Who is in the All-Ireland series?We have 16 teams competing. They qualified for the competition as follows...Eight counties who made provincial finals - Kerry, Cork, Westmeath, Dublin, Armagh, Monaghan, Roscommon and Galway.The seven top-ranked counties following this season’s National Football League - Donegal (1st), Mayo (3rd), Meath (seventh), Louth (11th), Derry (12th), Tyrone (13th) and Cavan (14th).Last year’s Tailteann Cup winners Kildare.Kildare celebrate with the Tailteann Cup front and centre after victory over Limerick in 2025. Photograph: Inpho What are the Round 1 fixtures?Kerry v Donegal, Saturday, Fitzgerald Stadium, 3.00Cork v Meath, Saturday, Páirc Uí Rinn, 5.30Galway v Kildare, Saturday, Salthill, 7.30Roscommon v Tyrone, Sunday, Dr Hyde Park, 2.00Westmeath v Cavan, Saturday May 30th, Mullingar, 5.00Armagh v Derry, Saturday May 30th, Athletic Grounds, 7.30Dublin v Louth, Sunday, May 31st, Croke Park, 2.30Monaghan v Mayo, Sunday, May 31st, Clones, 4.30How will the rest of the All-Ireland series work?This can feel a little convoluted at first glance but it’s actually fairly straightforward. Essentially, all that has changed is the method of reducing the 16 teams on the start line to the last eight for the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Here’s how it will all play out.The eight winners from Round 1 will go to Round 2A. That means four matches, made by an open draw. The first team out of the hat gets home advantage and if possible, rematches from the provincial finals are to be avoided. The four winners advance straight to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The four losers go into Round Three.Round 2B features the eight losers from round one playing each other. Four matches, open draw, first team out is drawn at home. But now it’s knock-out all the way. Win here and you move on to Round 3. Lose and you’re out.2026 All-Ireland SFC format Round 3 is the last chance-saloon. Here we will have four matches again, pitting the losers from Round 2A against the winners from Round 2B. Win and you’re in the quarter-final against one of the winners from Round 2A. Lose and it’s over.In all instances, the draws will first attempt to avoid repeating pairings from the provincial finals where possible, and also any repeats of pairings from earlier rounds of the All-Ireland series.It might seem a little complicated in the abstract but really, boils down to this. You need to win two games to make the All-Ireland quarter-final. And if you lose two games, you’re gone.When will those games be played?Round 2A & 2B: June 13th/14thRound 3: June 20th/21stQuarter-finals: June 27th/28thSemi-finals: July 11th/12thAll-Ireland Final: Sunday, July 26thWhat about the Tailteann Cup?Sixteen counties, with New York being added to a preliminary quarter-finals are competing in the Tailteann Cup, which is largely following the same format as the Sam Maguire competition. Everyone in the competition has already played a game, with Rounds 2A and 2B coming up this weekend.The 16 teams are: Antrim, Carlow, Clare, Down, Fermanagh, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, London, Longford, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.GAA president Jarlath Burns holding the Tailteann Cup, alongside representatives from each of this year's competing counties. Photograph: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile How will that competition run?Round 1 had eight fixtures and saw wins for Offaly, Wexford, Tipperary, Antrim, Laois, London, Fermanagh and Down. As with the SFC format, the Round 1 winners go to Round 2A, the losers go to Round 2B. The Round 2A winners (slight caveat on that below) qualify for the quarter-finals, while the losers join the Round 2B winners in Round 3.For the preliminary quarter-final involving New York, one of the four Round 2A winners will be drawn to play Ronan McGinley’s side, the winner of which will qualify for the quarter-finals. What’s on offer to the winner?In addition to a nice piece of silverware, the Tailteann Cup winners are also guaranteed a spot in next year’s All-Ireland series, come what may in next season’s league and provincial championship.Had it not been for their Tailteann Cup victory last year, Kildare wouldn’t be in reckoning for Sam Maguire this summer, so it’s certainly worth something.When will those games be played?Round 2A & 2B: May 23rd/24thRound 3: June 6th/7thPreliminary quarter-final: June 6th/7thQuarter-finals: June 13th/14thSemi-finals: June 20th/21stTailteann Cup Final: Saturday, July 11th