Game-changing circuit celebrates 20 years of milestones as riders announced for Miami Beach

The world’s premier show jumping circuit this year marks 20 years of pioneering excellence and growth and announces the star-studded cast of riders kicking off the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL season in the unique venue of Miami Beach. 

The stage is set for an electrifying season opener on Miami Beach, as a world-class line-up of 55 riders descends on the iconic coastline. Leading the charge are global superstars including LGCT Champions Ben Maher, Max Kühner, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Gilles Thomas, and crowd favourites Maikel van der Vleuten and Simon Delestre. Powerhouse riders bring formidable combinations including two time LGCT Grand Prix of Miami Beach winner Katrin Eckermann, the Phillipaerts twins Olivier and Nicola and Nayel Nassar, while rising talents and established names like Michael Pender, Sophie Hinners, and Jack Whitaker add depth to an already stacked field. With this exceptional line-up Miami Beach promises a blockbuster start to 2026. 

The spectacular 2026 launchpad on the Atlantic shoreline is a powerful symbol of the game-changing championships with a pedigree that is recognised globally for consistently transforming show jumping and shaping its modern future. 

Always innovating, the extraordinary journey of LGCT over 20 years and GCL over 10 years is built on solid foundations based on unbeatable decades of experience in equestrian sport.

The evolution of the circuit has seen expansion to four continents with unrivalled venues - unique to LGCT and GCL - in major cities and resorts taking the sport to new heights and attracting Team Owners and new audiences. 

LGCT and GCL are rooted in Founder and President Jan Tops’ vision for a strong future for show jumping in which all stakeholders benefit. It fired up a revolution in the sport as vision became reality introducing exceptional new levels of facilities, superb hospitality, the highest level of competition, transformational prize money benefiting riders and owners and unbeatable venues. New levels of global visibility including Eurosport, DAZN, BeIN Sport and national and regional TV channels and the GCTV streaming platform.

Ludger Beerbaum, champion rider, GCL Team Owner and Manager, said the “whole economy” of show jumping has benefitted from the pioneering developments.

Peder Fredricson, LGCT and GCL rider and one of the leading athletes in show jumping, said: “Jan Tops, through his vision and innovative thinking, really moved the sport forward over the past 20 years. It’s created better opportunities for us riders, with strong competitions, higher prize money and events in some of the most beautiful cities in the world.”

The momentum continues this year with a new milestone event at the Pyramids in Egypt joining the exceptional line up of locations from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to Monaco’s yacht harbour, Madrid to London, Miami Beach to Mexico City, Cairo to Rome and Doha to Riyadh. The landmark event in Shanghai was the first time international sport horses had been able to compete in mainland China.

Another breakthrough came with the launch of the GC Playoffs with stunning entertainment and special effects never before witnessed in show jumping and over €10 million in prize money in one weekend. There were many hurdles and challenges along the road to today’s circuit, but the developments attracted loyal partners and Team Owners, the best sporting talent and a growing fan base.

Georgina Bloomberg has been a founding GCL Team Owner since the beginning in 2016, as well as riding individually and for her team. Her GCL team New York Empire will kick off their 2026 campaign this weekend in Miami Beach. She spoke of her feelings about being part of LGCT and GCL since the start and the impact of the circuit on show jumping overall: “It’s been an honour to be able to compete in the [Longines] Global Champions Tour, and to have been part of the GCL since day 1. 

“I always believed in what Jan’s vision was for the league, and that it has made the sport more exciting for riders and spectators alike. Being a team owner has given me a new role in the sport that I love so much, and it is an honour to be able to bring a touch of New York around the world with us.”

The major changes to the show jumping landscape over two decades included record-breaking prize money, global exposure and ever higher standards which were acknowledged by one of the leading figures in the sport.

Ludger Beerbaum is a GCL Team Owner and Team Manager with Riesenbeck International, long-time champion rider on the circuit for many years and partner organiser of the LGCT event at his home base. He remembered when Jan outlined his plan to transform show jumping when they met for dinner at a restaurant in Mannheim in Germany: “I remember when he came up with the idea for GCT and I thought it was a brave vision, this was more than 20 years ago. 

“It has been an unbelievable journey, even against hurdles and not always easy, but he kept on going, kept on trying and he kept on moving forward.”

Speaking of the significant impact of LGCT and GCL for riders, their businesses and others involved in the sport with other events raising standards across the board. Ludger said: “Yes for the sport it really has changed a lot of things in many ways and it started a competition in the industry. To me looking back that has been healthy and pushed the sport forward on a lot of levels. 

“And finally we have to see there are quite a few top riders able to now, with GCT and GCL, competing and being professional making a living out of it, prices for horses, prize money, the whole economy, the entire industry has really benefitted.”

Ludger also recalled the first GC Prague Playoffs in 2018: “I remember the first one in Prague and it was the O2 Arena with the digital set up and it was wow and it pushed (the sport) forward.” He also praised the inclusion of U25 riders in GCL teams accelerating the chance for young talent to reach the top: “It was good for the up and coming riders.”

Alvaro Arrieta Konyay is a long-time event organising partner of Longines Global Champions Tour and GCL, President of Oxer Sport and closely involved with the successful Madrid in Motion team. He spoke of his pride in being part of the journey and said: “It has been an amazing path, full of passion and emotion. I signed the Foundational Act of the Global Champions Tour in Cannes. It was a very special moment because the five signers we felt that something great was to come and we were right. During this journey across two decades Oxer Sport have organized GCT legs in Italy, Mexico and Spain. We have been always loyal partners of the best tour ever and we were proud to start managing the team Madrid in Motion from the beginning of the Global Champions League too. The dream of my friend Jan Tops has definitely changed our sport during the last 20 years. This is a fact and our company, Oxer Sport, is proud to have been part of this positive growth of the equestrian sport thanks to the brave and enthusiastic push of Jan Tops. I wish GCT & GCL will keep health for another 20 years.”

Duarte Nobre Guedes has been a long-time supporter, partner and LGCT show organiser since its launch 20 years ago and knew Jan Tops years before in the world of show jumping. Duarte was President of the LGCT of Estoril, later the LGCT of Cascais, Estoril, from 2006 to 2019. As President of the Superior Council of Cascais Tourism Board he also had significant experience working with major events in Portugal featuring other premium global sports including tennis, Formula 1, golf and America’s Cup sailing.

The Portuguese businessman and former rally driver was one of the earliest partners to fully appreciate the ambition to create a game-changing circuit in show jumping that would span the world’s most iconic destinations. Duarte said Jan has fulfilled his commitment from the first day, which was “only the best for the best”. He added: “This impresses me because it is rare and the key to the success. It has been an honour to be a partner with Jan and GCT over many years and to witness the extraordinary growth. It will always be the original premier show jumping circuit and it takes decades of experience to build such strong foundations and to transform a whole sport for the future.

“Always innovating, always pioneering, always excellent. It is a very impressive achievement and GCT has always been the best. I was proud to be part of this incredible journey for so many years.”

Jan Tops said: “Always our values have been about innovating and working hard to do the maximum for everyone involved in the sport. To bring show jumping to new countries and new audiences and to develop the sport in different areas around the world to ensure a strong future for the sport we love in this fast-changing modern era. We truly appreciate the loyalty and commitment of all our supporters, owners, riders and partners over many years and we look forward to continuing our journey into an exciting future together.”

With the prestigious opening event in Doha unable to go ahead, the 2026 season will be off to a dazzling start in Miami Beach before travelling to Mexico City and then to the magnificent stadium venue in Shanghai, which was another ground-breaking milestone in the evolution of the series.