Season 2026 04.03.2026 – 21.11.2026
Source: https://www.gcglobalchampions.com/en-us/ https://www.instagram.com/gcl_official
The moment you’ve been waiting for ✈️🌎 Introducing the 2026 🧨😮💨 Global Champions League Calendar
17 epic stops & introducing one NEW venue📍Cairo, Egypt 🇪🇬 We’re ready, are you? 😏
History
The Global Champions League (GCL) is the team-based counterpart to the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT).1 While the LGCT focuses on individual glory and has been running since 2006, the GCL was founded in 2016 to introduce a tactical, squad-based dynamic to elite show jumping.2
The league is unique because it allows riders of different nationalities to compete on the same “private” team—a departure from traditional Nations Cup formats where riders only compete for their home country.3
Key Historical Milestones
| Year | Milestone | Significance |
| 2016 | The Launch | The GCL debuted with 12 teams, including the Valkenswaard United and Paris Panthers. |
| 2017 | FEI Integration | After initial friction over exclusivity rules, the FEI officially sanctioned the GCL as an international series. |
| 2018 | Prague Playoffs | The introduction of the GCL Super Cup in Prague, featuring a massive knockout-style format and record prize money. |
| 2023 | Expansion | The league expanded to its highest-ever prize purse, exceeding €36 million across the entire circuit. |
| 2026 | 10th Anniversary | The 2026 season marks a decade of team competition, celebrated alongside the LGCT’s 20th anniversary. |
Evolution of the Format
The GCL was designed to mimic the high-stakes, brand-driven environment of Formula 1. Its evolution has been defined by three core pillars:
- Mixed Squads: Each team consists of six riders.4 Crucially, at least one rider must be Under 25 (U25), a rule designed to bridge the gap between youth talent and the world’s top 30 riders.
- The “No Drop” Score: Unlike many team sports in equestrianism, there is no “drop score” in the GCL.5 Every fault and every second from every rider counts toward the team total, making it one of the most pressured formats in the sport.6
- Tactical Transfers: A mid-season “transfer window” was introduced, allowing team owners to trade riders or recruit new talent to bolster their standings for the second half of the season.7
The GC Playoffs: A Game Changer
Since 2018, the history of the GCL has been defined by the GC Playoffs. Held initially in Prague (and moving to Riyadh for the 2026 season finale), the Playoffs introduced a knockout format:
- Quarter-Finals: Open to teams ranked 5th–16th.
- Semi-Finals: The top 4 regular-season teams join the survivors.
- The Final: The top six teams battle for the GCL Super Cup, the single most lucrative trophy in team show jumping.
Impact on the Sport
The GCL has shifted show jumping from a purely individual pursuit to a professional league model. It has attracted billionaire owners (such as Georgina Bloomberg and the late HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Fahad) and global sponsors, turning historical sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramids of Giza into temporary arenas.
The 2026 Global Champions League (GCL) calendar was officially unveiled on January 18, 2026, marking a milestone year for the circuit.1 This season is particularly significant as it celebrates the 10th anniversary of the GCL (the team-based competition) and the 20th anniversary of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) (the individual championship).2
The 2026 season spans 17 stages across four continents, maintaining its reputation as the richest and most prestigious show jumping circuit in the world.3
2026 Calendar Highlights
The most historic development for 2026 is the expansion into Egypt, with a debut event held against the backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza.4
| Stage | Location | Dates (2026) |
| 1 | Doha, Qatar | March 4 – 7 |
| 2 | Miami Beach, USA | April 3 – 5 |
| 3 | Mexico City, Mexico | April 16 – 19 |
| 4 | Shanghai, China | May 1 – 3 |
| 5 | Madrid, Spain | May 15 – 17 |
| 6 | Cannes, France | June 4 – 6 |
| 7 | St. Tropez (Ramatuelle), France | June 11 – 13 |
| 8 | Paris, France | June 19 – 21 |
| 9 | Monaco, Monte Carlo | July 2 – 4 |
| 10 | Riesenbeck, Germany | July 16 – 19 |
| 11 | London, United Kingdom | August 7 – 9 |
| 12 | Valkenswaard, Netherlands | September 4 – 6 |
| 13 | Vienna, Austria (TBC) | September 24 – 27 |
| 14 | Rome, Italy | October 9 – 11 |
| 15 | Cairo, Egypt (New Debut) | October 22 – 24 |
| 16 | Rabat, Morocco (Season Finals) | Oct 30 – Nov 1 |
| Playoffs | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (GC Playoffs) | November 18 – 21 |
Historical Context & Evolution
The Global Champions series was founded in 2006 by Olympic gold medalist Jan Tops.5 It revolutionized show jumping by introducing high-stakes “Formula 1 style” competition to iconic city centers rather than traditional rural equestrian venues.6
- 2006: The LGCT launched with six events.7
- 2016: The Global Champions League (GCL) was introduced, allowing riders from different nations to compete on the same private teams for the first time in history.8
- 2018: The GC Playoffs were introduced, featuring the GCL Super Cup and the LGCT Super Grand Prix, which offer the highest prize purses in the sport.9
- 2026: The circuit reaches its “Landmark Season,” returning to traditional strongholds like Valkenswaard and London while pushing into new territory at the Pyramids in Cairo.10
Format & Stakes
Each weekend consists of two main showdowns:
- GCL Team Competition: Teams of elite riders (often including a U25 “star of the future”) compete over two rounds for league points.11
- LGCT Grand Prix: The top-performing individuals from the GCL rounds qualify for the Grand Prix, where winners secure a “Golden Ticket” to the Super Grand Prix in Riyadh.
Note: The 2026 season culminates in Riyadh for the GC Playoffs, where the top 16 teams face off in the GCL Super Cup for a multi-million Euro prize fund.12
