The FEI has announced significant changes to the Eventing Nations Cup format for 2026, designed to ramp up the drama and keep the outcome uncertain until the very last ride.

From next year, every leg of the series will double as a qualifier. The ten best-performing nations over the season will earn a ticket to a brand-new season finale, where all teams start from zero - no carried-over points. That means the champion will only be crowned on the final day of the grand finale, which remains hosted at the traditional venue of Boekelo (the Netherlands).

The old cumulative points system, which sometimes saw the title wrapped up weeks before the last event, is officially history.

David O’Connor, chair of the FEI Eventing Committee and 2000 Olympic individual gold medalist, welcomed the changes: “We’re thrilled to give the Nations Cup a fresh lease of life. A clean slate in the final creates pure sport. Real tension, raw emotion, and everything on the line until the final rider. Fans will love it; the winner won’t be decided until the very last fence, just like we experienced at this year’s European Championships.”

Olympic Team Qualification on the Line from 2027

Looking further ahead, the 2027 Nations Cup Series will carry even bigger stakes: the highest-placed nation that has not yet qualified for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will secure a coveted team slot. Points will be awarded across the full series, with double points available at the season finale.

FEI officials describe the revamp as a “major growth opportunity” for the series, promising a more thrilling and unpredictable competition that should captivate riders and spectators around the globe.