For the next two weeks, the greatest equestrians across the world will face off against one another in the FEI World Championships, held this year in Aachen, Germany, to earn the highest honor in their discipline. Here, we bring the stunning atmosphere of Aachen to you with the help of USDF Connection editor Jennifer Bryant!
WHO
Over 800 horse and rider pairs from 62 countries (including four United States Dressage Team members and four United States Para Dressage Team members) will gather to compete across six international disciplines: jumping, dressage, eventing, para dressage, driving, and vaulting.
WHAT
Of the six disciplines, dressage is one of the oldest, and has been a staple of the event since the first FEI World Championships (then called the FEI World Equestrian Games) in 1990, Stockholm, Sweden.
The 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships will commence with the Lambertz-Prize Grand Prix Team Final & Individual Qualifier, featuring 91 horse and rider pairs from 34 different countries in a battle for national honors. The 30 highest-scoring pairs in the Grand Prix Team Final will advance to the MEGGLE-Prize Grand Prix Spécial Individual Final, a technical battle for solo titles, where the resulting top 18 pairs will be invited back yet again for a shot at taking home the final prestigious trophy in the Lindt-Prize Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Final.
The FEI Para Dressage World Championships hosts competitions for riders of all five para dressage Grades. Over the first two days of the competition, riders from each Grade will compete in the Prize of StädteRegion Grand Prix A Individual Final, which also acts as the first qualifier for the Grand Prix Freestyle Individual. Next, horses and riders will return for the Allianz-Prize Grand Prix B Team Final to compete for their nation, and the top eight best riders per Grade from the Para Grand Prix Test A and B will be invited to dance in the Allianz-Prize Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Final.
WHEN
The FEI World Championships are held every four years, with Aachen 2026 being scheduled for August 11-23; week one (August 11-16) will feature dressage, eventing, and vaulting competitions; week two (August 17-23) will close out with driving, jumping, and para dressage.
WHERE
Allianz Park, Aachen, Germany
Latest Coverage
PARA DRESSAGE
A Golden Encore: USA Para-Dressage Team Dazzles in Aachen
Three freestyle gold medals for the US contingent cap off exciting week of para-dressage competition at Aachen 2026
Team Gold for USA!
Two years ago, the US para-dressage team won a historic first gold at the Paris Paralympics. Today Team USA repeated the feat at Aachen 2026.
More Top Scores Have Team USA in Para-Dressage Medal Contention at Aachen 2026
Winning rides by Team USA’s Marie Vonderheyden & Fiona Howard have put the US in team medal contention at the FEI Para-Dressage World Championships Aachen 2026.
Shoemaker and Vianne are USA’s Golden Girls
By Kim MacMillan: Their Grade IV gold-medal-winning score sets new world record. “The entire test felt harmonious, and that was the one thing I wanted.”
First Day of Aachen 2026 Para-Dressage Is Golden for US Athlete
By Kim MacMillan: Team rookie Marie Vonderheyden wins Grade I individual gold
2026 FEI Para-Dressage World Championships Aachen Get Under Way
All four US horses were accepted for competition by the FEI Para-Dressage Ground Jury here in Aachen during the first horse inspection on August 18.
DRESSAGE
Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale Fly to the Top of the Podium at Aachen 2026
The 2022 British World Champions defended their title in Germany with Grand Prix Freestyle win
Fry and Glamourdale Defend World Championship Title at Aachen 2026
After earning team silver for Great Britain, defending World Champions Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale decisively reclaimed their title in Aachen.
Extreme Heat Forces Schedule Changes to Tomorrow’s Grand Prix Special at Aachen 2026
FEI Dressage World Championships competition will start earlier; have midday break
Germany Dominates to Win Dressage Team Gold at Aachen 2026
Story and photos by Diana De Rosa: Team USA finishes 8th, focuses on developing tomorrow’s superstars
Germany Leads After Dressage Grand Prix Day 1 at Aachen 2026; Team USA Sits in 8th Place
Day 1 results set up a potential showdown for gold between Germany and Great Britain.
Green Light for All at First Dressage Horse Inspection at Aachen 2026
The FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen 2026 will kick off on August 11 with the first day of Grand Prix competition.
[…] (aka “the jog”) at the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Dressage World Championships Aachen 2026 this morning were accepted into the competition, meaning that the FEI veterinary delegates […]
[…] victory on home soil over silver medalists Great Britain at the FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen 2026. The defending world champions, Denmark, had to settle for […]