Madrid Horse Week 2026: New IFEMA Halls, Three World Cups and What Changes for Fans

Madrid Horse Week 2026: what changed on Oct. 14

Madrid Horse Week 2026 keeps its dates, Thursday Nov. 26 to Sunday Nov. 29, but moves from IFEMA halls 12 and 14 to halls 4 and 6. Organizers announced the switch on Oct. 14, 2026, because IFEMA needs space to organize election day for the general election called for Nov. 29. That date is also the show's final day.

The new layout, as reported by Europa Press, Madrid Actual and OcioCaballo:

Organizers say the three FEI World Cup competitions go ahead as planned. They also say the arenas, stands, hospitality and visitor service keep the same standard.

The Salón del Caballo gets smaller

The biggest loss for fans is shopping. Organizers say the Salón del Caballo 2026 trade fair can't run in its usual format this year and can't host every exhibitor. They put the three international competitions, horse welfare, safety and the sport first.

Before the move, the Salón filled all of hall 14. IFEMA's pre-move event page also listed a Pony Park, a kids' zone and a non-stop arena with clinics and demos there. Don't count on all of those this year until the organizers publish the new program. Hall 4 will have what organizers call an "adapted" entertainment and food offer.

Why this show matters: back after a missed year

There was no edition in 2025. According to the Spanish equestrian federation (RFHE), the show was canceled because it couldn't renew its status as an event of exceptional public interest (AEIP).

It returns as Mutua Madrid Horse Week, with insurer Mutua Madrileña as title sponsor. The organizers' figures, given before the move:

• More than 45,000 visitors (the attendance of the last edition)
• Nearly 300 horses
• More than 170 riders from about 20 countries
• About €550,000 in prize money

Alongside the World Cups there is a CSI5* international jumping show and a lower-level CSI1* for amateurs and young riders. The official site also lists two main-arena crowd favorites: the Pony Turf and the Jump & Drive.

The three FEI World Cup legs in Madrid, explained

A World Cup "leg" or "qualifier" is one stop on a season-long tour. Riders and drivers earn points by placing well, and the best in the standings earn a place at the Final. None of the three Madrid events is the Final itself.

Show jumping (Longines FEI Jumping World Cup)

Horse and rider jump a course of colored fences against the clock. Knocking a rail or a refusal adds faults, and the riders tied on the fewest faults come back for a timed jump-off.

Madrid is part of the Western European League. The 2027 Final is in Gothenburg, Sweden. For the wider season, see our Jumping World Cup 2026/27 guide.

Dressage (FEI Dressage World Cup)

Dressage is the precise, ballet-like test of training. In a World Cup leg, riders first ride the Grand Prix, which qualifies them for the Freestyle to Music. Points from the freestyle count toward a place in the Final, which is also in Gothenburg in 2027.

The freestyle is the one to watch if you're new. Every rider picks their own music and choreography. Read how dressage is scored before you go.

Driving (FEI Driving World Cup)

This is the wild card for most fans. A driver steers a carriage pulled by four horses through a tight indoor course of obstacles at speed, with grooms riding on the back to help balance it through the turns.

The indoor series runs at European shows from November to February for a small group of top four-in-hand drivers. In recent seasons each leg has had two competitions over two days, with a drive-off. The season ends with a Final for the top six drivers in Bordeaux, France, which the FEI has also picked for 2027. Madrid hosts driving for the first time since 2015.

Madrid Horse Week tickets and getting in

At the show's presentation on Sept. 28, organizers said tickets would go on sale on Oct. 1 through the official site, madridhorseweek.com. When we checked on Oct. 15, the site's Fever "buy" link still opened the 2024 edition's listing, which says no tickets are available. The other buy button led to a password-protected page. We haven't seen a working 2026 sales page, confirmed prices or a day-by-day schedule, so we won't guess. Check the official site before you plan around a specific World Cup class.

What you can count on:

1. Enter through hall 4. Organizers say all general public access is through hall 4.
2. Walk on to hall 6 for your seat in the stands.
3. Hall 2 is the stables. Treat it as a working area unless the organizers say otherwise.
4. Recheck your ticket. Signs or tickets printed before Oct. 14 may still say halls 12 and 14.

IFEMA's event page, written before the move, said children under 2 got free stand access, children under 14 got free entry to the Salón, and pets were not allowed. Since the Salón is changing, confirm the current rules when you buy.

Tips for families at an indoor horse show

Indoor shows are loud, warm and crowded, and horses are only a few meters away. A little prep makes the day better for kids and horses.

• Clap at the right time. In jumping, cheer after the last fence. In dressage, stay quiet until the rider salutes at the end.
• No flash photos. A sudden flash can startle a horse in the arena.
• Respect horse traffic. Horses walk between the warm-up, stables and arena. Keep kids beside you and never step into a horse lane.
• Watch the warm-up. Hall 4's warm-up arena shows how riders prepare. It's great for kids learning to ride.
• Pack light layers and snacks. Lines at food stands can get long between big classes.
• Plan a break. A full World Cup session is long for small children.

Our safety guide covers being around horses, and show prep explains what riders do before a class.

What to watch next

• The official program: daily times for each World Cup and the Pony Turf.
• The new Salón plan: which exhibitors and family activities fit in hall 4.
• Start lists: FEI entries will show which riders and drivers are coming.
• Spanish horses: if you love the PRE, read our Andalusian (PRE) guide before you go.

For more competition news, see Trends or explore the disciplines.