HOYS 2026 Showing Qualifiers Dates

The dates for Horse of the Year Show 2026 showing qualifiers have now been confirmed, with an extensive programme running from April through to September 2026. 

With over 1000 qualifiers across 31 Showing Championships, including the newly announced Veteran Horse Society Veteran of the Year Championship qualifiers, there has never been a better time to start planning your journey to HOYS and your opportunity to ride under the spotlight in the renowned Arena of Dreams. 

Qualifiers will be staged at venues throughout England, Wales and Scotland, with one fixture each in Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

The qualifier calendar offers something for everyone, ranging from prestigious county shows such as the The Royal Cheshire County Show, Royal Welsh Show and Devon County Show, through to Stoneleigh Horse Show, and shows held by the showing societies, providing opportunities for both established producers and emerging combinations to contest HOYS qualification throughout the season. 

These qualifiers will determine eligibility to compete at Horse of the Year Show 2026, the ‘world’s most famous horse show’. All classes will be run in accordance with the HOYS Showing Rule Book. 

TSR Amateur exhibitors also have the opportunity to qualify for a TSR Wildcard. To be eligible, competitors must be registered for the TSR Amateur Points League by 1st May 2026. The top‐scoring horse/pony in each section will receive a HOYS Wildcard, provided they have accumulated a minimum of 10 points. To earn points, the owner, rider and horse must all be registered with TSR. Full details can be found here. 

Tickets for Horse of the Year Show 2026 will go on sale in the spring for what will undoubtedly be another exceptional event, combining an exciting mix of equestrian sport and entertainment, from showing and showjumping to breath-taking displays and nail-biting finishes. 

Full Qualifier list: Showing Qualifiers – Horse of the Year Show  

Showjumping Qualifiers: https://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/shows_summer_venues.cfm 

ENDS 

For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2026, please contact: 
Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. 
Tel: 02476 858205 
Email: press@hoys.co.uk 

Image: Julian Portch