June 2, 2026
With 10 weeks to go to the start of the World Championships there’s every sign the opening ceremony will be as captivating for the 40,000-plus spectators in the main stadium at Aachen, Germany as the 2006 World Equestrian Games.
Dressage, jumping, eventing, driving, vaulting and para will feature in the championships, and like the Olympics held once every four years that this year Aug. 11-23.
Organizers of the championships–at the show grounds that has been operating for well over a century and is regarded as the best horse show in the world, bar none–parade of the nations already promises the crowd what they say will be “a goosebump experience.”
“The spectators won’t just be watching from the stands then, they will become part of the show with their euphoria and enthusiasm,” said Birgit Rosenberg, Member of the Board of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, the event organizers. “The parade of the nations will be more intimate and impressive than ever before – truly unique!”
“The grand quadrille of the German State Studs will be one of the most emotional images of the evening: 64 stallions will perform a choreography that impressively combines precision, tradition and aesthetics. Lisa Röckener, who has been captivating audiences for years with her magnificent show act based on liberty work and calmness, is a further highlight on the agenda. With her special charisma and sensitive handling of the horses, she lends each performance a touch of unique magic – and on the evening of August 11th, she will be an integral part of the Opening Ceremony.”
Dressage is first up on this year’s schedule.
The greatest buzz around dressage in 2006 was Blue Hors Matine, the Danish-bred mare that was ridden by Andreas Helgstrand who succeeded Lars Petersen as the the Blue Hors stud’s primary trainer and rider. Little known before the 2006, Andreas and Matine, 10 years old at the time, placed third individually behind the top stars at the time, Anky van Grunsven and Isabell Werth, in both the Grand Prix and the Special, and runner-up in the Freestyle.
Dressage is in the middle of the main stadium the, as seen by the photo showing the sold spectator stands, provides the biggest stage in the history of the sport.
