Highlights of the Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna 2026

Close to 20,000 spectators, 180 riders from 37 nations and 350 horses came to Schönbrunn for four days of international equestrian sport. The free-access GC Village in front of the competition grounds attracted an additional 50,000 visitors. For the first time, two Olympic equestrian disciplines – show jumping and international dressage – were presented together in the Honor Hall – complemented by youth sports, working equitation, the Austrian equestrian tradition of the Spanish Riding School and a versatile program of events.

On the sporting front, the weekend also featured numerous highlights outside of the major competitions of the Global Champions Tour. The Ehrenhof became the setting for a special premiere with the first-ever international dressage competition at 4* level. The Dressurbewerbe powered by Palm Beach Motor Yachts were all about Isabell Werth: The most successful Olympic rider in history decided both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Kür for herself with Viva Gold OLD. Werth also led the way in the dressage: With 86.565 percent, she achieved the double from Schönbrunn.

On Sunday, Sophie Hinners provided the crowning sporting finish. With Iron Dames Combella, the German rider won the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna over 1.60 meters ahead of Peder Fredricson from Sweden and Olivier Philippaerts from Belgium. In a high-class competition in which eight pairs had qualified, Hinners secured the sporting highlight of the tournament weekend with a flawless round in 43.13 seconds.

From an Austrian perspective, there were also numerous reasons to celebrate.

Already on the opening day, the home team showed that it can compete at the top level internationally. In the first CSI5* competition over 1.45 meters powered by Pink & Orange, Christoph Obernauer rode Kleons Jana to third place, Bianca Babanitz to fifth with Dakato, and Julia Kogelnig placed seventh, while the 21-year-old Vienna native Lena Binder placed tenth.

This series continued on Friday as well: In the Grand Prix qualification for the 1.60-meter event, worth 80,000 euros, Bianca Babanitz rode I Will Be Famous to a strong fourth place. Katharina Rhomberg finished eighth, and Christoph Obernauer tenth – thus three Austrian pairs landed in the top ten.

Lena Binder also presented herself impressively throughout the weekend. In addition to her tenth place at the opening event, she placed eighth on Saturday in the CSI5*-jumping over 1.45 meters. In the MEHR LEBEN CSIU25 powered by Finanzfuchsgruppe she also came in second, just ahead of Sally Carina Zwiener in third place.

The final day finally brought several red-white-red highlights: In the CSI2* Grand Prix powered by Stadt Wien, Josefina Goess-Horstmann and Ja Belle Stability celebrated an Austrian double victory; in the MEHR LEBEN CSIU25 Grand Prix powered by Finanzfuchsgruppe over 1.45 meters, the Salzburg rider Tobias Pfingstl secured his next home victory with Idiaal Special H.J.

And in the 5-star competition, Austria remained in the lead until the end. Katharina Rhomberg placed fifth in the 1.45-meter CSI5*-competition and was thus the best Austrian. In the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna she was then one of the eight pairs that completed the 1.60-meter round-off flawlessly. After the fastest time of the entire round-off, she took the challenge with a strong starting position and finished the Grand Prix in seventh place. Max Kühner was 13th as the second best Austrian.

The fact that a tournament weekend is not only about victories and rankings was also evident outside of the major successes.

At the first-ever Children’s Day, organized in cooperation with the City of Vienna, around 400 students were able to get acquainted up close with the world of equestrian sports. At more than 15 stations, the focus was on horses, movement, professions, and the various areas of work related to the animal. Thus, the Ehrenhof was already open on the first day of the tournament specifically for those who might have come into contact with equestrian sports for the first time.

The Spanish Riding School provided a special connection to the Austrian equestrian tradition. Its world-renowned Lipizzan horses opened the tournament and brought centuries-old Austrian equestrian culture to a place where the international top of modern show jumping and dressage would later take place. It was precisely this juxtaposition of tradition and modernity that shaped the character of LGCT Vienna 2026.

Magdalena Fischer also experienced a special moment: The two-time Austrian champion from 2024 and 2025 was awarded the Golden Equestrian Badge in the Honor Hall. With Chappeloup, she was the first woman to successfully defend her title in the General Class. Schönbrunn itself holds a special significance for her: At the 2025 premiere, she competed here with Chappeloup in her first tournament at 5* level.

Even at the first foal auction in the Ehrenhof, the focus was deliberately beyond the current tournament events – towards the next generation. Nine selected warmblood foals from the Westphalian Horse Stud Book and three Austrian warmblood foals were presented and auctioned off in front of the historic backdrop. The highest price of the evening was achieved for the strikingly drawn J-Nimon K by J-Nius V.V. Z from the Kasamona von Kasanova de la Pomme motherline with 75,000 euros. Overall, the auction achieved a turnover of 326,500 euros.

One of the most emotional moments was provided by the smallest participant: the Shetland foal Kaiser Franz Joseph was auctioned for 24,000 euros. All proceeds go to the Lichtblickhof children’s hospice, which supports children with serious and life-shortening illnesses as well as their families with animal-assisted hospice work.

Thus, LGCT Vienna 2026 looks back on four special days that offered much more than just sporting decisions. The most beautiful impressions of the weekend can be seen again in our photo gallery.

And the anticipation for the next edition can already begin.

From September 23 to 26, 2027, the Longines Global Champions Tour Vienna | Schloss Schönbrunn returns to the Equestrian Court. In 2027, what makes LGCT Vienna outstanding will be built upon: world-class equestrian sports in an extraordinary setting, combined with Austrian equestrian culture, youth development and a program that makes equestrian sports accessible to a wide audience.