Seven days in Essen: the sporting highlights of EQUITANA 2027
From 18 to 24 March 2027, the horse world comes together at the Messe Essen exhibition centre. The 2027 programme sets new sporting accents: new cup concepts around driving, horsemanship and show jumping, theme days for every riding style, and the HOP TOP Show “Anything for Love”. An overview of the sporting highlights.
Since 1972, EQUITANA has brought together people, brands and ideas from sport, breeding, training and leisure riding in Essen. In 2027 the world’s leading trade fair for equestrian sport runs for seven days, and each one has a focus of its own.
“EQUITANA 2027 stands for a new beginning: it brings people together, creates new networks and gives forward-looking ideas from the industry a stage,” says Sarah Lepsky, Event Director of EQUITANA. “We want to involve the community more closely, encourage exchange and develop new perspectives for equestrian sport together.”
The opening
Proceedings begin on Thursday 18 March with the opening ceremony in the show hall, where masters of their respective disciplines meet and present their riding styles side by side. Thursday itself is Western Day, devoted to western riding and horsemanship, with the EWU Ranch Riding Cup among the highlights.
Friday: Working Equitation and the new Harmony Cup
Friday belongs to Working Equitation. Alongside a day programme built around the working riding styles, the Working Equitation Cup, presented by Josera and Signum Sattelservice, takes place.
Friday also sees the premiere of the Harmony Cup. It combines the values of modern horsemanship – fine, almost invisible communication between horse and rider, and body language – with a freely designed artistic element set to music of the competitor’s choice. Each pair decides for themselves whether to compete from the ground or under saddle. The focus is on the subtlety and quality of the communication, presented as an individual freestyle with compulsory and additional movements, in which every pair shows its own signature.
Saturday and Sunday: Fascinating Horse
At the weekend, the horse as a partner takes centre stage, with a programme for families, newcomers and riding clubs. On Saturday, the sporting line-up includes vaulting, a masterclass for young riders and the Uelzener Show Cup: the chance for show newcomers to present themselves to a large audience, whether in liberty dressage, quadrille or circus acts, ridden or driven. A third of the score comes from the audience.
Sunday brings two sporting highlights: the young riders’ jumping competition of the regional federations at medium level, and the Driving Cup, presented by Olimond BB, which puts the world elite and talented newcomers side by side – speed, precision and team spirit included.
Monday: the legendary USG Indoor Cup
Monday is trade visitor day and in sporting terms the day for everyone who loves eventing. The USG Indoor Cup brings well-known stars of the international eventing scene into the show hall. The evening continues with the Breeders’ Evening and a networking evening for trade visitors and exhibitors.
Tuesday: shopping, sport and the Horse Health Night
Tuesday combines shopping and lifestyle with education around the sport, aimed at amateurs and ambitious riders. On the sporting side, the masterclass with Julia Krajewski, presented by Uelzener, is on the programme. In the evening, the EQUITANA Horse Health Night presented by Haygain and Hestevard celebrates its premiere. The new edutainment format focuses on respiratory and gastric conditions: typical symptoms, how to recognise them, and what can be done both preventively and after a diagnosis. Among the experts taking part are Conny Röhm and Kathrin Obst. Afterwards, visitors have the opportunity to put their own questions to them at the expert meet-up.
Wednesday: gaited horses and the Eyja Viking Masters final
The fair closes with Gaited Horse Day, featuring education, special promotions and the big Icelandic horse cup. The highlight is the final of the Eyja Viking Masters, presented by Agria Versicherung: the best-known winter series in the Icelandic horse scene crowns its 2027 champions at EQUITANA, when the leading riders from the qualifiers meet in Essen. In parallel, the Vocational Training Day opens up the world of equestrian careers to the next generation.
HOP TOP Show: “Anything for Love”
From Friday to Sunday, the show hall belongs to the HOP TOP Show from 7.30 p.m. Under the title “Anything for Love”, it brings horses, sport and staging together into a story about love in all its facets – for long-standing equestrian fans and families alike. “In the end, one thing connects us all: we do this out of love for the horse,” says Sarah Lepsky.
Knowledge throughout the week
The sporting programme is accompanied by formats for everyone who wants to go deeper: the veterinary congress hosted by Dr Wachtarz runs from Friday to Sunday in the Kongresscenter West, the Health Forum in hall 1 offers talks on equine health throughout the fair, and the WeHorse Stage in hall 3 explores the future of equestrian sport in talks, panel discussions and hands-on sessions.
Tickets
Day tickets for EQUITANA 2027 are available now, and advance sales for the shows with reserved seating are running. All information on the programme, travelling to Essen and tickets at www.equitana.com
