Press release from Global Champions League, edited by World of Showjumping

Global Champions League (GCL) has revealed the official 17 teams for 2026. 

For 2026, the GCL introduces an evolved competition format that places even greater emphasis on strategy and consistency. Each event still features a two-round, same-day format with no drop scores, meaning every fault counts but only the top 10 teams from Round 1 (1.60m) advance to Round 2 (1.55m), with scores carrying over to determine the final standings. With the format now being a knock out competition tension and jeopardy will be increased to the max! 

Qualification for the LGCT Grand Prix at each event now takes place in round 1 where the top 30 individual riders qualify and a separate competition for individuals on day one where the top 10 riders of that 1.60m class, qualify for the LGCT Grand Prix to bring the total to 40 riders.  

Teams continue to be built around six riders, including a mandatory U25 athlete, while team managers retain the ability to change riders or horses between rounds and utilise mid-season transfers - adding an extra tactical dimension as the championship race intensifies. At season’s end, only the top 16 teams qualify for the GC Playoffs, with the top four earning a direct route to the GCL Super Cup semi-finals, raising the stakes from the very first event.

Jan Tops, Founder and President of the GCL, said: "The strength of the GCL is in its teams, and the 2026 line-up is one of the strongest we have ever seen as this exciting series continues to grow and develop. With the updated format and the incredible depth of talent across the grid, fans can expect intense battles, bold strategy and world-class sport from start to finish."

• Valkenswaard United: Thibault Philippaerts, Gilles Thomas, Marcus Ehning, Hans-Dieter Dreher, Lorenzo De Luca, Edwina Tops-Alexander
   
• New York Empire: Georgina Bloomberg, Bertram Allen, Scott Brash, Max Wachman, Denis Lynch, Michael Pender
   
• Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames: Sophie Hinners, Katrin Eckermann, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann, Jörne Sprehe, Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli, Anastasia Nielsen
   
• Basel Cosmopolitans: Géraldine Straumann, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, Zascha Nygaard, Nicola Philippaerts, Olivier Philippaerts, Andreas Schou
   
• Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym: Ciaran Nallon, Philipp Weishaupt, Max Weishaupt, Christian Kukuk, Marco Kutscher, Emanuele Camilli
   
• Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team: Anna Kellnerovà, Thibeau Spits, Niels Bryunseels, Pieter Devos, Derin Demirsoy, Fernando Martinez Sommer
   
• Scandinavian Vikings: Sara Vingralkova, Jur Vrieling, Jorge Matte Capdevila, Lara Tryba, Deirdre Reilly, Susan Fitzpatrick
   
• Monaco Aces: Iñigo Lopez de La Osa Franco, Gregory Cottard, Peder Fredricson, Yuri Mansur, Duarte Seabra, Mariano Martinez Bastida
   
• Rome Gladiators: Yali Kass, Guido Grimaldi, Jennifer Hochstaedter, Luiz Felipe Neto De Azevedo, Clara Pezzoli, Ioli Mytilineou
   
• Shanghai Swans: Giacomo Casadei, Max Kühner, Christian Ahlmann, Daniel Deusser, Ben Maher, Jane Richard
   
• St. Tropez Pirates: Jeanne Sadran, Antoine Ermann, Nadja Peter Steiner, Jérôme Guery, Piergiorgio Bucci, Kaitlin Campbell
   
• Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team: Oliver Fletcher, Hasan Şentürk, Efe Siyahi, Henrik Von Eckermann, Simon Delestre, Abdel Saïd
   
• Madrid In Motion: Jack Whitaker, Kim Emmen, Victor Bettendorf, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, Maikel Van der Vleuten, Sergio Alvarez Moya
   
• Cairo Pharaohs: Ismail Osama El Borai, Nayel Nassar, Inès Joly, Annelies Vorsselmans, Dalma Malhas, Pim Mulder
   
• Doha Falcons: Caroline Rehoff Pedersen, Jessica Mendoza, Oliver Lazarus, Sheik Ali Bin Khalid Al-Thani, Sanne Thijssen, Nathan Budd
   
• Mexico Amigos: Niamh Mcevoy, Carlos Hank Guerreiro, Eduardo Menezes, Zoe Hank Conter, Kendra Claricia Brinkop, Koen Vereecke
   
• Riyadh Knights: Tom Wachman, Cian O'Connor, Olivier Perreau, Rodrigo Gesteira Almeida, Emanuele Gaudiano, Mathijs Van Asten