In November, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) will allocate the World Championships 2026. In cooperation with the German Equestrian Federation (FN), the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV) has applied to stage the disciplines Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Driving, Vaulting and Para-Dressage.

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.

The Power of Attraction

Aachen has a power of attraction – for athletes and spectators alike. The Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV) has been living and promoting the equestrian sport for more than 100 years. And so, the CHIO Aachen, the World Equestrian Festival, has long since become Germany’s largest sporting event and is considered to be the most famous equestrian show in the world. Over the course of the decades, the successful staging of several championships has earned the ALRV the status of being the world’s leading organiser of equestrian sport events. The FEI World Equestrian Games 2006 not only proved the competence of the Aachen Soers at hosting events, so did the European Championships in 2015 and the Youth Equestrian Games in 2022.

A success story, to which a new, exceptional chapter is to be added with the application to host the FEI World Championships 2026 in the disciplines Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Vaulting and Para-Dressage. Thanks to the experience and precision of the organisation team, the sports facilities and the infrastructure as well as the support of the Federal Republic of Germany, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the German Equestrian Federation (FN), Aachen offers the perfect stage to execute all six disciplines at one central location and to enable a significant contribution being made towards the support and promotion of the equestrian sport worldwide.

With regards to it possibly staging the FEI World Championships 2026, the ALRV looks back on a constructive exchange with both the FEI and the FN. The persons involved now look forward to the forthcoming discussions, which aim to find out how the ideal framework conditions for the FEI World Championships in six disciplines can be ensured. Here, the focus on the one hand always lies on providing the equestrian sport with the best possible platform for an international championships and on the other hand on the sustainable further development of the CHIO Aachen as the largest equestrian sport event in the world.

The FEI’s decision on the allocation of the World Championships will fall in November 2023.