Ninety-one pairs are scheduled to compete in the Grand Prix Prix at the 2026 World Championships Dressage in Aachen, beginning 11 August 2026.
The Grand Prix draw
The draw took place in the press conference room early in the afternoon, with delegates from all nations present. The individual combinations not competing as part of a team were drawn first.
This part of the draw was conducted in reverse order of the World Ranking. The highest-ranked combinations drew for positions on the second day of the Grand Prix, while the lower-ranked combinations drew for positions on the first day.
The first name pulled from the bowl by former German Olympic Athlete Heike Kemmer was that of Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU) and Jewel’s Goldstrike. A representative from each nation then drew a number. Mendoza Loor will start 38th on the opening day.
19 countries in two days
Once all the individual combinations had drawn a starting position, it was the teams’ turn. They were also drawn in reverse order of the World Ranking, in groups of five nations. This means that the five highest-ranked nations will occupy the final starting positions.
The first nation drawn from the bowl by Kemmer was Ireland. An Irish delegate then drew the team’s position, which will see them become the second team to start.
All team coaches had submitted envelopes specifying the starting order of the combinations within their teams. These were then incorporated into the full start list.
There are 19 national teams in total. The final group will feature the Netherlands, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and the USA, starting in that order.
The 91 combinations will be split over Tuesday and Wednesday, with the team medals decided at the conclusion of the Grand Prix on Wednesday. Individually, the top 30 combinations will progress to Friday’s Grand Prix Special.
Grand Prix Starters' List
The starters list for the Grand Prix can be viewed here.
-- Photos © Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed - NO SCREENSHOTS!
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 World Championships Dressage