Longines League of Nations: everything you need to know
The Longines League of Nations (LLN) is the modern evolution of international Nations Cup showjumping, bringing together the world’s top teams in a streamlined, global series.
While nation-versus-nation competition in equestrian sport dates back to 1909, the Longines League of Nations introduces a unified format designed to deliver consistent, high-quality team competition across a season, culminating in a single Final.
What is the Longines League of Nations?
- A top-level international team showjumping series
- Contested by the 10 highest-ranked nations
- Run across four qualifying competitions
- The top eight teams progress to the Final
- One overall champion is crowned at the Final
How the competition works
Each Longines League of Nations competition is run over:
- Two rounds
- Identical courses
- Table A against the clock
Team penalties from both rounds are combined to determine the final placings at each qualifier and at the Final.
Starting order explained
- At the first competition of the season, Round One runs in the reverse order of the qualification rankings
- From the 2025 season onwards, the previous season’s LLN Final winner (if eligible) starts last
- At subsequent qualifiers, Round One is run in reverse order of the current LLN standings following the previous event
This structure rewards consistency while increasing pressure on the strongest-performing teams.
How teams qualify
- The winner of the previous season’s LLN Final is automatically qualified for the following season
- The remaining nine places are allocated to the highest-ranked nations in the Longines League of Nations Ranking, excluding the automatic qualifier
Qualified nations for 2026
The 2026 Longines League of Nations™ will feature the following teams:
- Germany
- Ireland
- USA
- France
- Great Britain
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
- Brazil
- Belgium
- Italy
Great Britain in the Longines League of Nations
Great Britain enters the 2026 Longines League of Nations as one of the sport’s most established team nations, with a strong track record in championship and Nations Cup competition. British squads are selected on a competition-by-competition basis, allowing flexibility across venues and conditions, with the aim of securing consistent results across the four qualifiers to earn a place in the Final.
2026 Longines League of Nations™ calendar
The 2026 season will take place at the following venues:
- Abu Dhabi (UAE) – 13 February 2026
- Ocala, Florida (USA) – 17–22 March 2026
- Rotterdam (Netherlands) – 18–21 June 2026
- Gassin–St Tropez (France) – 16–20 September 2026
- Barcelona (Spain) – 1–4 October 2026 (Final)
What teams are competing for
- Qualification points across the four League of Nations qualifiers
- One of eight places at the Final
- The Longines League of Nations Trophy, awarded in Barcelona
Longines League of Nations: FAQs
Ten nations compete across the season.
There are four qualifying competitions before the Final.
The top eight teams from the qualifiers progress to the Final.
The champion is decided at a single Final, run over two rounds.
The Final takes place in Barcelona, Spain.