07.09.2026

ACCOR ARENA, 2ND DECEMBER 2026

Paris, September 7, 2026 – Horse GP is set to electrify Paris with an exceptional day bringing together elite-level sport and entertainment. On Wednesday, December 2, at Paris’s Accor Arena, 40 of the world’s best international riders will come together for two show jumping competitions featuring an innovative format directly inspired by Formula 1.

With the ambition of continuing to raise the profile of equestrian sports on the world stage, Christophe Ameeuw, founder of the Gucci Masters and Longines Masters, is now taking a new step with the launch of Horse GP at Paris’s Accor Arena.

Conceived as a new global sports and entertainment platform, Horse GP draws inspiration from the Formula 1 competition format, with a Sprint a speed event determining the starting order for the Grand Prix.

By bringing this model to equestrian sports, the aim is to make show jumping more accessible to a wider audience through a format that is easier to follow, more condensed and more dynamic, while maintaining the sporting standards and level of competition expected of an FEI (International Equestrian Federation) CSI5* show jumping event.

“For more than 20 years, our ambition has been to raise the profile of our sport and give it the recognition it deserves,” explains Christophe Ameeuw. “This new event will transform show jumping into a true experience, combining performance, entertainment and innovation, while maintaining the utmost respect for the sport, the horses and the riders. We want to create the right conditions for audiences to fully understand its intensity, experience the emotions up close and discover what makes equestrian sport so unique.”

THE ACCOR ARENA, AN ICONIC VENUE FOR EQUESTRIAN SPORTS IN PARIS

From the moment the Accor Arena opened in 1984, equestrian sports began writing some of their most memorable chapters there, with the venue hosting its first World Cup Grand Prix that same year.

In 1987, the arena went on to host the first World Cup Final ever held in France, before making history once again four years later, in 1991, with France’s first Dressage World Cup Final.

This era remains inseparable from the memory of several legendary showdowns between some of the sport’s most iconic horse-and-rider combinations. Jappeloup and France’s Pierre Durand notably won the Grand Prix here in 1986, while Milton and Britain’s John Whitaker claimed victory in 1988 and 1990. It was also in this very arena that John Whitaker chose to bid farewell to top-level competition with Milton.

The story continued until 2005 with the Jumping International de Paris-Bercy, before the venue returned to the international stage in 2018, hosting the Show Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals.

Nearly ten years later, Horse GP is set to write a new chapter in this remarkable history, bringing the sound of horses’ hooves back to the heart of this legendary Parisian arena.

“Bercy is an iconic arena for entertainment and sport, and for show jumping in particular. With the return of the world’s best horses and riders, Horse GP is reviving the glory days of show jumping in Paris while bringing to life our vision for its future: more spectacular, more modern and closer to the audience.” Christophe Ameeuw

AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAMME

On Wednesday, December 2, 40 of the world’s best riders will compete in two events: the Sprint, set at 1.50m, followed by the Grand Prix de Paris, set at 1.60m.

The Sprint is a speed competition that will determine the starting order for the Grand Prix. Inspired by Formula 1 qualifying, the format is designed to make the competition easier to follow while heightening its intensity.

Before experiencing the thrills of elite-level sport, spectators will begin the day with a performance by the Cadre Noir de Saumur, a world-renowned symbol of French equestrian excellence.

It is an opening act that reflects Horse GP’s ambition to turn equestrian sport into a complete entertainment experience, bringing together enthusiasts, families, sports fans and new audiences alike.

And since the Accor Arena is also one of Paris’s most iconic entertainment venues, the evening will continue with a musical After Show, bringing this exceptional day to a fitting close.

The programme: horsegp.com/program

TICKETING

TWO SESSIONS, ONE EXCEPTIONAL DAY

To allow spectators to experience Horse GP in the way that suits them best, tickets for the event are available for two separate sessions:

SESSION 1 — 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Opening performance by the Cadre Noir de Saumur, followed by the 1.50m Sprint, which will determine the starting order for the Grand Prix de Paris.

SESSION 2 — from 7:00 PM

The 1.60m Grand Prix de Paris, followed by the After Show.