A note from Seán, your reviewer
Lead tester · 80 kg · hot sleeper · combo back/side · ordered the 28
I'm not the one on this height. I ordered the 28 for Drumcondra. It isn't here yet either. The 26 is the one Emma wrote for people who do not want the deepest cradle. That is why Oisín and Ciarán ordered it, not me.
Oisín already bailed on the Elite after two weeks. He is 95 kg, sleeps on his stomach, and the extra MemoryAdapt on the 28 and 30 is exactly the hip-sink he spent two summers complaining about. Ciarán sits at a desk all week. He wants the new grid and a decent lumbar hold, not a hug. They ordered the short one on purpose.
If you already read our Elite or Hybrid AirGrid pages, this is a different mattress. Performance is a new lineup. The 26 is the short one. I'll tell you if it actually holds Oisín up once he's slept on it. I will not pretend I already know.
Quick verdict for Irish buyers
Buy the 26 if you want the new AirGrid stack with the least extra foam on top. That is Oisín's logic at 95 kg on his stomach, and Ciarán's at 85 kg on his back. Buy it on emma-sleep.ie for the 200-night trial. I could not find it in Harvey Norman, EZ Living, or DID.
A single is €649 on emma-sleep.ie. Some sizes currently show 7 to 21 days. Several show 84 to 98 days. Check the window on your size before you pay.
Best for, on paper
- Stomach sleepers who do not want extra MemoryAdapt
- Back sleepers who want support without the deepest hug
- Anyone who wants the new stack at the lowest Irish from-price
Skip if
- You are a light side sleeper who needs more contour. See the 30
- You want an eight-week score before you spend. Come back in September
- Your size currently shows 84 to 98 days and you need a bed next week
Who ordered this mattress, and why
Oisín · 95 kg · stomach sleeper · runs hot
He read Emma's own FAQ: the 26 is the balanced, all-position height. The 28 and 30 add MemoryAdapt and SupportBase. Extra sink under a 95 kg pelvis is the last thing a stomach sleeper needs. He has slept through Irish summers on older Emmas that went soft in the hips. He ordered the short one on purpose.
Ciarán · 85 kg · back sleeper · lumbar from a desk
He wants the new grid and a decent lumbar hold, not the deepest hug in the range. The 26 is the one that matches that brief on paper. We will see if his lower back agrees after a working week, not after a showroom minute.
Inside the 26: seven layers, quoted from Emma
Emma names seven layers. They only published thicknesses for MemoryAdapt and SupportBase. Their FAQ also mentions two MemoryAdapt layers, but the walk-through only names one. I'm not guessing the rest. Until we cut one open in September, those are the numbers we have.
Cool-knit cover
Soft, cool to the touch, with those little micro-dots Emma likes. The top half zips off and washes at 40°C. No tumble, bleach, or iron. The bottom cover is dry clean only.
Improved Emma AirGrid Tech
The open polymer grid. Emma's line is pressure relief, airflow, and snap-back when you roll. Same grid as the 28 and 30. This is the bit that is new versus the old Elite.
MemoryAdapt
2 cmThe first cushion. This is the thinnest MemoryAdapt in the collection, which is why Oisín wanted it. Extra foam on a 95 kg stomach is how hips disappear.
SupportBase
5 cmThe transition into the springs. Emma says it supports without letting you sink. We'll see.
Zoned pocket springs + foam edge frame
Zoned springs for support and less partner bounce. The foam rail around the edge is new. The older Emma range did not have it.
Second SupportBase
Emma's words: grounds the spring core so the structure stays stable.
Bottom cover
Single-sidedKeeps the mattress on the base. Rotate 180°. Do not flip.
Emma's cooling line, on this page and the siblings: the Performance 26 showed 72% higher capacity to level out temperature spikes than a full foam mattress. That asterisk is Emma's. We have not run that test.
How 26 differs from 28 and 30
Same recipe. Different foam depth. Emma says taller means plusher. Firmer MemoryAdapt and SupportBase go 2 cm / 5 cm on the 26, 3.5 cm / 5.5 cm on the 28, 4.5 cm / 6.5 cm on the 30. That is why Oisín ordered the 26. More MemoryAdapt is more sink, and he does not want it.
| 26 | 28 | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 26 cm | 28 cm | 30 cm |
| Firmer MemoryAdapt | 2 cm | 3.5 cm | 4.5 cm |
| SupportBase | 5 cm | 5.5 cm | 6.5 cm |
| Emma's who-it's-for | Balanced, all positions | More contour for side sleepers | Deepest cushion, broader shoulders |
| Irish single, 90×190 | €649 | €1,079 | €849 |
| Who ordered it | Oisín, Ciarán | Seán | Aoife, Siobhán |
As of 31 August 2026 the Performance 28 is currently listed above the 30 on emma-sleep.ie.
What we'll actually test
Nobody on this team has slept on a Performance 26. Emma sent them. They are not here yet. The night Oisín's lands, he starts on hip sink. Ciarán starts on his lower back after a desk week. I want to know if the new grid actually holds a 95 kg stomach better than the Elite he bailed on.
Until then this page is Emma's spec, the Irish prices, and why those two ordered the short one. September is when I put numbers on it. If you have already bought one in Cork or Galway, write in. I'd rather hear from you than pretend I've slept on it.
Irish prices
Quoted from emma-sleep.ie on 31 August 2026. Emma prices move. Check again the morning you order.
| Size | Price | Delivery Emma currently shows |
|---|---|---|
| 90×190 (Single) | €649 | 7–21 days |
| 120×190 (Small Double) | €789 | 84–98 days |
| 135×190 (Double) | €909 | 7–21 days |
| 140×200 (140×200) | €999 | 84–98 days |
| 150×200 (King) | €1,089 | 7–21 days |
| 160×200 (160×200) | €1,179 | 84–98 days |
| 180×200 (Super King) | €1,299 | 84–98 days |
If you need 120, 140, 160, or 180, Emma currently shows 84 to 98 days. The 200-night clock starts when it arrives, not when you pay. Klarna and Alma sit on the Irish checkout. That does not change the trial.
Trial, warranty, setup
200 nights, free collection, full refund, no argument in Emma's wording. Warranty is 10 years on springs, foams, and the new AirGrid against sagging or deformation in normal use. Delivery and returns are free. Email is support@emma-sleep.ie.
It arrives rolled. Give it 24 hours to stand up. Air the room for up to 72 hours. Single-sided, so rotate 180°. Slats no wider than 7 cm. Emma says check the bed frame because this one is heavy.
vs the Original Elite
Elite is 27 cm. It is the old Hybrid AirGrid with a new badge. We already tested that mattress. Performance is a new lineup. Elite has first-gen AirGrid and Airgocell. Performance 26 has improved AirGrid Tech, a foam edge frame, and no Airgocell named on the layer walk.
If you liked Elite for the grid and hated it for hip sink, the 26 is the one in this new family that tries to keep the grid and cut the cradle. That is a hypothesis until September. It is not a score. Read the Elite buyer's guide if you actually want the mattress we have already slept on for eight weeks.
Important: health disclaimer
This page describes testers' plans, not clinical outcomes. A mattress is not a medical treatment. If you have chronic back pain, sciatica, or other musculoskeletal conditions, talk to a physiotherapist or GP. See our best mattresses for back pain guide.
