The CDI Festival 4 Dressage Returns Home in 2026: From Aachen to Opglabbeek

Dressage

Belgium

The 2026 CDI Aachen Festival 4 Dressage, organized by a Belgian team headed by Josy Everars, has been cancelled. The CDI 3* was scheduled to take place on 1 - 5 April 2026.

Festival 4 Dressage

The "Festival 4 Dressage" was first held at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium, in 2021. It became a very well attended dressage competition, where numerous Olympians premiered their Grand Prix hopeful in that Tokyo Olympic year. The success of the show and venue prompted organizers to re-stage it in 2022 to equal success which attendance across the levels from ponies to Grand Prix.

In 2023, however, the Festival 4 Dressage moved from Opglabbeek to the hallowed show grounds of Aachen, where it became an entry magnet as riders savoured the opportunity to compete in Aachen and ride in the famous Deutsche Bank stadium. For three consecutive years, the Festival 4 Dressage became the outdoor season opener in West Europe. The show often dealt with challenging weather conditions: either cold, windy, or rainy, but last year had a show thriving in sunshine .

Back to Opglabbeek

Show director Josy Everars unfortunately had to cancel the 2026 edition of his show in Aachen.

Constructions and renovations are being carried out to the show grounds in preparation of the 2026 World Championships in Aachen in the summer and they are not ready on time for the Festival 4 Dressage in April. A roof is being placed over the dressage stadium as it will host the discipline of vaulting during the WEG.

There is a silver lining to the news. The Festival 4 Dressage will return "home" in 2026 - to Sentower Park in Opglabbeek - as an autumn indoor competition. The FEI has accepted the dates of 28 October - 1 November 2026. The event will include classes from pony level to Grand Prix with two big tours at 3* and 4* level.