The 2026 Waterford Senior Hurling Championship was the 126th staging of the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Waterford County Board in 1897. The draw for the group stage pairings was made on 9 February 2026. The championship ran from 3 July to 30 August 2026.
Ballygunner were the defending champions. Dungarvan's relegation brought an end to 17 years of top tier hurling for the club.
The final was played on 30 August 2026 at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in Dungarvan, between Ballygunner and first time finalists Fourmilewater. Ballygunner won the match by 1–16 to 0–15 to claim their 25th championship title overall and a 13th consecutive title.
Fourmilewater's Aaron Ryan was the championship's top scorer with 3–77.
Format change
Waterford County Board was granted deviation by Central Council to allow two Ballygunner teams to take part in the competition. The preliminary quarter-finals were abolished, with the top four teams in each group now progressing to the quarter-finals. The two bottom sides will be relegated, along with Ballygunner B, with the two fifth-placed teams finished for the season as the number of teams is reduced to 10 in 2027.
Team changes To Championship
Promoted from the Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Ballygunner B
From Championship
Relegated to the Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Brickey Rangers
Group A Group A table
TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiff Ballygunner A5500158827610 De La Salle531111110837 Abbeyside530212511966 Passage5203101121-204 Clonea5113117129-123 Ferrybank500590143-530
Group A results
Group B
Group B table
TeamMatchesScorePtsPldWDLForAgainstDiff Fourmilewater5410148103459 Roanmore541012482429 Mount Sion530211911366 Lismore5203112127-154 Ballygunner B501498135-371 Dungarvan501490131-411
Group B results
Relegation stage Playoff
Knockout stage Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Championship statistics Top scorers
Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Aaron RyanFourmilewater3-7786810.752Mark O'BrienFerrybank1-5154510.803Gavin O'BrienRoanmore0-505077.144Thomas CareyPassage0-474767.835Eoin KielyAbbeyside1-434667.666Jack PrendergastLismore0-424267.007Ryan McGovernDungarvan2-344066.668Jack TwomeyDe La Salle3-283775.28Dessie HutchinsonBallygunner1-343766.1610Cormac DawsonDe La Salle0-363666.00Francis RocheClonea0-363666.00
References