The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2008 was the 122nd since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1887.

Kilkenny went into the 2008 championship as defending champions, having won their thirtieth All-Ireland title the previous year.

The championship culminated with the All-Ireland final, held at Croke Park, Dublin.

The loser of the phase 1 game played the team eliminated in the first round of the Munster Championship.

All-Ireland Series Quarter-finals: (2 matches) The defeated Munster and Leinster finalists played the winners of the qualifier phase 4 games.

The success of the format was indicated by two 'underdog' victories, for Monaghan over Donegal, and London over Armagh, and a number of close matches.

The shortlist for the Opel GPA Hurler of the Year award, in alphabetical order, was as follows: The following managerial changes took place during and immediately after the championship.