From 12 to 15 March 2026, The Dutch Masters, held at the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch, will once again become the focus of the indoor jumping season. As the first Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping event of the calendar year, The Dutch Masters stands alongside the CHIO Aachen, the CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament and the CHI Geneva as one of the sport’s four Majors.

Over four days, the competition will showcase an elite field of international talent, featuring the world’s top three ranked riders - Scott Brash, Kent Farrington and Ben Maher - together with reigning European Champion Richard Vogel. Competition begins in the main arena on Thursday, building towards the evening’s HeadFirst Group Prize – Best of Champions, which returns following a successful debut in 2025. This unique class will see the individual World Champion (Henrik von Eckermann), individual European Champion (Richard Vogel), FEI World Cup™ winner (Julien Epaillard), and Dutch Champion (Willem Greve) exchange horses in a thrilling test of horsemanship and skill. Friday and Saturday continue with a full programme of 5* show jumping, including the VDL Groep Prize and the Audi Prize, both key qualifiers for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix.

The event also hosts the final FEI Dressage World Cup™ Qualifier for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, which takes place in Fort Worth, Texas, in April 2026. The competition will bring together some of the leading names in the discipline, including current individual World Champion Charlotte Fry, who heads a strong field that also features Dutch representatives Marieke van der Putten and Dinja van Liere.

Beyond the competition arenas, The Dutch Masters offers an extensive lifestyle experience. A wide range of equestrian and luxury retailers will be present throughout the venue, alongside a range of food and hospitality options designed for spectators of all ages.

When you think back to winning the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters in 2024, what’s the first memory that comes to mind?

WG: It was a dream come true for me. It was a real thriller – being last to go in the jump-off and beating Henrik [von Eckermann] and King Edward by just four hundredths of a second. And when I saw the green lights, I just thought – I did it! When I crossed the finish line, I looked up at the scoreboard and saw the letters and numbers light up in green. That’s when I realised I had gone fast enough. I knew I was last to go, so in that moment it sank in that I had won. It was an unbelievable feeling, and I was just trying to process what had happened.

What did that victory mean to you personally, winning such a prestigious class on home soil? Where does that win rank in your career so far?

WG: We all have ambitions like this. Winning a Grand Prix is amazing but winning a Rolex Grand Slam Major in front of your home crowd, in your home country – this is something that all riders dream of. If it’s Steve [Guerdat] or Martin [Fuchs] winning in Geneva or a German rider winning in Aachen, if you can achieve that it’s something very special, and something to be very proud of. 

I hope that we, as riders, act as an inspiration for the youth coming up through the ranks. I think it’s very important nowadays that we help young riders become enthusiastic about show jumping, so they can dream about making it in the sport. I think that’s very important. I grew up in the days when Jos Lansink was at the top of the sport alongside John and Michael Whitaker – those were my idols, and they still are, but the sport has developed and there are many other great riders now. 

How positive has the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping been for the sport?

WG: For me, it’s been extremely positive. Ultimately, it has allowed the four shows to raise their standards. What I really appreciate about the Rolex Grand Slam is that it focuses on quality over quantity – it’s not an overkill of events. The four Majors are iconic competitions that everyone builds their season around. That’s what makes it so special – each one feels significant and prestigious.

From 12-15 March 2026, The Dutch Masters returns to the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch for the opening Major of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping calendar year. Welcoming the world’s most elite horse and rider combinations, the show, steeped in history, will conclude with Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix. As the pinnacle and most coveted class of the week, riders must demonstrate the highest levels of accuracy, skill and control to claim victory in the technical indoor setting.

Following his victory in the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHI Geneva in December 2025, Kent Farrington travels from the United States to ’s-Hertogenbosch as the current Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Live Contender. His success in Geneva secured a third Rolex Grand Slam Major title, and victory at The Dutch Masters will move the American one step closer to becoming only the second rider in history to claim the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. He is joined by fellow American Lillie Keenan, whose consistent appearances at the highest level have confirmed her place among the sport’s leading riders.