The 2004 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 118th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Cork won the championship, beating Kilkenny 0–17 to 0–9 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.
 Participating counties (1): Galway
 Galway were unopposed in the Connacht championship and advanced to the All-Ireland qualifiers round 1.
 Participating counties (10): Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
 Preliminary round: (2 matches): These are three matches between the first four teams drawn from the province of Leinster. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the first round.
 First round: (2 matches): The winners of the preliminary round matches join the two Leinster teams to make up the first round pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the quarter-finals.
 Quarter-finals: (1 match): The winners of the two first round matches join two Leinster teams to make up the first round pairings. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.
 Semi-finals (2 matches): The winners of the quarter-finals join two teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.
 Final: (1 match) The winners of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals.
 Participating counties (6): Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford
 Quarter-final (2 matches): These are two matches between the first four teams drawn from the province of Munster. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.
 Semi-finals (2 matches): The winners of the quarter-finals join the other two teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.
 Final (1 match): The winner of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals.
 Participating counties (5): Antrim, Derry, Down, London, New York
 Quarter-final (1 match): This is a single match between the first two teams drawn from the province of Ulster and overseas teams. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.
 Semi-finals (2 matches): The winner of the lone quarter-final joins the other three Ulster teams to make up the semi-final pairings. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.
 Final (1 match): The winner of the two semi-finals contest this game. One team is eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
 Qualifiers round 1 (4 matches): The Ulster runners-up, Galway and the six other teams who failed to reach a provincial final to make up the qualifiers round 1 pairings. Four teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the qualifiers round 2.
 Qualifiers round 2 (3 matches): The winners of the qualifiers round 1 join the Leinster and Munster runners-up to make up the qualifier round 2 pairings. Three teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the quarter-finals.
 Quarter-finals (2 matches): The winners of the qualifiers round 2 join the Ulster champions to make up the quarter-final pairings. Teams who may have already met in the provincial championships are kept apart in separate quarter-finals. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.
 Semi-finals (2 matches): The winners of the quarter-finals join the Leinster and Munster champions to make up the semi-final pairings. Teams who have met in the provincial finals are kept apart in separate semi-finals. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.
 Final (1 match): The two winners of the semi-finals contest this game.
 Twenty two counties will compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: one team in the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, ten teams in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, six teams in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship and five teams in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship.
 Note: * = Provincial Champions