Horse of the Year Show 2026 Preview: Dates, Tickets, Riders and Classes to Watch
The Horse of the Year Show 2026 gets underway at the NEC Birmingham this week, bringing five days of championship showing, national and international showjumping, dressage and equestrian entertainment to one of the most famous stages in British equestrian sport.
Better known as HOYS, the show takes place from Wednesday 7 October to Sunday 11 October 2026, with thousands of spectators, riders and horses expected in Birmingham. Competition takes place across the Andrews Bowen International Arena and TopSpec Arena throughout the week, and there’s an extensive retail village to enjoy!
For many competitors, simply qualifying for HOYS is the culmination of an entire season. For spectators, it is an annual tradition and the chance to see some of the country’s best horses, ponies and riders compete under one roof.
Here is our Horse of the Year Show 2026 preview, covering the dates, venue, tickets, major showing championships, national and international showjumping and some of the biggest classes to watch.
Did you know? HOYS has been held at the NEC since 2002 and brings together around 1,600 horses and ponies and 1,500 competitors during the five-day event.
Why is Horse of the Year Show so important?
Aside from the atmosphere the event recreates every year, there is an undeniable magic about HOYS that draws people back year after year. For competitors, simply qualifying can represent months of preparation, travelling and chasing that all-important ticket, making the moment they finally enter the arena under the lights incredibly special.
The first Horse of the Year Show was held in 1949, created to bring the equestrian season to a close with a ‘champion of champions’ competition. More than seven decades later, that sense of occasion remains. From grassroots competitors achieving a lifelong ambition to international riders competing for prestigious titles, HOYS brings different generations and disciplines together for a celebration of equestrian sport unlike any other.
Showjumping at HOYS 2026
Showjumping forms a major part of the Horse of the Year Show programme, and it is important to distinguish between the national championship competitors and the separate international field arriving later in the week.
National showjumping classes and finals take place throughout HOYS, bringing together riders and horses who have qualified through the British Showjumping competition structure.
These coveted HOYS finals sit alongside pony championships and classes for developing horses and riders, giving competitors at different stages of the sport the opportunity to compete in the famous arena.
Among the national showjumping highlights are championships associated with some of the best-known names in British showjumping, including Foxhunter, Newcomers and Talent Seekers, alongside pony finals and other national championship classes.
For these competitors, reaching HOYS can be the result of an entire season spent working towards qualification.
International showjumping at HOYS 2026
The international showjumping programme begins on Friday 9 October and continues through to Sunday evening.
A field of 35 international riders has been announced for these classes.
That number refers specifically to the announced international field and not to the total number of showjumping competitors appearing across HOYS.
The 2026 international line-up includes an extraordinary six members of the Whitaker family. John Whitaker, Robert Whitaker, William Whitaker, Jack Whitaker, Joe Whitaker and George Whitaker are all confirmed.
They will be joined by riders including Shane Breen, Trevor Breen, Holly Smith, Joseph Stockdale, Guy Williams, Harriet Biddick, Jodie Hall McAteer, Emily Ward, Oliver Fletcher, Julien Anquetin, Joe Trunkfield and Chris Smith.
The international riders have a busy three days ahead, with speed classes, accumulator competition, the Puissance, Six Bar and the prestigious Leading Showjumper of the Year among the highlights.
Friday 9 October
International competition opens with the Welcome Stakes at 11.40am, followed by The evoke Stakes at 2.15pm.
Friday night’s headline international class is the Dallamires Stables Cup, scheduled for 9pm.
Saturday 10 October
Saturday’s international programme includes the Rees Family Cup at 2.20pm and Rees Family Accumulator at 5.25pm.
The evening then brings one of the most eagerly anticipated competitions of the entire show.
HOYS Puissance returns on Saturday night
Few classes at Horse of the Year Show create quite the anticipation of the Puissance. Scheduled for approximately 9.10pm on Saturday 10 October, the famous competition is one of the most renowned and eagerly awaited moments of HOYS, with the atmosphere building as the wall rises higher with each round.
Power, bravery and complete trust between horse and rider are put to the test as combinations attempt to clear the imposing red wall. Starting lower and increasing through successive rounds, the wall can eventually reach well over two metres in height. As the field narrows and the wall climbs, the arena can fall almost silent on the approach before erupting when another combination clears it.
One rider likely to attract plenty of attention this year is Rachel Proudley, who is among the additional riders eligible to take on the Puissance and Sunday’s Six Bar, alongside Ryan Page, Morgan Shirley, Andrew Hodgins and Hayley Webster. Proudley is certainly one to watch as Saturday night’s action unfolds and the famous HOYS wall begins to climb.
Sunday: Speed, Six Bar and Leading Showjumper
Sunday brings the international showjumping programme to its conclusion.
The Speed Horse of the Year gets underway at approximately 12.10pm, where pace, accuracy and tight turns become the name of the game as riders race against the clock in pursuit of the fastest clear.
It is followed by the Thistledown Investment Six Bar at 2.55pm, another spectacular test of power and scope. Riders tackle a line of six fences set in a row, with the obstacles raised as the rounds progress and combinations are eliminated for faults. Much like the Puissance, the challenge becomes increasingly impressive as the fences climb, making the Six Bar another of Sunday’s showjumping highlights.
Then, on Sunday evening, attention turns to one of the most coveted titles of the show. The Leading Showjumper of the Year, which is scheduled for approximately 7.25pm.
Dressage Future Elite Championship
Dressage also gets its moment under the HOYS lights, with the Dressage Future Elite Championship taking place at approximately 5.55pm on Thursday 8 October in the Andrews Bowen International Arena.
Eight horse-and-rider combinations have been selected for the 2026 championship, which showcases emerging British dressage talent.
The line-up includes Alexander Harrison-West and Ventura, Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, and Demi Howard-Cartwright with Newton Astro Nascente, among the combinations heading to Birmingham.
Showing at Horse of the Year Show 2026
Showing remains at the heart of HOYS, with championships covering hacks, cobs, riding horses, show hunters, working hunters, Mountain and Moorland ponies, coloured horses and ponies, veterans, ridden heavy horses, Arabs, miniature horses and children’s riding ponies.
Wednesday includes the Ladies Side Saddle Horse of the Year, SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse of the Year and Working Hunter of the Year, alongside an extensive Mountain and Moorland programme.
Thursday features the hack championships, Ridden Heavy Horse of the Year, Mountain and Moorland working hunters and the Shire Horse of the Year Championship.
Friday sees show hunters, working hunter ponies, coloured horses and ponies and the Maxi Cob of the Year take centre stage.
Saturday includes Lightweight and Heavyweight Cob classes, Children’s Riding Ponies and one of the week’s major showing finals — the Price Family Supreme In-Hand of the Year Championship.
New format for the Supreme In-Hand Championship
There is a significant change to the Supreme In-Hand Championship for HOYS 2026.
This year’s competition features 20 qualified animals, with preliminary judging taking place in the TopSpec Arena.
All qualified exhibits will then progress to the Andrews Bowen International Arena for the final judging and presentation, giving every qualifier the opportunity to appear in the main arena.
The Price Family Supreme In-Hand of the Year Championship is scheduled for approximately 7.05pm on Saturday evening.
Supreme Horse and Supreme Pony Championships
Two of the biggest showing titles of the week will be decided on Sunday evening.
The Supreme Products Supreme Horse of the Year Championship is scheduled for approximately 6.25pm, followed by the Supreme Products Supreme Pony of the Year Championship at 6.40pm.
Olympic and European eventing champion Laura Collett MBE joins respected judge and breeder Edwin Prosser to judge the championships.
It will be a notable return to HOYS for Collett, who won the Supreme Pony title herself in 2003.
What else is on at HOYS 2026?
Competition is only part of the HOYS experience.
The LeMieux Pony Club Mounted Games return throughout the week, culminating in the Prince Philip Cup Final on Sunday evening.
The Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry also features during the show, with its championship decided on Saturday.
International horseman Santí Serracamps brings his SIN LIMITES display to the Andrews Bowen International Arena across the five days.
New for 2026 is the Agility Nexus Hunter & Gather Dog Agility Grand Prix, while Friday’s programme also includes a Pony Club Musical Ride.
Away from the arenas, the HOYS Retail Village brings together equestrian brands, clothing, horse equipment, gifts and lifestyle products, making shopping a major part of the experience for many visitors.
How do HOYS 2026 tickets work?
It is worth checking which ticket you are buying because the ticket structure differs between weekdays and weekends.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Weekday arena tickets are sold as Gold Tickets.
A Gold Ticket gives visitors access to both the daytime and evening performances in the Andrews Bowen International Arena, as well as the TopSpec Arena and Retail Village.
Shopping-only tickets are also available on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Saturday and Sunday
Weekend arena tickets are divided into daytime and evening performances.
A Saturday or Sunday daytime ticket includes the daytime performance in the Andrews Bowen International Arena together with all-day access to the TopSpec Arena and Retail Village.
An evening ticket allows visitors to access the Retail Village during the day, with Andrews Bowen International Arena access for the evening performance.
A Super Sunday Ticket combines both Sunday arena performances.
Hospitality, Champions Bar, Staycation and Season Ticket options are also available.
General ticket prices for HOYS 2026 started from £42, although current prices and availability depend on the performance selected.
Which is the best day to visit HOYS 2026?
There is something different happening each day, so the best day depends on what you want to watch.
Wednesday has a strong showing and national competition programme, including Working Hunter of the Year and Racehorse to Riding Horse.
Thursday includes the Dressage Future Elite Championship alongside hack, heavy horse and Mountain and Moorland competition.
Friday sees the international showjumping begin alongside major show hunter and coloured championships.
Saturday is one of the biggest crowd-pleasers, combining international showjumping, the Supreme In-Hand Championship, scurry driving and the famous Puissance.
Sunday delivers the final major championships, including Speed Horse of the Year, the Six Bar, Supreme Horse and Pony Championships and the Leading Showjumper of the Year.
Horse of the Year Show 2026: dates and key information
Dates: Wednesday 7 – Sunday 11 October 2026
Venue: NEC Birmingham
Postcode: B40 1NT
Main arenas: Andrews Bowen International Arena and TopSpec Arena
International showjumping: Friday 9 – Sunday 11 October
Puissance: Saturday 10 October, approximately 9.10pm
Supreme Horse and Pony Championships: Sunday 11 October
Leading Showjumper of the Year: Sunday 11 October, approximately 7.25pm
Five days of HOYS action ahead
From riders making their first appearance in a national final to established international names competing under the lights, HOYS brings many different areas of equestrian sport together under one roof.
For competitors, reaching Birmingham can represent the reward for months of qualifying and preparation. For spectators, it offers five days in which showing, showjumping, dressage and entertainment sit side-by-side.
Now, with the qualifiers decided and the preparations almost complete, attention turns to the NEC as the first horses enter the arena for Horse of the Year Show 2026.
Feature image: First Receiver fulfilled a dream of the late Queen in taking the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) on the 5th October 2022. Image credit 1st Class Images