LONGINES CHI CLASSICS BASEL announces more top names for 2026
A high-caliber field of competitors is expected at the 15th edition of LONGINES CHI CLASSICS BASEL from January 8 to 11, 2026. Following the closing date for entries, it is now clear that many of the world’s best riders will be traveling to Basel in a few weeks‘ time.
With total prize money of one million Swiss francs, the LONGINES CHI CLASSICS BASEL is one of the top international indoor equestrian events. Despite the strong competition – in addition to the traditional 13 weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, USA, the Al Shaqab Tour in Doha is also taking place at almost the same time for the first time – around 75 top-ranked riders and over 200 horses are once again expected in Basel. “We have succeeded in putting together a very attractive field of participants. We can look forward to seeing the big names of the world elite,” says CHI President Thomas Straumann.
Ben Maher, the British Olympic champion from Tokyo 2021, is coming to Basel as the current number 4 in the world rankings. He will face the 2025 World Cup Final winner, Julien Epaillard/FRA (number 9 in the world rankings), the overall World Cup winner of the Jumping LONGINES rankings, Gilles Thomas/BEL (5), and the current European champion Richard Vogel/GER (6). The home crowd can look forward to seeing some strong Swiss riders in action. These include Martin Fuchs, winner of the 2025 Aachen Grand Prix. Steve Guerdat, Olympic champion in London in 2012, who is returning to the saddle after his second back operation at the CHI de Genève in mid-December. Alain Jufer, currently the highest-ranked Swiss rider in the World Cup qualifiers. Local hero Géraldine Straumann, who caused a sensation with a strong sixth place in the Grand Prix of the LONGINES CSIO in St. Gallen, Swiss champion Eva Gautschi. As well as young talent Noah Keller (3rd place at the Elite Swiss Championships). In the U25 category, ten Swiss riders will face tough competition from Germany, France, Austria, Canada, Czechia, Sweden, and Croatia.
Queen of dressage at the start in Basel
Basel can also look forward to the participation of Isabell Werth/GER, seven-time Olympic champion and multiple world and European champion. With over 30 gold medals at international championships, she is considered the “queen of dressage.” Werth will face her compatriot Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who is now competing with Diallo BB following the retirement of her horse TSF Dalera BB. Von Bredow-Werndl won the World Cup Freestyle in Stuttgart in November. Another German legend, Ingrid Klimke, two-time Olympic team champion, will also be competing in Basel. The three Swiss dressage riders are Jessica Neuhauser with Rockson, Delia Eggenberger with Fairtrade, and Charlotta Rogerson with Bonheur de la Vie. All three competed in the European Championships in Crozet in the summer and finished 11th in the team competition. Click here for the current list of participants: https://tinyurl.com/2wxf5yxj
Live broadcast
All competitions at the LONGINES CHI CLASSICS BASEL will be broadcast live by Clip My Horse. The LONGINES Grand Prix on Friday evening will be shown live on TV25 and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competition on Sunday will be shown on SRF.
Tickets are available here: https://www.chi-classics-basel.com/spectators/ticketing/?lang=en
Follow the tournament on the new CHI app: https://tinyurl.com/3phhmmyd
