TSCHIO AACHEN
World Equestrian Festival

May 22nd - 24th, 2026

Ten pairs reached the jump-off for the Final of the 2026 Youngster-Tour. Ultimately, Switzerland’s Janika Sprunger, riding Victory Music Z, claimed the victory ahead of two German pairs.

Take a conductor on his final mission, making a spectacular entrance into the stadium via zipline, add the dubbed German voice of the current James Bond, Dietmar Wunder, as the host, and place a legendary Bond Girl from the world of cinema, Britt Ekland, next to Boyd Exell in a carriage. Combine this with the Aachen Symphony Orchestra, world-class equestrian athletes, graceful dance performances and the Main Stadium is immediately transformed into a 007 stage. The result was the grandest and most spectacular "Horse & Symphony" concert Aachen has ever witnessed.

Thirteen pairs had reached the jump-off in the second qualifier for the highlight of the CHIO Aachen 2026 – the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. And for a long time, it looked like no one would be able to beat the time set by the Belgian rider, Abdel Said. Riding his 13-year-old mare, Wathnan Bonne Amie, he had set a benchmark that appeared to be as solid as rock. With a powerful, scopey canter, his equine partner virtually flew round the course – mastering the fences agilely and effortlessly, tight and precise in the turns. Not a single fault, not a moment of hesitation – the clock finally stopped at 39.59 seconds. Their lead seemed secure. For now.

Four teams, five horses, one show-jumper and one four-in-hand driver—that is all it takes to transform the MERKUR CASINO-Cup at the Aachen Soers into a relay race of the highest calibre. First of all, a rider completes a show-jumping course, then the rider dismounts, sprints to the carriage, followed by a high-speed four-in-hand driving course – a spectacle that combines pace, precision and nerves of steel. Ultimately, victory goes to the team with the fastest time and the least penalties. TSCHIO Aachen 2026: “Ladies first” in the MERKUR CASINO-Cup.

The names of 49 pairs were printed on the starting list for the first qualifier for the Rolex Grand Prix, the traditional climax of the TSCHIO Aachen on Sunday – and the line-up could hardly have been more impressive: 28 riders from the top 30 of the current world rankings, complemented by global superstars such as the five-time Major winner, Martin Fuchs (SUI); the World Champion, Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) as well as the previous German winners of the Grand Prix in Aachen Marcus Ehning, Janne-Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann, Gerrit Nieberg and André Thieme. A field of competitors of such depth and quality impressively underlines why the Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen is considered to be the ultimate pinnacle of international show jumping.

The doors of the TSCHIO Aachen 2026 have only just opened and yet attentions are already turned towards the coming World Equestrian Festival: the CHIO Aachen 2027. The probably most famous competitions in the world will be seeking their champions again next year from June 25th  - July 4th. The best horses, the best riders, the best sport in an incomparable atmosphere – this is the promise the CHIO Aachen holds again for 2027.

World-class sport at the Soers and an evening for the history books: TSCHIO Aachen 2026 is already casting a long shadow in advance. During the traditional press conference at the Allianz Park, the show-jumper, Richard Vogel; General Music Director, Christopher Ward; Aachen’s Lord Mayor, Michael Ziemons, and officials from the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV) whet everyone’s appetite for the upcoming weekend – and for a supporting programme that will be enhanced by a spectacular new highlight in 2026.

The latest issue of CHIO Aachen Magazine takes you into the world of international equestrian sports while also looking ahead to the TSCHIO 2026. Enjoy in-depth reports, exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, and interviews available only in this format in CHIO Aachen Magazine.