Horse of the Year Show 2026: Dates, Schedule, Tickets and What to Watch

Horse of the Year Show 2026: what it is and when

Horse of the Year Show 2026 (HOYS) runs from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 October at the NEC Campus in Birmingham, England. It is Britain's big indoor autumn horse show, mixing international showjumping, championship showing classes, Pony Club games and family entertainment, and 2026 is its 25th year at the NEC.

Nothing has been ridden yet, so this guide covers what to look for rather than results. Timings can change, so confirm on hoys.co.uk before you travel.

The showjumping stars to watch

Organisers list 35 international showjumpers for the week. The names include multiple generations of the Whitaker family and brothers Shane and Trevor Breen.

The jumping builds towards the Leading Showjumper of the Year on Sunday evening, the climax of the week. If you follow the global circuit, our guides to the Longines Global Champions Tour and Major League Show Jumping show where these riders usually compete, and the Longines League of Nations final shows the team side.

Puissance and Six Bar explained

Both classes are about raw jumping power rather than speed, and both are crowd favourites.

• Puissance (Saturday evening, the Ripon Select Foods Puissance): a small number of huge fences, then a wall that is raised each round. Riders who jump clear go through to the next, higher round. It is a test of scope and courage, and the wall is the star.
• Six Bar (Sunday daytime): six upright fences in a straight line, raised round by round. Horses that keep clearing all six stay in.

What to watch: the horse's technique over the wall, the rider's calm in the approach, and the crowd's reaction as the heights rise. Both formats end when riders run out of clear rounds, so the finish can come suddenly.

The showing classes: what each one means

Showing is judged on conformation (how the horse is built), movement, manners and presence, not on speed. The judge compares horses in the ring, then rides some of them and asks for a short individual show.

• Supreme In-Hand (Saturday): horses and ponies shown on the ground, not ridden. Breeds and types compete for the top title. New for 2026: all 20 qualified animals are pre-judged in the TopSpec Arena and then go forward together to final judging in the Andrews Bowen International Arena, instead of only the first and second from each height section.
• Supreme Horse of the Year and Supreme Pony of the Year (Sunday): the top ridden showing prizes, where champions from different classes meet.
• Ridden Veteran Horse of the Year (Wednesday, new): a Veteran Horse Society championship celebrating older horses and their experience.
• Working Show Horse/Pony, Mountain & Moorland, Coloured, Cob, Heavy Horse classes fill the other days, so a ticket on any day shows a different slice of British horse culture.

If you are curious how breeds differ, our breeds guide is a good companion.

Pony Club Mounted Games and family fun

The LeMieux Pony Club Mounted Games are fast, noisy team relays on ponies, with riders racing to pass objects and complete tasks. The Prince Philip Cup final finishes on Sunday evening.

New for 2026 is a dog agility grand prix on Wednesday and Thursday. If this is your child's first show, read First Horse Show for Kids and our kids section.

Tickets and prices

Tickets start from £42, according to the official on-sale announcement. Prices vary by day and performance, so check the live ticket page for today's prices and availability.

Hospitality, hotel staycation and season tickets are also sold. The box office number is 0344 581 8282, and tickets are sold through the official site, hoys.co.uk.

Tips for your first visit

• Pick your day by interest: Saturday night for the Puissance, Sunday for the finals.
• Sunday is set to finish earlier than in past years, at 9:30pm, so plan your trip home.
• Wear comfortable shoes; the retail village is large.
• Arrive early on busy days and check parking and travel before you go.
• Bring ear protection for young children if crowds or applause worry them.

What to do next

1. Check the official ticket page and timetable.
2. Choose a day and book.
3. Watch the opening classes and learn what the judges reward.
4. Come back to our trends page for follow-ups.

If you want to try showing yourself, start with show prep and the glossary.