The major UK horse trials that eventing fans shouldn’t miss in 2026
Plus, why they’re worth the visit
Looking for a horse trials to attend this year? We have the dates of all the major UK horse trials in 2026, so look no further.
I’ve been reporting on major equestrian events in the UK and abroad for more than 20 years, so I’ve drawn on my experience to put together this handy guide to help you navigate the 2026 eventing calendar. At the top levels of eventing, each horse trials offers something a little different – both to riders and spectators – so here’s all the essential info on which horse trials are near you and why you might want to visit them.
Major UK horse trials to visit in 2026
Thoresby Park International Eventing Spring Carnival
Date: 3–5 April
Location: Nottinghamshire
Why it’s important and worth attending: the first international fixture of the year in Britain and a chance to see numerous five-star and championship horses in action. Expect to spot plenty of stars being given a prep run for the major spring three-day events at Badminton Horse Trials and Kentucky Three-Day Event in the CCI4*-S, plus there are lower level international classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S, as well as an under-25 advanced prize, so up-and-coming horses and riders are also on display.
Something you must do while you’re there: The Great Thoresby Easter Egg Hunt. For £35, families can pick up a family bundle ticket for Sunday 5 April including admission for two adults, a car parking ticket and two Easter Egg Hunt tickets for children. The aim is for families to have a great time around the event, see everything that is on offer and let the small people run off the Easter excitement!
More information: thoresby-horse.co.uk
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Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market Horse Trials
Date: 17-19 April
Location: Norfolk
Why it’s important and worth attending: the second major pre-Badminton and Kentucky spring fixture, after Thoresby – some riders will pick one or the other and some will run at both, depending on individual preference. There is a strong range of supporting classes, too.
Something you must do while you’re there: check out the terrier racing, the tradestands and the falconry.
More information: musketeer.co.uk
Mars Badminton Horse Trials
Date: 5-10 May
Location: Gloucestershire
Why it’s important and worth attending: this is the big one! The most important spring horse trials in Britain, at five-star level. It’s an event everyone wants to win and the entry list will be packed with the biggest names in the sport. If you want inspiration at a lower level, check out the Lemieux Grassroots Championships on Tuesday and Wednesday. Feeling inspired? Get your Badminton tickets now.
Something you must do while you’re there: if you’re there early on Saturday, take a wander over the grass between The Lake and Badminton House and see top horses enjoying a relaxing bite of grass with their grooms before all the action starts. And then enjoy the Shetland Pony Grand National in the main arena before cross-country gets going.
More information: badminton-horse.co.uk
Belsay Horse Trials, supported by Barbour
Event date: 15-17 May
Location: Northumberland
Why it’s important and worth attending: this picturesque event in the grounds of Belsay Castle stepped up to four-star level last year, replacing Chatsworth in the calendar, and will again host international classes from CCI* to CCI4*-S, as well as national classes. Expect to see horses en route to Bramham and a few re-routing after a hiccup at Badminton.
Something you must do while you’re there: if you’re bringing children, check out the family fun trail, hobby horse arena, archery and the fun fair. Supporting classes include the popular inter-hunt relay.
More information: belsayhorsetrials.co.uk
Bicton Horse Trials
Event date: 27-31 May
Location: Devon
Why it’s important and worth attending: the showcase CCI4*-S at Bicton Horse Trials includes the only British leg of the FEI Nations Cup in eventing. A team competition always adds an extra frisson to an event – watch the home side battle it out with the overseas challengers. The supporting classes include sections for ponies, juniors and young riders, with the young rider class hosting the national championship at the level.
Something you must do while you’re there: head to the beach. Budleigh Salterton beach is less than 10 minutes drive away, so combine a visit to the horse trials with some bucket and spade time or fish and chips on the sand.
More information: bictonhorse.com
Bramham Horse Trials
Event date: 11-14 June
Location: Yorkshire
Why it’s important and worth attending: the British spring CCI4*-L – that is, the level just below five-star – so this is big testing ground for the horses who might step up to Burghley Horse Trials in the autumn or Badminton next year. The CCI4*-S is likely to be used by various nations as an important trial before the World Championships in Aachen and the under-25 prize in this class is prestigious, too.
Something you must do while you’re there: on Saturday and Sunday, Fantastic Faces will be providing face painting using an eco-friendly glitter bar, henna tattoos and hair braiding. They will also be running a workshop with equine-based activities, to include sand art, craft stations and rosette making.
More information: bramham-horse.co.uk
Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials, sponsored by Project Pony
Event date: 10-12 July
Location: Northamptonshire
Why it’s important and worth attending: will probably provide a final run for a number of World Championship horses, not least because the going is always immaculately prepared here and the fact the showjumping runs on a surface is a good mimic for championship conditions.
Something you must do while you’re there: stand on the mound for a good view of the cross-country course – and see if you can spot performance managers up there keeping an eye on their medal hopefuls.
More information: astonlewalls.net
Burgham Horse Trials
Event date: 30 July-2 August
Location: Northumberland
Why it’s important and worth attending: huge CCI4*-S sections offer the opportunity to see plenty of top horses and riders, while there is a full array of supporting national and international classes. Andy Heffernan takes over as course-designer for the CCI4*-S this year (David Evans continues to design the other tracks) so it’ll be interesting to see his changes.
Something you must do while you’re there: spot the next Ballaghmor Class! Oliver Townend’s recently retired star won here twice and was second three times in the CCI4*-S sections – who can take over his mantle? Plus there are tradestands, retrained racehorse classes, Dubarry young event horse qualifiers and unaffiliated showjumping, as well as the eventing classes.
More information: burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk
NAF Five Star Hartpury Horse Trials
Event date: 13-16 August
Location: Gloucestershire
Why it’s important and worth attending: Hartpury Horse Trials hosts the British Eventing national championships at open, intermediate and novice level, so it’s a great opportunity to see top combinations in the open, while the winners of the intermediate and novice championships are ones to earmark as stars of the future. Because it’s a championship, all the riders will be trying extra hard to win – rather than having a nice quiet schooling round – so the competition is fierce. There’s a novice restricted championship, the Corinthian Cup, and a championship for retrained racehorses, too.
Something you must do while you’re there: mix town and country with a visit to Gloucester, just 15 minutes drive away. Check out the cathedral, built in the 1100s, or the historic docks or do some shopping.
More information: hartpury.ac.uk
Scone Palace Horse Trials
Event date: 26-30 August
Location: Perthshire, Scotland
Why it’s important and worth attending: this will be the second running of Scone in this spot in the eventing calendar, after a successful inaugural event last year after the site took over the date previously held by the popular Blair Castle Horse Trials. Scone provides a beautiful backdrop for Scotland’s premier horse trials, with the added bonus of permanent facilities at the racecourse. There are classes from grassroots level up to four-star, with some stars of the sport expected. Here’s more information about Scone Palace Horse Trials tickets.
Something you must do while you’re there: try out Willowgate’s pop-up adventure zone – a choice of four high-energy, free of charge activities with expert instructors to guide you. There’s axe throwing, archery, laser clay shooting and mini Highland games on offer.
More information: sconehorsetrials.com
Defender Burghley Horse Trials
Event date: 3-6 September
Location: Lincolnshire
Why it’s important and worth attending: Britain has just two five-star horse trials – the pinnacle of the sport – each year and Burghley is the autumn classic. The very best horses and riders in Britain, as well as visitors from overseas, will be battling it out for the title and the cross-country course, designed by renowned US designer Derek di Grazia, is known for being the toughest test in eventing.
Something you must do while you’re there: take a stroll up Winners’ Avenue and look at all the plaques for former victors – it’s a veritable who’s who of eventing and a lovely way to learn about the history of the sport. At the top, you will be sure to gasp at the size of the huge ditch in front of the Cottesmore Leap.
More information: burghley-horse.co.uk
Cornbury House Horse Trials
Event date: 10-13 September
Location: Oxfordshire
Why it’s important and worth attending: Cornbury hosts the national five-, six- and seven-year-old championships, as well as junior and young rider sections, so you can spot future stars both equine and human here. And the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup has a huge £50,000 prize fund, so it should attract some top names who will be going all out to take that winners’ cheque.
Something you must do while you’re there: visit the champagne bar and hospitality marquee at the main water complex, with its stunning views over Cornbury House and the Wychwood Forest.
More information: cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk
Agria Blenheim Horse Trials
Event date: 17-20 September
Location: Oxfordshire
Why it’s important and worth attending: having hosted the European Championships last year, Blenheim Horse Trials returns to its usual schedule for 2026, with the CCI4*-L providing a great stepping stone towards five-star and the country’s hottest young horses in the CCI4*-S.
Something you must do while you’re there: have a look at Blenheim Palace itself, the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill. It’s more than 300 years old, is the only non-royal country house in England to hold the title of palace and in 1987 was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More information: bpiht.co.uk
Childéric Saddles Little Downham Horse Trials
Event date: 7 October
Location: Cambridgeshire
Why it’s important and worth attending: the final British four-star of the season, giving an opportunity for a prep run for horses who are off to Pau Horse Trials for the last European five-star of 2026. There’s an under-25 section in the advanced, so younger riders who’ve had a good year might take this chance to step up before the winter break.
Something you must do while you’re there: this fixture happens on a Wednesday – so don’t forget to call your boss and tell them you’re too sick to come to work…
More information: elyeventing.co.uk
If you want to find more horse trials to visit in 2026, have a look at the full eventing calendar on the British Eventing website.
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.