Across:
8 Delegates dropped tea (“delegates” without “tea” = delegs = SLEDGE) coming down the hill in snow (SLEDGE),
9 Built on a (built on a = ABUTILON) structure (= anagram indicator) with a flowering maple (ABUTILON),
10 Opens the youthful Rieslings, ending (opens/first letters of the youthful Rieslings, ending = TYRE) with an old Port (southern Lebanon port TYRE),
11 The runner’s (runners = TRACK SHOES) runners? (TRACK SHOES),
12 Museum display of Socialist realism, for example, (Red Art) set-up (= reversal indicator) (red art = TRADER) by dealer (TRADER),
14 Made (= anagram indicator) easy film (easy film = MAYFLIES) with short-lived insects (MAYFLIES),
15 Check out local (“check out” locally = PASS AWAY) article (THE) from magazine (TIME magazine) (PASS AWAY THE TIME) – it’s what one should do if one is bored (PASS AWAY THE TIME),
18 Something to do at the airport security perhaps (show case = SHOWCASE) with display (SHOWCASE),
20 Maintain (ASSERT) awkward (= anagram indicator) stares (stares = ASSERT),
22 Takeaway (LESS-) at the end of binge (at the end of binge = -E-) upsets (= reversal indicator) liver (liver = -R EVIL) (LESSER EVIL) – how is that the better option of a bad choice? (LESSER EVIL),
24 Free ticket (PASS) for 1 down to give away (“player” to give away PASS),
25 Irish men (Irish “men” = FIR) going to England (-E) picked out (chose) for losing the head (c) (“chose” without ‘c’ = HOSE) (FIRE HOSE) and going to blazes (FIRE HOSE),
26 Curl up (NESTLE) in front of (= positional indicator) the foreign (the = -LE) tree house (NEST-) (NESTLE).
Down:
1 One of those in 7 down (PLAYER in “home team”) should be on the stage (PLAYER),
2 Some old-fashioned general (some “old-fashioned general” = EDGE) has the advantage (has the EDGE),
3 Barney (ROW) gets to close (= positional indicator) the last exit (DEATH) (DEATH ROW) in symbolic arena for The Killers (DEATH ROW),
4 Long story (SAGA) short – leader (short leader = S-) ruled part of Turkey (-AGA) (SAGA),
5 Heartless (n) old jailer (“turnkey” without “n” = TURKEY) is expected for Christmas (TURKEY),
6 School (FISH-) in part of China (china -PLATES) (FISHPLATES) for those holding the bass (FISHPLATES),
7 The Dubs in Croke Park (HOME TEAM) can be a little flat (HOME) for those from Kerry, for example (TEAM) (HOME TEAM),
13 One of those in 6 down, for example (one of the “fishplates” = DISH-), for plumber (-WASHER) (DISHWASHER) working in the kitchen (DISHWASHER),
14 Perhaps (MAYBE) business enterprise opens (business enterprise opens/first letters = -BE) after (= positional indicator) a month (MAY-) (MAYBE),
16 Well-built (ATHLETIC) fashion centre (fashion centre= -H-) for the French (the = -LE-) in lofty structure (attic = AT-TIC) (ATHLETIC),
17 The Summit (HEAD-) Bar (bar = -LINE) (HEADLINE) is popular with journalists (HEADLINE),
19 Corinthian has no hint (“Corinthian” has no “hint” = corina = AIR-CON) this creates a chilling atmosphere (AIR-CON),
21 By-product (RESULT) of sequel (sequel/upshot = RESULT),
23 Assessment (VIEW) of show involving Stevie Wonder (show involving “Stevie Wonder” = VIEW),
24 Position (POST) in P&O (PO-) Ferries is closing (ferries is closing = -S-) on time (-T) (POST).