2026 World Championships in Aachen: All Inclusive Innovations for Sport and Spectators

-- Text and Photos © Barbara Schnell

Big shows at the Aachen venue always bring new and lasting features to the venue. This year's innovations have made Aachen into an all inclusive event with particular focus on improvements for para sport and visitor experience.

Innovations include a solar power plant on the roof of the Stawag stand as well as new LED floodlights in the main stadium. A modern, highly functional, airy stable housing up to 204 horses was built in the stable area. And notably, the whole place is brimming with new details that will make this a memorable event for the Para riders (and their followers) indeed.

Guiding stripes for visually impaired people were added into the pavement of existing pathways and integrated into the footing of the stable area, right into the stables themselves. The new stable does not only include spacious bathroom facilities for disabled people but also a separate room with loading stations for electric mobility aids.

Some of the cobblestones in the entrance area were planed to make them more easily negotiable. And the main administrative building/press center now has a wheelchair ramp. There will probably be room for improvement once all these new details have been tried and tested, but one thing's for sure: Aachen 26 did go the extra mile to be a working inclusive place.

Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2026 World Championships Dressage