchase. Please allow up to two hours during busy periods.
• If you cannot find the email, check your junk or spam folder.
• If it is still missing, contact NPA HQ and we will resend your confirmation email.
• Important: Tickets must be scanned at entry. We recommend printing your ticket or saving a screenshot of the barcode for quicker access.

• Tickets will be available at the gate only if the event has not sold out.
• The gate price is €35.
• Gate availability cannot be guaranteed, so advance booking is strongly recommended.

• No. Tickets are day-specific and valid only for the date selected when booking.
• The NPA can only guarantee entry for the selected date.

• Adult groups: Orders of 10 or more adult tickets purchased in a single online transaction receive a 10% discount. This offer is available online only.
• Secondary school groups: Orders of 10 or more student tickets purchased in a single online transaction qualify for the discounted rate of €16 per ticket.
• All group bookings must be completed online at www.npa.ie/tickets-2026 and are day-specific.

• Trade Exhibition Arena: 9:00am–6:00pm.
• Ploughing Competitions: 10:30am–2:30pm.
• Entertainment Programme: 10:00am–6:00pm.
• Fashion Shows: 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm.
• Visitors are not guaranteed access after 3:00pm due to traffic management restrictions.
• Entry gates close at 4:00pm.

• The National Ploughing Championships attracts around 80,000 visitors each day, so queues may occur at busy times.
• Visitors are advised to arrive early and allow extra time for entry.
• Pre-purchased tickets provide faster access to the site.
• Gates open at 9:00am. Toilet facilities will be available in the car parks for early arrivals.

The National Ploughing Championships is a family-friendly event, and children under 12 go free when accompanied by a paying adult.

There are plenty of activities and facilities for younger visitors, including:

• Picnic areas and a playground.
• Baby changing and feeding facilities.
• A funfair and entertainment at the Bandstand.
• More than 1,400 exhibitors, many of whom provide entertainment and activities for children.
• FBD “Keeping You Safe” wristbands at the entrances. Guardians can write a contact number on the wristband in case the wearer becomes separated from their group.

• Only guide dogs and assistance dogs are permitted at the event.
• Due to the large daily crowds, visitors are kindly asked not to bring family pets.
• For safety reasons, animals must not be left in vehicles in the car parks, as this can pose a serious risk of heat exhaustion.

The NPA works closely with An Garda Síochána to implement a comprehensive traffic management plan and ensure safe and efficient access to the event.

• Visitors travelling by car should review the traffic plan before departing and follow the designated route for their direction.
• As you approach the event, follow the official directional signage only, as road closures and alternative routes may be in place.
• The event traffic plan will be published on the NPA homepage. Please ensure that you download the 2026 NPC Traffic Plan.
• Important: Due to traffic management restrictions, visitors are not guaranteed access to the site after 3:00pm.

• A large number of car parks are located near the Trade Exhibition Arena to accommodate visitors travelling from all over the country.
• On arrival, event stewards will direct you to the nearest available car park.

• No. Electric vehicle charging is not available in the event car parks, as these are temporary parking areas set up for the duration of the event.
• To find the nearest public charging points, visit chargemap.com.

The event parking facilities do not have dedicated bicycle racks, but our car park stewards will be happy to direct cyclists to a suitable area where they can securely lock their bicycles.

• No. All event car parks are located in stubble or grass fields, so visitors are advised to wear appropriate footwear.
• In the event of wet weather, stewards will be available to assist if needed.

Parking is free of charge at the National Ploughing Championships.

With an event of this size, it can sometimes be difficult to remember where you parked. To help visitors:

• Car parks are colour-coded according to the traffic route used to reach the event. For example, vehicles arriving on the brown route will be directed to the brown car park.
• Colour-coded signage is displayed at the entrance and exit of each car park, often with an identifying symbol, such as a blue bear.
• Visitors are encouraged to take a photo of the car park sign when they arrive to help locate their vehicle later.
• Site maps are displayed throughout the event grounds to help guide visitors back to the correct car park.

• Bus Éireann will operate shuttle bus services from Tullamore and Portarlington train stations to the event. A Bus Éireann fee applies.
• For shuttle bus tickets and timetables, visit www.expressway.ie.
• Train and shuttle bus combination tickets will also be available through www.irishrail.ie.
• Visitors may also find coach tours organised by private operators, which are often advertised through local media.

No. Due to high traffic volumes and the one-way traffic systems around the site, there are no designated taxi drop-off or pick-up points for the event.

• Dedicated disability parking is available in designated car parks. Visitors must display a valid Government-issued Disability Parking Permit clearly in the front windscreen so stewards can direct them to the appropriate area.
• Internal roadways within the Trade Exhibition Arena are double-tracked, helping to improve mobility and accessibility throughout the site.
• Accessible toilets are available in every toilet block and in each Disability Car Park.
• Accessoloo Welfare Units are located within the Trade Exhibition Arena. Facilities include:
  • An electric hoist.
  • An adult-sized changing bench.
  • A toilet and washbasin.
• The Trade Exhibition Arena Map, when published, will show the exact locations of all accessible facilities.
• Information on mobility scooter hire will be added when available.

• If you need to leave and plan to return on the same day, ask a gate steward to stamp your hand when exiting.
• This hand stamp is required for free re-entry. Without it, you will need to purchase another ticket to re-enter.

• Baby changing and feeding facilities are available in a designated area within the event site.
• Please refer to the Trade Exhibition Arena Map, when published, for the exact location.

The National Ploughing Championships offers a wide range of visitor amenities across more than 140 acres, including:

• Track access to all exhibits.
• Free site maps and stand listings.
• Information Guides.
• Picnic areas, food courts and bars.
• A playground and baby changing and feeding facilities.
• Disability welfare facilities and dedicated disability parking.
• An on-site Medical Centre and First Aid posts.
• A Media Hub.
• Campervan and caravan parking, which must be pre-booked.

• Toilet facilities are available in all main catering blocks and throughout the Trade Exhibition Arena.
• Disability Welfare Units are located at both ends of the Trade Exhibition Arena. Facilities include:
  • An electric hoist.
  • An adult-sized changing bench.
  • A toilet and washbasin.

For exact locations, please refer to the Trade Exhibition Arena Map when published.

The event features a wide variety of exhibitors across sectors including:

• Livestock, machinery, construction, agri-business and forestry.
• Sustainability, motor, house and home.
• Food and beverage, health and wellness.
• Lifestyle and tourism, information technology, business and education.

A full schedule of events is available online at www.npa.ie. Event schedules are also displayed on signage at the Bandstand and throughout the site.

Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of attractions and activities, including:

• Machinery Exhibition, Livestock Showcase and Food Fayre.
• Celebrity chefs, cookery and craft demonstrations.
• Motor Show, Fashion Shows and Tented Trade Village.
• Innovation Arena and National Brown Bread Baking Finals.
• Sheep shearing, ploughing competitions and Best Dressed “Ploughing Style”.
• Hunt Chase and Pony Games, threshing, Vintage Show, loy digging and Meggars Competition.
• Funfair, live radio and television coverage, and much more.

There is something for everyone, from families and food lovers to farmers and machinery enthusiasts.

The Innovation Arena, in association with Enterprise Ireland and the NPA, showcases Ireland’s cutting-edge agri-tech innovations.

• Exhibitors enjoy prime visibility at one of Europe’s leading outdoor agricultural events.
• It is the perfect place to demonstrate groundbreaking developments, from homegrown inventions to professional innovations.
• “Helping Irish Agri Business Go Global” is the focus of this year’s exhibition and competition.
• Entries are open until 1 May, with a €10,000 prize for the best start-up.
• For more information and to apply, visit the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena page.

The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, sponsored by Euronics and run in association with the NPA and the ICA, is one of the major highlights of the event.

• Watch the Junior and Senior Brown Bread Baking Competitions live on stage in the Brown Bread Baking Tent.
• 15 and 16 September: Finalists showcase their baking talents.
• 17 September: The winners are announced.

Senior competition prizes:

• Winner: €5,000 cash prize and a premium NEFF Slide & Hide oven.
• Three runners-up: A €500 Euronics gift card each.
• All other finalists: A €250 Euronics gift card and a NEFF hamper.

Junior competition prizes:

• Winner: A €1,500 Euronics voucher, plus a €1,500 Euronics voucher for their school.
• Three runners-up: A €250 Euronics gift card each.
• All other finalists: A €100 Euronics voucher and a NEFF hamper.

The Trade Exhibition Arena features three catering blocks with more than 50 food stands, offering a wide variety of options to suit all visitors.

Fundraising is not permitted on-site or in the event car parks, except for a small number of charities that have received prior written permission from the NPA.

• Official results are announced from the Bandstand at 6:00pm each evening.
• Results are also displayed later on the side of the NPA HQ stand.

• Free site maps are available near the entrances, and Information Guides patrol the Trade Exhibition Arena to assist visitors.
• The NPA HQ marquee is located in the centre of the site. Please see the Trade Exhibition Arena Map when published. We recommend using NPA HQ as a meeting point in case anyone in your group becomes separated.
• If you are lost or need assistance, visit NPA HQ at any time during the event and the team will be ready to help.

• First Aid posts are located throughout the Trade Exhibition Arena and Ploughing Competition fields, with trained medical staff on mobile patrols and ambulance services on-site at all times.
• The event has a purpose-built Medical Centre, fully staffed with doctors, nurses and paramedics for any additional care required.
• If you need assistance, ask an Information Guide for directions to the nearest First Aid post or refer to the site map for the Medical Centre location.

• Interested exhibitors should complete the online exhibitor questionnaire at www.npa.ie.
• Submitting the questionnaire is an expression of interest only and is not a booking for exhibition space.
• Once reviewed by the NPA exhibition team, typically within 5–10 days or longer during busy periods, approved applicants will receive access to the Exhibitor Online Booking Portal to secure their space.
• The NPA will determine whether your company is best suited to indoor or outdoor space. Certain restrictions apply to outdoor exhibits.

The NPA provides an unserviced grass-field site for campervan and caravan parking for event visitors.

• Access: From Sunday, 13 September to Friday, 18 September.
• Booking: Plots must be pre-booked online at www.npa.ie to guarantee a space.
• Facilities: Portaloo toilets only. Visitors should bring their own water and other essentials.
• Site: The site is a grass field with no hard-core surface, water or electricity. In the event of inclement weather, visitors may be directed to an alternative area.
• Fee: €60 per plot for up to five nights. No nightly rate is available.
• Restrictions: Tents may not be pitched on the site.
• Tickets: Access is permitted only with a valid, pre-purchased campervan parking ticket. This is separate from the event admission ticket.
• Safety: The official NPA Campervan Parking Site is provided for visitors’ convenience. Visitors park at their own risk. The NPA assumes no responsibility for injury, loss or damage to vehicles, campervans or caravans.
• Fire safety: Fire safety is a priority. Please download the Caravan Fire Safety leaflet from www.npa.ie.
• Overnight stays inside the Trade Exhibition Arena are not permitted, as the site will be shut down for repair works.

• Property owners: If you are local and have spare rooms or a property available to rent, visit www.npa.ie to list your private unregistered accommodation on the event website.
• Visitors seeking accommodation: Contact the local tourist office for details of available options in the area, or visit www.npa.ie for a list of unregistered accommodation.