Gothenburg Horse Show 2026 – Star Power, Optimism and a Strong Sustainability Focus

Sweden’s national dressage team coach, Stefan Jansson, described the feeling of being back in the arena:

“It’s fantastic to be back here with such a strong group of dressage riders.”

The audience will get to see two of Sweden’s highest-ranked riders in the world – Mia von Essen and Patrik Kittel – both fully capable of delivering a true Swedish duel in the World Cup.

“They are our two strongest Swedish riders at the moment. They are ranked seventh and tenth in the world, so it’s fantastic for the Swedish crowd to see them here,” said Jansson.

One class Stefan Jansson will follow particularly closely is the Lövsta U25 class.

“They are our future. We work across age groups and want to see that the next generation is on the right track. And it’s looking very promising,” he said.

One of the U25 riders is Siri Ehrnrooth, who lives just 20 minutes from Scandinavium. She combines elite sport with law studies.

“It’s truly a childhood dream to compete here. This is our third time starting here, and being in an arena like this gives me enormous confidence – to be inspired and get a glimpse of the future,” said Siri Ehrnrooth.

Show jumper Josefin Torell, competing in Scandinavium for the second year as a U25 rider thanks to Lövsta, also sees the event as an important step in her career. She has recently decided to move to the Netherlands to further her development.

“Riding here for the first time was absolutely amazing. The crowd is so positive and really wants us young riders to succeed. It always feels welcoming.”

Malin Back – 30 Years After Her Breakthrough

One of the great highlights is that Malin Baryard Johnsson is back competing in the World Cup in Gothenburg.

“It feels super exciting to be back. This truly is a home arena,” she said.

It has been 30 years since she claimed her first World Cup podium finish in Scandinavium.

“I was third 30 years ago – and later I won. And now being inducted into the Hall of Fame is an enormous honor.”

Swedish Show Jumping in Top Form

National team coach Henrik Ankarcrona believes Swedish show jumping is in excellent shape.

“Very good! The year doesn’t really begin until Gothenburg has taken place. For me, it’s the starting signal of the competition season.”

He follows everything from young horses to senior riders.

“From six-year-olds to World Cup jumping. It’s a bit of everything – and that’s what makes Gothenburg so special.”

Updated Program and Sustainability Commitment

Show Director Tomas Torgersen explained that the program has been adjusted for 2026.

“We have the same number of five-star classes, but a new distribution over the weekend. In addition, the evening performances will now start at 5 pm instead of 6 pm, giving us more content for the audience.”

A new training arena, created in cooperation with EuroHorse and the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre, will also give riders better conditions – and allow visitors to get closer to the stars.

Sustainability remains a key focus. Lotta Nibell, CEO of Got Event, emphasized the event’s importance to the city.

“It’s comparable to a major concert at Ullevi. Between 120 and 170 million SEK is generated. The hospitality industry in Gothenburg is very pleased.”

She also highlighted the investment in sustainable transport and regional collaboration.

“It’s fantastic to collaborate in many different ways – with the region, the sport and the city. We want to push the boundaries in sustainability and make it easy to travel responsibly.”

The atmosphere summed up the feeling ahead of Gothenburg Horse Show 2026: tradition, optimism for the future – and a clear ambition to continue developing one of the world’s leading indoor equestrian events.