Milestone Qatar Equestrian Tour in 2026 to begin with debut HH The Father Amir Tour

The Qatar Equestrian Federation and Al Shaqab Wednesday announced the details of a milestone Qatar Equestrian Tour 2026 which would also be a landmark extension of the unparalleled successes of Qatari equestrianism.

It was revealed that the Qatar Equestrian Tour 2026 will be the largest equestrian sporting event in the region and further enhance the reputation of Qatar in hosting major sporting events. It will kick off on January 1, 2026, and shall be held till April 4, 2026, offering a total prize-money of €10mn, one of the highest in the region.

The Qatar Equestrian Tour 2026 shall comprise a whopping 10 international events starting with HH The Father Amir Tour which will see four new five-star championships to be held over a duration of over four weeks.

This will be followed by: HH The Amir's Sword Festival, CHI Al Shaqab, Longines Global Champions Tour and Doha Equestrian Tour 2026.

Speaking on the occasion, Bader bin Mohammed al-Darwish, President of the Qatar Equestrian Federation, and Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee for International Equestrian Championships - Qatar 2025, said: “The events (in the new Qatar Equestrian Tour 2026) will make the global equestrian calendar full of competitions that will further enhance the status of Qatar as a sports capital and an ideal destination to host the largest and most important international equestrian tournaments, and a meeting place for the exchange of different cultures for horse lovers and equestrian.

“The advanced infrastructure enjoyed by Qatar with its modern sports fields and facilities designed to international standards, represents a strong support for Qatar International Equestrian and contributes to its continuous success. We believe that our sports facilities, where the season’s competitions are held, will be the focus of the world’s attention, and will contribute to accelerating and enhancing the growth of equestrian sports at the regional and global levels.

“The great sporting legacy left by our successful hosting of a number of major international tournaments is the cornerstone of what we aspire to achieve in the future. These major tournaments do not only enhance Qatar’s position as a major supporter of sports, but also contribute to strengthening our national economy by attracting sports tourism and increasing investments in the sports sector.

“We aspire to be the world's premier destination for equestrian sports, and to continue to provide a role model in hosting major sporting events, especially in the field of equestrianism, and to benefit from their positive impact on various sectors in the Qatar.

“These championships will be a new milestone in our journey towards achieving our strategic goals, which include developing sports sectors sustainably and strengthening international partnerships, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030,” he stressed, and added, “The new season will start next January and continue until April 2026, forming a series of international equestrian championships to raise the level in the region, and will be held in one place and organized by an Arab country. This achievement would not have been possible without the great experience gained by our teams and organizing committees over the past decades.”

Mohammed Jaber Al Khayarin, Event Director of Doha International Equestrian Tours, explained the different events that shall constitute for the grand new Qatar Equestrian Tour 2026.

* HH The Father Amir Tour: To be held from January 1 to January 31, 2026, consisting of 4 international showjumping championships (Dec 31- Jan 3; 7-10; 21-14 and 28-31) with a five-star classification.

* HH The Amir’s Sword Festival: To be held from February 11 to February 14, and includes showjumping and dressage competitions.

* CHI Al Shaqab: To be held from February 18 to 21 and includes showjumping, dressage and para dressage.

* Longines Global Champions Tour: March 4-7

* Doha Equestrian Tour: March 11-April 4, with a total of two four-star championships and one five-star championship

Al-Khayarin, said: “Through these championships, Al Shaqab aspires to be the cradle of equestrianism in the world and the region. It has all the elements that make it the focus of attention for all athletes and participants. It is distinguished by its state-of-the-art sports facilities providing for an ideal environment for riders from all over the world. Al Shaqab is one of the most prominent sports landmarks in Qatar, and embodies our vision of providing an exceptional sports experience. It also represents the advanced infrastructure that Qatar possesses, and is an integral part of our efforts to enhance the position of Qatar on the global sports scene.”

He added: “In our keenness to provide the best experience for participating riders and sports delegations, the issue of safety remains a priority for us and our security teams, in coordination with the relevant authorities are implementing security and safety measures in all sports facilities, which enhances our ability to host the largest sporting events with the highest levels of security and safety.

“In addition, there is a wide range of accommodation options that suit everyone and we have a modern and advanced transportation network that facilitates movement between different regions of the country smoothly and easily. All these factors combined make the Qatar International Equestrian Tour 2026 a unique sporting event, enhancing Qatar's position as the capital of equestrianism and sports, and providing a unique experience for participants and visitors alike.”