Switzerland Begins Title Defence as 2026 Longines EEF Series Kicks Off in Mannheim

Report: Emily Bevan

Switzerland will begin the defence of their Longines EEF Series title when the 2026 edition of the competition gets underway with the Region Central qualifier in Mannheim on Sunday.

This year marks the sixth running of the Series which was created by the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) with the aim of helping to bridge the gap between national shows and international events and developing young riders and horses.

The Swiss team made history when they lifted the trophy for the first time on home soil in Avenches last September and will be hoping they can repeat the feat again this year.

They will face stiff competition from the outset as host nation Germany, who finished third in last year’s final, 2023 champions Austria, and Netherlands, who won one of the 2025 qualifiers, will all be in attendance in Mannheim.

As well as hosting the opening leg of this year’s competition, the Reiter-Verein Mannheim Club is also celebrating its 100^th anniversary.

“We are pleased and proud that we are now - for the fifth consecutive time - the host location of the Longines EEF Nations Cup and that on the 100th anniversary of our club Mannheim is the only Nations Cup in Germany in 2026. This once again underlines the importance of Mannheim on the equestrian map,” said Peter Hofmann, President of the Reiter-Verein Mannheim and event director of the Mannheim Maimarkt Horse Show.

“In the Longines EEF Nations Cup we have some very strong teams, for example Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Ireland. We would like to defend our win of last year, but this will be very difficult.

“Our Reiter-Verein Mannheim Club has been bringing horses together with people ever since 1926 and the show is an important element. It is also a good opportunity to make people aware of the club. In both the club and the MVV Horse Arena, we embrace horse welfare as it is in the DNA of us riders.”

One of those to have benefitted from the experience and exposure that the competition was designed to provide is German rider Sophie Hinners. The now 28-year-old, who honed her skills at CSIO3* level through the Series and won her first senior medal at the 2025 European Championships in Spain when Germany took team bronze, is set to represent her nation once again in Mannheim. Joining Sophie in the team are Hannes Ahlmann and Gerrit Nieberg and eventing legends Michael Jung and Sandra Auffarth.

“The event in Mannheim is a very special and traditional tournament,” said Sophie.

“You realise that the event is organised by horse people and they all do it with real heart blood. The spectators are standing and sitting very close and if you enter the arena it is a very special feeling.

“Last year our German team won the Nations Cup and I was the starter in the jump-off. If we could repeat our victory that would be great! I plan to ride my gelding Event de L’Heribu. He has a lot of quality and is in a super shape.”

The Region Central qualifier in Mannheim, which takes place on Sunday 3 May, is the first of eight regional qualifiers that take place during May and June. There are four regions in the competition and each one hosts two qualifiers.

The best placed teams from the qualifiers go forward to the two semi-finals while the top five eligible teams from each semi-final progress to the final. The qualifiers and semi-finals are held at CSIO3* level.

Each competition follows the same format. Teams of four will compete over two rounds on identical courses under Table A against the clock format with the best three scores from each round counting toward the team total. In case of a tie after both rounds, one rider per team contests a jump-off to determine the winning team.

The final, which runs at CSIO4* level, will take place for the second consecutive year at the National Equestrian Institute of Avenches (IENA) in Switzerland on Sunday 6 September. The host nation can potentially contest the final as the 11^th team if they attempted qualification.

IENA have secured the final through 2027 which means the title decider will take place in central Europe at an established venue well-known for its high standard and excellent facilities for at least the next two years. 

“I think with the short time and with the help of some great people, we managed to make an amazing show,” said event director Edwin Smits.

“The public was there in big numbers for the finals, so we were extremely happy. We had optimal conditions with the ground, everything worked out fantastic, and it was a really worthy final.

“I'm looking forward to this year's finals. Last year we were lucky with the weather, so hopefully this year we are also get what we deserve - great riders, great sport and we are looking forward to getting it done again this year the same way.”

Last year’s competition came to an exhilarating close when Switzerland pipped France to the title in a nail-biting jump-off in front of their home crowd. Young rider Gaetan Joliat was the hero after he piloted Olivier De Coulon’s Chelsea Z to a jump-off round which was over a second quicker than Frances’s Sara Brionne and Grand Duc Du Paradiso to clinch victory for the Swiss.

Switzerland’s victory marked a changing of the guard and ended Italy’s domination in the competition. The Italians had won the competition in three of the previous four editions but had to settle for seventh place in 2025.

Italy will be looking to return to winning ways when their 2026 campaign gets underway at the Region South qualifier Scuderia La Caccia later in May. Scuderia La Caccia near Brescia in Northern Italy is a new venue for the competition this year and the Italians will be hoping they can give the home fans plenty to cheer about.

Many nations will be hoping they can get their hands on the prestigious trophy this year and we are set for another exciting year of competition. Will Switzerland, Italy or Austria prove unbeatable once again or will a new nation inscribe their name on the roll of honour?

Longines continue in their valued role as title partner and official timekeeper of the competition, which this year welcomes French equestrian apparel brand Harcour as the official supplier of the Series.

Harcour will serve as the LES prize giving textile supplier and exclusive supplier of official LES textile merchandise from 2026. This includes competition and presentation items such as rugs, sashes, saddle pads, caps, alongside lifestyle products available to fans at booths on site and online.

It is the sensational performances and journeys of developing talents all while representing their country that make the Longines EEF Series so special. Look out for special post-event highlights and features that celebrate these moments across the season.

You can follow the action this year on ClipMyHorse.TV who will provide a comprehensive live broadcast of all of the qualifying competitions as well as the semi-finals and final.

The fill list of qualifiers, semi-final and final can be found below.

Regional Qualifiers
Region Central
CSIO3* Mannheim (GER): 29 April – 5 May 2026
CSIO3* Budapest (HUN): 24 – 28 June 2026

Region West
CSIO3* Lier (BEL): 6 – 10 May 2026
CSIO3* Deauville (FRA): 3 – 7 June 2026

Region South
CSIO3* Scuderia La Caccia (ITA): 13 – 17 May 2026
CSIO3* Thessaloniki (GRE): 3 – 7 June 2026

Region North
CSIO3* Martofte (DEN): 20 – 24 May 2026
CSIO3* Drammen (NOR): 10 – 14 June 2026

Semi-Finals:
CSIO3* Regions West - North - Peelbergen (NED): 2 – 5 July 2026
CSIO3* Regions South - Central - Bratislava (SVK): 8 – 12 July 2026

Final:
CSIO4* Longines EEF Series Final - Avenches (SUI): 3 – 6 September 2026

Where to Watch and Follow
Full results from the regional qualifiers and semi-finals of the Longines EEF Series 2026 season can be viewed here.

For the latest updates, team announcements, and behind-the-scenes content throughout the 2026 Longines EEF Series, follow the Longines EEF Series website and the European Equestrian Federation. Join the conversation on the Longines EEF Series social media on Instagram and Facebook.

Download the Longines EEF Series press kit here

Watch the all the live action on ClipMyHorse.TV, the official livestream partner of the Longines EEF Series.