2026 Aachen World Equestrian Games: 799 athletes from 67 countries will gather in the equestrian capital of the world

Por Horse TV

12.08.2026

NEWS | Dressage, Eventing, Full Competition, Jumping

From August 11 to 23, Aachen brings together the international elite from six equestrian disciplines for a World Championships featuring an exceptional field of competitors

For two weeks, Aachen will once again be the center of attention in the equestrian world. The 2026 FEI World Championships will bring together 799 riders from 67 countries in the German city, who will compete in six disciplines from August 11 to 23.

These figures give a sense of the scale of a championship that will bring together some of the world’s best horse-rider pairs, including Olympic, World, and European champions. The wide age range among the participants is also striking. Belgium’s Lotte Berghman-Pukova, just 11 years old, will compete in Vaulting, while Canada’s Eleonore Elstone, 74, will compete in Paralympic Dressage.

Dressage will be one of the first disciplines to take the stage and will be held at the main stadium in Aachen. Denmark arrives as the reigning world team champion and will count Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St. John Freestyle among its top contenders.

Germany is competing on home turf with a team that is once again among the favorites. Isabell Werth will be joined by Wendy de Fontaine, while Great Britain features riders such as Charlotte Fry on Glamourdale and Becky Moody on Jagerbomb. Belgium will be pinning much of its hopes on Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus. The Grand Prix Freestyle, scheduled for August 15, will bring the dressage competition to a close.

The eventing competition also features a field of exceptionally high caliber. Great Britain will be represented by Laura Collett, Tom McEwen, and Rosalind Canter—three members of the team that won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Facing them will be a strong German contingent led by Michael Jung and Julia Krajewski. Australia will be represented by, among others, the indomitable Andrew Hoy, while Tim Price will be one of New Zealand’s standout riders.

Vault will also take center stage during the first week. Quentin Jabet arrives as a two-time European champion and will seek to add the world title to his list of achievements. In Pas de Deux, Italians Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella will be among the pairs to watch, while Kathrin Meyer will face a particularly meaningful competition in front of the German crowd before her retirement.

The second week will bring one of the most eagerly anticipated disciplines in Aachen to the stadium: show jumping. Henrik von Eckermann will defend his title as two-time world champion; Switzerland will be represented by stars such as Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs; and Great Britain arrives fresh off its Olympic gold medal in Paris.

Germany will have the significant advantage of competing in front of its home crowd and will feature Richard Vogel, the reigning European champion. Ireland, the United States, Belgium, and the Netherlands round out a field of teams that makes the race for medals one of the most wide-open in recent years.

In the Carriage Driving event, Boyd Exell will be the one to watch. The Australian, a seven-time world champion, is also returning to a stage where he has unfinished business dating back to 2006, when an injury sustained shortly before the championship kept him out of that World Championship. Bram Chardon and Dries Degrieck are among his main rivals.

Paralympic Dressage will round out the World Championships program. Germany will be represented by Regine Mispelkamp and Heidemarie Dresing, while the United States will field Kate Shoemaker and Fiona Howard. Latvia’s Rihards Snikus, a two-time Paralympic champion, will also be one of the big names in the competition.

For thirteen days, Aachen will bring together virtually every generation and many of the leading figures in international equestrian sports. With six disciplines, 67 countries, and 799 athletes, these World Championships will once again make the German city the epicenter of the global equestrian world.