The countdown to the 2026 GC Playoffs has entered its final week, with the rider line-up officially confirmed ahead of the four-day championship finale in Verona, Italy, from 19 to 22 November. The announcement brings together some of the world’s leading show jumping athletes for a meeting that will determine the season’s ultimate team and individual champions.
For the first time, the prestigious competition will take place at Veronafiere, welcoming 68 international show jumping athletes for the concluding chapter of the 2026 Global Champions Tour and GCL season. With more than €11 million in total prize money on offer, the event promises an exceptional gathering of established champions, Olympic performers and emerging international talent.
The 2026 GC Playoffs will centre around two major competitions: the GCL Super Cup and the Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix. Both will provide a different test of horsemanship, with the team competition following a knockout format and the individual championship bringing together riders who secured qualification throughout the season.
The programme begins on Thursday with the GCL Super Cup Quarter-Finals, followed by Friday’s Semi-Finals. Saturday evening will see the individual competition take centre stage, before Sunday’s GCL Super Cup Final brings the four-day championship to its conclusion.
GCL Super Cup: Leading International Teams Prepare for Verona
After a competitive season across some of the world’s most recognised show jumping destinations, the GCL Super Cup will bring together the leading teams for a fresh championship challenge. Previous season results will no longer provide an advantage, with every team starting from zero in the knockout competition. Each round will feature three riders per team, making consistency and precision essential. A single rail or a costly time penalty could change the outcome, placing considerable importance on every performance.
The 2026 GCL Champions, Riesenbeck International, arrive as one of the leading contenders. Their German line-up comprises Christian Kukuk, Marco Kutscher, Maximilian Weishaupt and Philipp Weishaupt. The quartet combines championship experience with a strong record at the highest level of international show jumping.
Istanbul Warriors, who finished runners-up in the 2026 GCL Championship, will present another formidable challenge. Their squad includes newly crowned 2026 individual tour champion Abdel Saïd, French Olympic rider Simon Delestre and former world number one Henrik von Eckermann. The combination of experience and international success makes them a serious contender for the team title.
New York Empire, third in the overall championship standings, will rely on Scott Brash, Denis Lynch, Mark McAuley and Michael Pender. Two-time individual tour champion Brash will be a key figure in the team’s attempt to convert its consistent season performances into a Super Cup victory.
Prague Lions complete the four teams that have secured direct qualification for the Semi-Finals. Fernando Martinez Sommer, Thibeau Spits, Niels Bruynseels and Pieter Devos will represent the team, which will be looking to make full use of its position in the competition.
Shanghai Swans also arrive with considerable international experience. Their squad features three-time individual tour champion Ben Maher, German riders Christian Ahlmann and Daniel Deusser, alongside Austria’s Max Kühner. The combination gives the team considerable strength across its four-member line-up.
Valkenswaard United, one of the established teams in the championship, will be represented by Marcus Ehning, Hans-Dieter Dreher, Sandra Auffarth and Thibault Philippaerts. Their experience across major international competitions will be an important asset as the knockout rounds progress.
Fresh from victory at the GCL Finals in Rabat, Monaco Aces will enter Verona with confidence. Yuri Mansur and Ioli Mytilineou, who produced the decisive double-clear performance in Morocco, will be joined by two-time GCL Super Cup winner Peder Fredricson and Duarte Seabra.
Cannes Stars will bring an all-female line-up comprising Sophie Hinners, Anastasia Nielsen, Jorne Sprehe and Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli. Meanwhile, Madrid in Motion, the inaugural GCL Super Cup champions in 2018, return with Maikel van der Vleuten, Sergio Álvarez Moya and Victor Bettendorf as they pursue another championship success.
Basel Cosmopolitans will field Emanuele Camilli, Harry Allen, Andreas Schou and Marlon Modolo Zanotelli. St Tropez Pirates will rely on Piergiorgio Bucci, Jeanne Sadran, Antoine Ermann and Jérôme Guéry.
Doha Falcons will be represented by Caroline Rehoff Pedersen, Sanne Thijssen, Bassem Mohammed and Nathan Budd, while Mexico Amigos will bring together Eduardo Menezes, Carlos Hank and Zoe Hank Conter.
Cairo Pharaohs will count on Nayel Nassar, Sameh El Dahan and Annelies Vorsselmans. Scandinavian Vikings will feature Jur Vrieling, Sara Vingralkova, Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen and Lara Tryba. Completing the team line-up are Riyadh Knights, represented by Gudrun Patteet, Olivier Perreau and Emanuele Gaudiano. With the championship starting afresh, the depth of talent across the field should make the road to Sunday’s final particularly demanding.
Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix: Individual Stars Ready for Verona
While the GCL Super Cup will determine the leading team of the championship, Saturday evening will belong to the individual riders competing in the prestigious €1.25 million Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix. Qualification has been earned through performances across the 2026 international season, with 15 riders securing their places in the competition. The line-up brings together established championship winners and riders who have demonstrated consistency at some of the sport’s most demanding venues.
2026 Super Grand Prix – Riders in Qualification Order
Katrin Eckermann qualified at Miami Beach, followed by Piergiorgio Bucci from Mexico City and Nicola Philippaerts from Shanghai. Simon Delestre secured his place at Madrid, with Abdel Saïd qualifying at Cannes and Anastasia Nielsen at St. Tropez. Max Kühner earned qualification in Paris, Stephan de Freitas Barcha in Monaco and Victor Bettendorf in Riesenbeck. Christian Kukuk qualified at London, Yuri Mansur at Valkenswaard and Sophie Hinners at Vienna. Pieter Devos secured his place in Rome, Olivier Philippaerts in Cairo and Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli completed the 15-rider line-up following Rabat.
The competition will feature two demanding rounds over courses reaching 1.65 metres. The format will place the emphasis on precision, technical ability and the partnership between horse and rider. With such a distinguished field, the individual championship promises to be one of the principal attractions of the Verona programme.
Italian Riders Prepare for a Special Home Championship
The debut of the 2026 GC Playoffs in Verona will also provide an important occasion for Italian show jumping. Five riders representing the Italian national federation have been confirmed: Fabio Brotto, Giacomo Casadei, Luca Coata, Guido Grimaldi and Riccardo Pisani. They will join established Italian international riders Emanuele Gaudiano, Emanuele Camilli and Piergiorgio Bucci, giving the home nation a strong presence across the competition.
Competing in front of a home audience at Veronafiere will add another dimension to the occasion. Italian supporters will have several representatives to follow across the four days, with the home contingent looking to make its presence felt against an exceptionally competitive international field.
Four Days, Two Championships and a Season-Defining Finale
Following a year of competition across the international circuit, Verona will provide the final opportunity for riders and teams to secure championship honours in 2026. The knockout format of the GCL Super Cup, the demanding individual Grand Prix and the presence of several of the sport’s leading names make this a significant conclusion to the season.
With 68 athletes, leading international teams and 15 individually qualified riders preparing to compete, the 2026 GC Playoffs will bring the global show jumping season to a compelling conclusion at Veronafiere from 19 to 22 November.
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