The Galway Races Summer Festival runs from Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August 2026 at Ballybrit, and for one week the racecourse becomes the best-dressed place in the country. The Galway Plate falls on Wednesday 29 July and Ladies Day on Thursday 30 July, the two days when the standard rises sharply and nobody wants to be the man who got it wrong.
The good news is that race day dressing for men is not complicated. There is no formal dress code at Ballybrit. The rule is simply this: dress a level above where you normally sit, and dress for a day spent standing on grass rather than sitting in a restaurant. Get the blazer, the shirt, the trousers and the shoes right and the rest takes care of itself.
This is our guide to all four, built around what has genuinely been selling at Hanley & Co through the summer.
Blazers
The blazer is what separates a race day outfit from a nice day out. You do not need a full suit at Ballybrit unless you are in hospitality, but a blazer over a good shirt is the single most reliable way to look like you made an effort. Choose an unstructured or lightly structured one; a heavy blazer on a warm July afternoon is a decision you will regret by the third race.
Distretto 12 Arezzo Double-Breasted Jacket
The statement piece of the guide, and the one to wear on Plate Day. A double-breasted jacket in off white is a confident choice, but it is confident in the right register: nothing loud, nothing novelty, just a clean Italian cut that does the work on its own. Distretto 12 builds around comfort and contemporary construction, so this carries the presence of a formal jacket without the weight of one, which matters a great deal at Ballybrit in late July. Keep everything under it simple and let the jacket lead.
Our own styling on this one pairs it with the Giordano Luca Liquid Cotton T-Shirt, Club of Gents Pascal Slim Pants and the Loake 357 monk strap shoe. If you want the whole look ready-made, that is it.
Shop the Distretto 12 Arezzo Double-Breasted Jacket at Hanley & Co
A Fish Named Fred Pique Blazer
Our strongest-selling blazer of the summer, and it makes sense. Pique is a knit rather than a woven cloth, which means the jacket moves with you, breathes far better than a conventional blazer, and shrugs off a full day of standing without creasing into a mess. A Fish Named Fred is a Dutch label that builds personality into its detailing, so you get a contrast lining and a bit of character under the collar without anything shouting from across the parade ring. This is the blazer for Tuesday through to Saturday.
Shop A Fish Named Fred Pique Blazer at Hanley & Co
A Fish Named Fred Linen Look Blazer
If the heat holds through race week, this is the one. It carries the texture and relaxed drape of linen with a cleaner finish, so you get the summer look without arriving at Ballybrit already creased from the car. Wear it open over a plain shirt with chinos and a loafer. Understated, seasonal and very hard to get wrong.
Shop A Fish Named Fred Linen Look Blazer at Hanley & Co
Boss Black H-Hutson Slim Fit Blazer
For Plate Day or Ladies Day, when the standard goes up. The H-Hutson is a slim fit blazer from the more formal side of BOSS: clean shoulder, sharp lapel, no fuss. It is the jacket to reach for if you want to look properly dressed rather than well turned out, and it works just as hard at a wedding or in the office afterwards. Part of up to 30% off BOSS in the Summer Sale, which makes it a considerably easier decision.
Shop BOSS Black H-Hutson Slim Fit Blazer at Hanley & Co
R2 Travel Jacket
The practical answer. R2 designs around the idea that clothing should look as good at the end of the day as it did at the start, and the Travel Jacket delivers exactly that: lightweight, crease-resistant, and unbothered by a day of movement. Ballybrit is a long day on your feet with a shuttle bus at either end. This jacket is built for it.
Shop the R2 Travel Jacket at Hanley & Co
Shirts
The shirt is where most race day outfits are won or lost. Under a blazer, in late July, you want something with structure that will not wilt. Poplin, oxford and linen blends are all the right call. Save the print shirts for the evening in town.
Gant Regular Fit Classic Poplin Shirt
The safest good decision on this list. Poplin is a tight, smooth weave that holds its structure in the heat, which is precisely what you need under a blazer at a racecourse. The Gant classic fit is clean, well-proportioned and quietly confident, and it does not compete with the jacket. White or light blue for the bigger days. With 20% off Gant in the Summer Sale, it is an easy one to say yes to.
Shop the Gant Clothing Regular Fit Classic Poplin Shirt at Hanley & Co
Eton Slim Fit French Cuff Twill Shirt
For Plate Day, when you want the shirt to do some of the talking. Eton has been making shirts in Sweden since 1928 and the difference is in the details: the collar holds its shape all day, the twill has a subtle sheen, and the French cuff gives you a reason to wear the cufflinks that have been sitting in a drawer since the last wedding. This is the most dressed-up shirt in the guide, and the one that will hold up in a photograph.
Shop the Eton Slim Fit French Cuff Twill Shirt at Hanley & Co
R2 Modern Fit Linen Blend Shirt
The heat insurance policy. Linen breathes better than anything else you can put on your back in July, and the blend keeps most of that airflow while cutting the creasing that makes pure linen a gamble on a long day. The modern fit holds a clean line under a blazer without pulling. If the forecast is good, this is the shirt.
Shop the R2 Modern Fit Linen Blend Shirt at Hanley & Co
SAND Copenhagen 8352 State Soft Shirt
The Danish approach: minimal, precise, and beautifully finished. The State Soft Shirt does not have a pattern to hide behind, so everything depends on the fabric and the cut, and both are excellent. Wear it under the pique blazer with a chino and a loafer for the most quietly assured look in this guide.
Shop the SAND Copenhagen 8352 State Soft Shirt at Hanley & Co
Tommy Hilfiger Light Oxford Solid Short Sleeve Regular Fit Shirt
For the days when the blazer stays at home. Saturday and Sunday at Ballybrit draw a broader, more relaxed crowd, and a good short sleeve oxford with a chino is exactly right for it. The lighter oxford weave has more texture and structure than a plain poplin, so it still looks intentional worn on its own.
Shop the Tommy Hilfiger Light Oxford Solid Short Sleeve Regular Fit Shirt at Hanley & Co
Trousers
Chinos are the answer for almost every day at the races. Tailored trousers work for Plate Day and Ladies Day if you want to push it, but a well-cut chino in a considered colour does the job all week and lets you sit down without worrying. Navy, stone and olive all work. Avoid anything too pale if the ground is soft.
Bugatti Modern Fit Chino
Our bestselling chino of the summer by a clear margin, and consistently one of the strongest sellers in the store full stop. Bugatti gets the fundamentals right: a modern fit that is slim without being restrictive, a fabric with enough weight to hold a line, and a colour range that covers everything you need for race week. If you buy one pair of trousers for Ballybrit, buy these.
Shop the Bugatti Modern Fit Chino at Hanley & Co
Mac-Jeans Driver Pants
Mac-Jeans has been making trousers in Germany since 1973, and the Driver Pants are built around a specific idea: a chino cut with stretch fabric and an elasticated waistband that never pulls or pinches. Ballybrit is seven hours on your feet, a shuttle bus, and dinner afterwards. This is the trouser that will still feel right at the end of it, and it looks sharp enough that nobody will know how comfortable you are.
Shop the Mac-Jeans Driver Pants at Hanley & Co
Brax FABIO IN Modern Fit Chino
Brax builds the Fabio around fit consistency, which is the quiet advantage of a German trouser house: you find your size once and it holds. The modern fit sits well under a blazer, the fabric has a fine finish rather than a heavy cotton handle, and it dresses up more readily than most chinos. A strong Plate Day option if you want a trouser rather than a full suit.
Shop the Brax FABIO IN Modern Fit Chino at Hanley & Co
SAND Copenhagen Suede Touch Burton N Modern Fit 5 Pocket
The five pocket for men who think jeans are too casual for a racecourse and are right. The suede touch finish gives the fabric a soft handle and a matte depth that reads far smarter than denim, while the five pocket cut keeps it relaxed. Excellent with the linen look blazer on a warm afternoon.
Shop the SAND Copenhagen Suede Touch Burton N Modern Fit 5 Pocket
Footwear
This is the section that catches people out. Ballybrit is grass, and grass in Ireland in late July can be anything from firm to soft, whatever the forecast said that morning. Whatever you choose has to survive a day on a racecourse and still look right in the bar afterwards. Leave the white trainers at home.
R. M. Williams Comfort Craftsman Boot
The definitive race day boot, and one of the highest-value pieces we sell. The Comfort Craftsman is made from a single piece of leather with no joins below the ankle, which is how R. M. Williams has been making boots in Adelaide since 1932 and why a pair bought this week will still be worn in twenty years. The Comfort last adds a cushioned rubber sole, so it handles a full day on soft ground without complaint. It is a Chelsea boot at heart, which means it works with a chino and blazer at Ballybrit and keeps working long after race week. One pair, a lifetime.
Shop R. M. Williams at Hanley & Co
John White Banff Penny Loafer
If the ground is firm and the sun is out, the loafer is the most elegant answer in this guide. John White has been making shoes in Northamptonshire since 1919, the same square mile of England that has produced the best shoemaking in the world for over a century, and the Banff is a clean, correct penny loafer: low vamp, neat saddle, no embellishment. Wear it with the linen look blazer and a chino, invisible socks, and you have the best-looking outfit on this page.
Shop John White Footwear at Hanley & Co
Loake Altman G Fit Suede Chukka Boot
The hedge. A suede chukka is smarter than a trainer, more forgiving than a loafer on soft ground, and it works with everything in the trousers section above. The G fit is Loake’s wider fitting, which matters more than people admit on a day when you are walking from the shuttle to the stand and back several times over.
Shop Loake at Hanley & Co
Bugatti Simone Shoe
A clean, well-priced leather shoe that covers the smarter end of race week without a serious outlay. If you need something for Plate Day and the boots are not the plan, this does the job properly and will carry on doing it at every wedding for the rest of the summer.
Shop the Bugatti Simone Shoe at Hanley & Co
Gant Cuzmo Trainer
Our highest-selling trainer by units this summer, and the right call for the relaxed days. The Cuzmo is a court-profile suede trainer with a cushioned sole and minimal branding, so it sits comfortably with a chino without looking like you came straight from the gym. Saturday and Sunday only; keep it away from Plate Day. With 20% off Gant in the Summer Sale, it is a straightforward addition.
Shop the Gant Footwear Cuzmo Suede Trainers at Hanley & Co
Building the Look: Race Week 2026 Day by Day
Four outfits, one for each type of day at Ballybrit.
Opening Day, Monday 27 July
• A Fish Named Fred Pique Blazer
• SAND Copenhagen 8352 State Soft Shirt
• Loake Altman G Fit Suede Chukka Boot
Gates open in the afternoon and the first race is late, so this runs straight into the evening. Comfortable, considered, and it holds up in town afterwards.
Galway Plate, Wednesday 29 July
• Distretto 12 Arezzo Double-Breasted Jacket
• Giordano Luca Liquid Cotton T-Shirt
• Club Of Gents Pascal Slim Pants
• Loake 357 Dark Brown Calf Leather Monk Strap Shoe
The biggest race of the week and the biggest crowd. This is the outfit to be photographed in.
Ladies Day, Thursday 30 July
• A Fish Named Fred Linen Look Blazer
• Gant Regular Fit Classic Poplin Shirt
• Boss Footwear Sienne Slip-On Moccasins
The most photographed day of the Irish summer, and the men are in the frame too. Sharp, seasonal, and comfortable enough for the longest day of the week.
The Weekend, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August
• Tommy Hilfiger Light Oxford Solid Short Sleeve Regular Fit Shirt
• SAND Copenhagen Suede Touch Burton N Modern Fit 5 Pocket
• Gant Footwear Cuzmo Suede Trainers
Broader crowd, earlier gates, more relaxed throughout. No blazer required, but bring one in the car if the evening looks like running long.
Five Rules for Ballybrit
• Dress one level above your normal. That is the whole dress code.
• Choose fabric over formality. An unstructured blazer beats a heavy one every time in July.
• Respect the ground. Grass and suede loafers only get on when the weather has held.
• Plan for the evening. Race week does not end when the last race does.
• Buy the shoes first. Everything else is easier to fix on the day.
Galway Races 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Galway Races 2026?
The Galway Races Summer Festival 2026 runs from Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August at Ballybrit Racecourse, three kilometres from Galway city centre. The Galway Plate is on Wednesday 29 July and Ladies Day is on Thursday 30 July. Full details and tickets are available at galwayraces.com.
What is the dress code for men at the Galway Races?
There is no formal dress code at Ballybrit. Most men dress smart casual across the week, with a noticeable step up for the Galway Plate on Wednesday and Ladies Day on Thursday. A blazer with a shirt and chinos is the standard for the bigger days. A shirt with chinos and a clean trainer or loafer is fine for the weekend.
Do you need to wear a suit to the Galway Races?
No. A suit is welcome and never looks out of place on Plate Day or Ladies Day, particularly in hospitality, but a blazer with a good shirt and chinos is the more common choice and is easier to wear across a long day on your feet.
What shoes should men wear to the Galway Races?
Ballybrit is a grass racecourse and the ground can be soft, so a boot or a leather shoe with a solid sole is the sensible choice. A suede chukka or a Chelsea boot such as the R. M. Williams Comfort Craftsman handles the ground and the smarter days equally well. Loafers are excellent when the weather has held. A clean trainer works for the more relaxed weekend days.
What should I wear to the Galway Races if it is warm?
Choose an unstructured or linen-look blazer over a poplin, oxford or linen blend shirt, with a lightweight chino. The blazer can come off; the shirt has to hold up on its own, so pick one with some structure to it. Our Summer Sale bestsellers guide covers the warm weather shirts that have been selling fastest this month.
Can I get an outfit ready in time for race week?
Yes. Orders placed before 2pm Monday to Thursday are dispatched for next day delivery, with free express delivery on all orders over €75 across Ireland. Click & Collect is available from all Hanley & Co stores, usually ready within 24 hours. Our team in-store can put a full race day look together for you.
Get Race Week Ready at Hanley & Co
Everything in this guide is available now, in-store and online at hanley.ie, with up to 50% off selected lines in the Summer Sale from the brands you love. Race week is the best week of the Irish summer. Turn up looking like you knew it was coming.
Shop online at hanley.ie or visit us in-store at Williamsgate Street and the Galway Shopping Centre. Free express delivery on all orders over €75 across Ireland.
