For more than a thousand years, Aachen (GER) has been associated with glory. Long before hoofbeats echoed across the Soers, its cathedral witnessed the coronation of more than 30 kings. In less than two weeks, the world’s leading eventing athletes will descend on the German city to continue that legacy, contesting the sport’s 16th team and individual World Championship titles as Aachen prepares to crown its next champions.
With the release of the definite entries for the FEI World Championships 2026, the eventing field is now confirmed, with 88 athletes representing 27 nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden and USA fielding teams, while Canada, China, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Hungary, India, Morocco, Poland, Thailand and Turkey with individual entries. (Canada is represented by Jessica Phoenix and Fluorescent Adolescent.)
Over four days of dressage, cross-country and jumping, the medals will be decided, while the championship will also mark the first step on the road to qualification for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
Home defence
Team Germany begin their campaign on home soil from a position of considerable strength. They are the defending World and European team champions and winners of the 2025 FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series, placing the hosts firmly among the favourites.
Three athletes from Germany’s Pratoni (ITA) 2022 title-winning squad return to defend the crown they claimed four years ago. Michael Jung lines out with the iconic FischerChipmunk FRH, while Julia Krajewski partners Uelzener’s Nickel and Christoph Wahler rides D’Accord FRH. Malin Hansen-Hotopp joins the selection with Carlitos Quidditch K, while Libussa Lübbeke completes the contingent aboard Caramia FRH.
Even in such distinguished company, no athlete in the field can match Jung’s record. The first to win three individual Olympic eventing titles, at London (GBR) 2012, Rio de Janeiro (BRA) 2016 and Paris (FRA) 2024, he also holds the record for the lowest World Championship finishing score, completing on 22.0 with La Biosthetique Sam at Kentucky (USA) in 2010. He will undoubtedly once again be a leading contender for individual gold.
With Jung at the helm of a formidable German charge, the hosts return to a venue where they have already struck gold. When Aachen last hosted the FEI World Championships in 2006, the Germans stood atop the eventing team podium. Twenty years on, can they do it again?
British challenge
As the most decorated nation in the championship’s 60-year history, Great Britain boast an enviable record. Five team titles and six individual gold medals place them firmly at the top of the roll of honour.
Like Germany, Great Britain return with three combinations who know what it takes to deliver gold on the grandest stage. Rosalind Canter and Lordships Graffalo, Laura Collett and London 52, and Tom McEwen and JL Dublin reunite two years after carrying their nation to Olympic glory in Paris. Caroline Harris aboard D. Day and Gemma Stevens on Flash Cooley lend further depth to the British side.
Since Paris, Collett and London 52 have added the individual European title to their trove of accolades, edging Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH at Blenheim Palace (GBR) last September.
Canter and Lordships Graffalo arrive following a historic third victory at Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), becoming the first horse-and-Athlete combination to win the prestigious CCI5*-L three times. Canter also knows what it takes to claim the individual World Championship title, having triumphed at Tryon (USA) in 2018. Defending individual World Champion Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie du Loir are listed among the reserves, meaning Aachen is set to see a new champion take the throne.
Southern strength
Australia and New Zealand have long ranked among eventing’s leading nations, and both arrive in Aachen ready to reinforce that reputation.
New Zealand recall all four athletes from the team that secured bronze at Pratoni in 2022. The returning line-up includes world number one in the latest FEI World Eventing Rankings, Tim Price (Falco), Jonelle Price (Senor Crocodillo), Monica Spencer (Artist) and Clarke Johnstone (Rocket Man). Four years after reaching the podium together, the quartet head to Aachen intent on climbing two steps higher, joined in that pursuit by Samantha Lissington (Lucas Stone).
The Kiwis have already proved their strength at Aachen in recent years topping the team competition at CHIO Aachen in 2025, with Tim Price also taking individual honours, giving the squad a valuable insight to the challenge that awaits in August.
Across the Tasman, Australia bring a line-up spanning nearly half a century of eventing history. Eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy, who made his World Championship debut in 1978, has been selected for his ninth Worlds with long-time partner Vassily de Lassos.
The pair won team silver and individual bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while Hoy also helped Australia secure team bronze when the FEI World Championships were last staged in Aachen in 2006.
He is joined by four combinations preparing for their first senior championship: Oliver Barrett (Sandhills Briar), Olivia Barton (APH Sodoku), Sophia Hill (Humble Glory) and Samuel Woods (SS Eight Count). Together, they form an Australian selection that unites one of eventing’s most accomplished Athletes with a new generation ready to make its mark.
Challengers
Reigning World team silver medallists the United States return with two members of their Pratoni podium team. Kentucky CCI5*-L winners Will Coleman and Diabolo are joined by current world number three in the FEI World Eventing Rankings, Boyd Martin, and Cooley Nutcracker, while Phillip Dutton (Denim), Caroline Pamukcu (HSH Blake) and Tamie Smith (Lillet 3) complete a line-up capable of mounting a serious challenge for gold.
As host nation for Los Angeles 2028, the United States are already assured of Olympic qualification, leaving them free to focus solely on the World Champonship title.
France bring steady momentum with them to Aachen, having claimed Olympic team silver on home soil at Paris 2024, European team bronze in 2025 and victory at the Strzegom leg of this year’s FEI Eventing Nations Cup™. Alexis Goury (Je’Vall), Gaspard Maksud (Zaragoza), Benjamin Massié (Figaro Fonroy), Astier Nicolas (Alertamalib’Or) and Nicolas Touzaint (Diabolo Menthe) form the tricolour line-up.
With seven team qualification places for the LA 2028 Olympic Games also on offer, the stakes in Aachen will be high.
Dressage will open the eventing competition on Thursday and Friday August 13 and 14 before cross-country takes centre stage and thrills the crowds on Saturday 15 August. Combinations will then return to the historic Main Stadium in reverse order on Sunday 16 August, when the final jumping test will crown the team and individual World Champions and determine which nations secure their tickets to Los Angeles.
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