FEI World Championships 2026 in Aachen

Birgit Rosenberg, Board Member of CHIO Aachen, provided an overview of the logistical planning for the FEI World Championships in Aachen, which will take place from 11 to 23 August 2026.

The presentation covered a wide range of topics, including the general schedule, competition and training arenas, the side programme, stable areas, ticketing, logistics at and around the showground, and details on the Test Event in 2026.

The competitions for the six disciplines, will all be held at a single, central location. The primary Para Dressage competition arena will be the Deutsche Bank Stadium, featuring a 50m x 80m sand arena with seating capacity for 6,300 spectators. The temporarily roofed stadium will allow for competitions to proceed regardless of the weather.  In addition, there will be three outdoor sand warm-up arenas and one indoor at the Albert-Vahle-Arena.

A vibrant side programme will take place in Aachen’s City Market Square, with daily activities, and opportunities for fans and athletes to interact, including meet-and-greets with medal winners. The event will also feature the Championship Village, with 200 white pagoda tents housing approximately 185 exhibitors offering a variety of products from fashion to equestrian equipment, jewellery, and more.

The stable areas will include around 400 permanent stables equipped with modern facilities, alongside washroom and shower facilities for athletes and grooms, wash spaces, grazing areas for horses, and physical therapy services for athletes. A dedicated lounge for grooms will also be available, and support for unloading and loading horses.

Aachen is well-served by transport connections, with multiple airports within reach, including Maastricht/Aachen, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Brussels, Liège, and Eindhoven. The city also has excellent train links, with travel times of less than three hours to Paris and Frankfurt and under 1.5 hours to Düsseldorf and Cologne.

Accommodation options in Aachen include 5,707 hotel beds across 63 establishments, ensuring ample lodging for guests and visitors. Forum participants were encouraged to book their accommodation through the official hotel provider, responsible for managing room allocations, including those for wheelchair users and individuals with disabilities.

A temporary Grooms Village will be constructed next to the stables for convenience, with additional options such as nearby budget hotels and designated truck parking for those staying in their vehicles. Accessible seating platforms and lifts are available in the stadiums, and special tickets for these areas need to be booked in advance due to limited capacity.

Further communication and logistical guides will be shared with National Federations in the coming months, and the Organising Committee is eager to gather feedback from grooms and federations to ensure all needs are met. Rosenberg also expressed the Aachen Organising Committee’s strong commitment to supporting Para sport and delivering an inclusive and well-organised event.

Tickets for the Championships have been available since November 2023 and can be purchased at www.tickets.aachen2026.com. Professional security will be in place around the clock to ensure the safety of all participants throughout the event.

Presenter
♦ Birgit Rosenberg and Nina Strang - Organising Committee CH-M-PED 2026 Aachen