The event struck off with a parade of the 686 athletes – accompanied by the waving flags of the 65 participating nations, dancers glowing in purple and gold, countless horses and a level of royal splendour, the likes of which Aachen has never seen before. Three royal families – from the Netherlands, Denmark and Great Britain – presented their magnificent carriages. Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange, Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Her Royal Highness Elena de Borbón, Infanta of Spain, were all attended in honour of the championships and to get the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 off to a truly royal start.

Against this backdrop, key figures, who already left their mark on Aachen twenty years ago, also took centre stage: World Champions from the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, including the dressage queen, Isabell Werth; the jumping champion, Jos Lansink, and the driving legend, Michael Freund. And as soon as the name of Zara Tindall – His Majesty King Charles III’s niece – was mentioned, memories of her 2006 World Championships Gold in eventing at this very venue flooded back, allowing sporting greatness and royal glamour to merge completely. The FEI President, Ingmar De Vos, perfectly captured the unique power of equestrian sport when she stated: “Here in Aachen, we will celebrate the diversity of the participating nations and cultures and show the world the power of sport in uniting people from every corner of the globe through shared values – respect, friendship, excellence and last, but not least, their love for horses.” The eventing legend, Andrew Hoy, voiced this sentiment when he recited the athletes’ oath on behalf of all competitors. Looking ahead, Stefanie Peters, President of the host organisation, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, remarked: “Now the competitions begin; now every moment counts. Two weeks of magnificent equestrian sport lie ahead of us, along with an atmosphere that will radiate far beyond this stadium.”

“Knallblech” – a Rhineland-based group renowned for guaranteeing a great atmosphere provided the musical heartbeat of the evening. They got the stadium rocking with party anthems, brass music, original DJ beats and boundless energy. The show rider, Lisa Röckener, enchanted the audience with her performance, along with Laury Tisseur, who took the spectators’ hearts by storm with his modern interpretation of the “Hungarian Post”. When young riders from the German national squads showcased the six disciplines, the essence of the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 became impressively clear: Six disciplines united in one location – each with its own unique appeal, yet all driven by the same passion for horses. It was a moment that offered a glimpse of the diversity and brilliance these extraordinary championships will unfold in the days to come. Another emotional highlight followed with the premiere of an anthem composed by Marc Vogler from Cologne, specifically for these championships. He created a musical sequence based on the letters A–A–C–H–E, thereby transforming the name “Aachen” into music. Combined with the Grand Quadrille performed by Germany’s state studs, the result was a captivating spectacle of music, precision and elegance. In this way, Marc Vogler added another brilliant touch to an evening he had already helped shape musically: Earlier on in the evening, he had accompanied the singer, Yvonne Catterfeld, on the piano as she set the mood for the evening with her soulful rendition of the German national anthem.

The grand finale provided yet another pure goosebump experience: When the lights in the arena went out, a water show began, transforming the Main Stadium into a fairy-tale world. Fountains danced to the rhythm of electronic beats, while beams of coloured light bathed the holy grass in shimmering shades of blue, violet and gold. When the show came to an end, the audience in the Main Stadium had not just watched an Opening Ceremony – they had truly experienced it. And one thing is certain after this evening: The FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 have begun – and came with the promise that the visitors are not merely attending a championship event; they are coming home. Welcome home!

Source: Press release ALRV dated 11 August 2026