GCTV Viewing Guide: Longines Global Champions Tour Shanghai

A Turning Point in Shanghai

As the Longines Global Champions Tour arrives in Shanghai from 1-3 May, the 2026 season reaches a pivotal moment. Early results have begun to shape the standings, but here, at the Shanghai Juss Equestrian Center with its expansive arena and technical tracks, the direction of both championships can shift.

The LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai has a reputation for delivering high drama, and 2026 promises no exception. This year, an elite lineup of riders and horses, including the 2026 and 2025 LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai Winners, Longines World Number 1 Scott Brash and Gilles Thomas, will descend on the iconic Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Centre, all aiming to secure victory and climb the championship leaderboard.

For those following around the world, GCTV offers a front-row view of a stage where momentum can quickly turn into advantage, producing results that carry far beyond a single weekend.

How to Watch on GCTV

GCTV provides full live and on-demand coverage of the Longines Global Champions Tour Shanghai, allowing fans to follow every class across the weekend.

Viewers can tune in live with expert commentary, or watch replays and highlights at their convenience. Accessible across devices, GCTV ensures the competition is always within reach.

In addition, the live GCTV Studio will be broadcast 15 minutes before both the GCL and the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix, returning immediately after each class with expert analysis and rider interviews. Available free with a GCTV account, it offers a deeper understanding of the performances that shape the competition.

The Weekend Unfolds

Friday: The GCL Under Immediate Pressure

Shanghai is unique in that the GCL is decided from the outset. Both rounds take place from the start of competition on Friday. 

Despite their dominance at this venue in recent seasons, the Shanghai Swans arrive currently sitting 15th in the GCL standings. Competing on home ground, they face not only expectation, but the need to regain momentum in the championship.

In contrast, Valkenswaard United return in second place overall. After finishing second in Shanghai in 2025 with Marcus Ehning and Gilles Thomas, they arrive with both form and unfinished business. A victory here would not only settle that score, but place them firmly at the top of the standings.

They are not alone. Cairo Pharaohs, the newest team on the Tour, have emerged as an early contender, currently sitting joint third. Their rise adds further depth to a championship that remains tightly contested.

With no clear leader established, Friday’s two rounds carry added significance. The outcome will not just decide the stage, but begin to define the season.

Saturday: Positioning for the Final Day

Saturday offers a shift in focus, with individual 5* competitions providing a clearer indication of form ahead of the Grand Prix.

At this stage, riders begin to refine their approach to the arena, adjusting to its demands and building confidence. It is a day where rhythm is established and where the balance between ambition and control becomes increasingly visible.

Sunday: The LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai

The weekend culminates in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Shanghai.

Contested at 1.60m, it is the defining class of the event. Championship points are on the line, along with the Golden Ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix.

This year, the stakes are heightened further.

With current championship leaders Katrin Eckermann, Piergiorgio Bucci and Jack Whitaker, all absent from Shanghai, the opportunity is clear. Riders such as Simon Delestre, Pieter Devos and Ben Maher, all within reach of the top positions, have a chance to make significant gains in the standings.

Further down, Gilles Thomas returns as the reigning LGCT Champion, currently sitting 20th. Having finished second in the GCL here last year, he arrives with both experience of the venue and the opportunity to reassert himself in the title race.

Shanghai, in this context, becomes more than a Grand Prix. It becomes a moment where the championship can change direction.

A Weekend That Matters

In Shanghai, the margins are small, but the consequences are not. Across both championships, the event weekend brings together returning performances and evolving form.

For teams, it is a chance to gain ground in a tightly contested GCL championship. For riders, it is an opportunity to reshape the individual standings in the absence of the current leaders.

It is this combination that makes Shanghai one of the most significant stages of the early season. Together, these dynamics create a weekend defined by opportunity as much as expectation.

Watch the Longines Global Champions Tour Shanghai live on GCTV and follow every round as the 2026 championship begins to take a new direction.