The FEI has today confirmed the shortlisted bidders for the FEI World Championships 2026. The shortlist comprises five Organising Committees who have applied to host events in various disciplines, as follows:
- Aachen (GER) – Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, Eventing, Driving Four-in-Hand, Vaulting;
- Boekelo (NED) – Eventing;
- Burghley (GBR) – Eventing;
- Al Ula (KSA) – Endurance;
- Samorin (SVK) – Endurance;
The FEI Board will allocate the FEI World Championships 2026 at its in-person Board Meeting on 18 November 2023 in Mexico City (MEX), following a thorough review by the FEI Evaluation Commission and taking into account recommendations by the Technical Committees.
Following three decades of a unique host formula for senior World Championships under the FEI World Equestrian Games™ format, in 2022 the FEI returned to a more flexible approach accepting single and multiple World Championship bids with a focus on catering to the needs and specificities of each discipline. Herning (DEN) hosted hugely successful events in Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, and Vaulting whereas Eventing and Driving Four-in-Hand competitions took place at Pratoni Del Vivaro (ITA), venue of the 1960 Olympic equestrian events. The FEI Endurance World Championships 2022 were held at Butheeb (UAE) last February.
“We are very pleased with the variety of bids we have received,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “Following the outstanding FEI World Championships 2022 organised in Denmark, Italy and the UAE, we are confident this flexible approach with single and multiple bids serves not only the sport, but also the fans and the development of equestrian around the world, allowing different nations and venues to bid to host a major FEI event.”
Olympic qualifications
The FEI World Championships 2026 in Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, and Eventing will be the first qualifying events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Aachen reacts
Emotional. First-class. Unparalleled. Through to this day, the World Equestrian Games 2006 in Aachen are considered to be the best championships ever in the history of the equestrian sport. That is at least the unanimous opinion of all those people, who experienced the spectacular event at the Aachener Soers 18 years ago: A major event that is etched in people’s memories and which inspired millions of spectators for the equestrian sport worldwide. The explanation for this is simple: Aachen is Aachen! One has to say no more to describe the advantages of the traditional showgrounds before the gates of the old imperial city, according to the athletes, the officials and journalists as well as the guests from all over the globe, who attend the CHIO Aachen, the World Equestrian Festival, year after year. The secret lies in the combination between various factors: A unique tradition, an experience that is based on successful continuity and of course that unmistakable atmosphere in the most famous equestrian sport arenas in the world. The athletes describe it as “riding with goosebumps”, when they experience the atmosphere that the crowd in Aachen creates. Sometimes as still as a mouse, sometimes gasping, followed by rhythmic clapping or thunderous applause – here the athletes are carried to top performances by an expert and fair audience. The meanwhile over 350,000 spectators, who pilgrim to Aachen every year, make sure of that. They all look forward to being there and to that very special atmosphere, feeling that buzz that can only be experienced in Aachen.
source: FEI / Press Release