Petplan Area Festivals
The Petplan Area Festivals are the perfect target for BD riders looking to have a taste of the big time at a championship-feel event!
The series, which was launched in 2000 and is aimed at grassroots riders, has grown from 15 Area Festivals around the country with 555 tests completed in its first year to over 6,500 starters during the 2025 season – the biggest British Dressage affiliated series in the UK. Petplan have been supporting the Area Festival series for an incredible 25 years and play an instrumental part in the growth and success over the years.
Split into two seasons, summer and winter, the Petplan Area Festivals offer a year round competition pathway with riders qualifying and competing in the Area Festivals, before going on to the Area Festival Championships taking place in April and October each year.
Petplan Area Festival Hub
Whether you're a seasoned Petplan Area Festivals competitor, or you're considering trying the Area Festivals for the first time, our Petplan Area Festivals Hub has everything you need to help you along your journey.
Key facts
| Summer 2026 | Winter 2027 | |
| Qualification period | 1 January - 30 June 2026 | 1 July - 31 December 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | Prelim to Inter I (including Freestyle to Music) | Prelim to Inter I |
| Sections |
Bronze and Silver |
Bronze and Silver |
| Area Festivals | July & August | Mid January - Early March 2027 |
| Championships | Arena UK, 30 - 04 October 2026 | TBC |
| Championship Dressage tests |
Prelim test 5, Novice test 5, Elementary test 5, Medium test 5, Advanced Medium test 5, FEI PSG 2026 & FEI Inter I 2026. |
Prelim test 5, Novice test 5, Elementary test 5, Medium test 5, Advanced Medium test 5, FEI PSG 2026 & FEI Inter I 2026. |
2026 Summer Area Festival qualification
The qualifying period for the Petplan Summer Area Festivals runs between 1 January and 30 June 2026. Information on the scores you need to qualify can be found below. If you are looking to plan ahead, you can find the dates and venues of our Summer Area Festivals on the Major Dates document.
If you would like to follow along with the latest news, hear from our competitors and keep up to date with all things Area Festivals, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Area Festival qualification follows a percentage based method, to achieve your required number of scores within the designated qualification periods detailed above. Scores can be gained at regular BD shows at your local venues. Take a look at the table below to choose your level and find out how many scores you need to take part. For multiple Area Festival qualifications a combination requires a further set of three or two scores depending on the level.
2026 Summer Area Festival scores
Qualification period: 1 January - 30 June 2026
| Level | Qualification |
| Prelim to Elementary | Four scores at 62% or above (scores to be from one section) |
| Medium - Advanced Medium | Three scores at 62% or above (scores to be from one section) |
| Prix St Georges - Intermediate I | Two scores at 60% or above (scores to be from one section) |
For multiple Area Festival qualification at each level combinations need a further two scores at the percentage needed for that level. For offershore qualifcation information view the BD Handbook.
- Combinations may only compete at a maximum of two Area Festivals per season for each level and section unless they achieve qualification for the Championships.
- A combination may not compete at the same level (including music) in both an Area Festival and Regional in the same season. The Area Festival level must be higher than the Regional if competing in both in the same season.
- Combinations who score 68% (70% Music) at Regionals, may not compete in an Area Festival at the same level or below in the current and future years e.g. a combination scoring 68% at Novice Silver may not ride in an Area Festival at Novice level or below again.
- Combinations who score 68% or higher (70% Music) at the Area Festival Championships, may not compete in an Area Festival at the same level and section or below in the current and future years.
- From 1 January 2023, if a rider has competed at a Premier League (including music), they will with immediate effect, not be eligible to compete at an Area Festival at that level of below in current and future years.
- For U21 riders, combinations who from 1 January have competed at a Premier League will with immediate effect not be eligible to compete at an Area Festival at that level or below. This excludes riders who are competing in the specific U21 FEI age classes (Children on Horses, Pony, Junior and Young Rider).
Take a look at all of the rules for the Area Festivals in our 2025 Members' Handbook.
Summer Area Festival freestyle
Want to take part in dressage to music in the summer? From Prelim to Inter I, you can qualify for the Petplan Summer Area Festival Championships by taking part in regular day to day BD competitions at your local venues. Find out more on how to get your dancing shoes on below.
Summer Area Festivals 2026
| Venue | County | Date |
| Burrows Court Farm incl. Music | Gloucestershire | 10 - 15 July |
| Vale View Equestrian | Leicestershire | 11 - 12 July |
| Myerscough College incl. Music | Lancashire | 11 - 15 July |
| Netherton Equestrian | Perthshire | 16 - 19 July |
| Kingswood Equestrian Centre | Staffordshire | 24 - 26 July |
| Bicton Arena | Devon | 31 - 02 August |
| Port Royal Equestrian Centre incl. Music | North Yorkshire | 30 - 02 August |
| Little Mill Equestrian incl. Music | Carmarthenshire | 31 - 02 August |
| Sheepgate Equestrian incl. Music | Lincoln | 06 - 09 August |
| Brook Farm Training Centre | Essex | 07 - 09 August |
| Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre incl. Music | Warwickshire | 13 - 16 August |
| Chard Equestrian incl. Music | Somerset | 14 - 16 August |
| GDG @ The Cabin Equestrian incl. Music | Aberdeenshire | 15 - 16 August |
| Speedgate Events incl. Music | Kent | 14 - 16 August |
| Sparsholt College incl. Music | Hampshire | 21 - 23 August |
| Bury Farm Equestrian Village incl. Music | Buckinghamshire | 22 - 24 August |
| Northallerton Equestrian Centre | North Yorkshire | 28 - 30 August |
Remember to fill in the rider biography form here and send it directly to the venue.
Qualifying for the Summer Area Festival Championships 2026
Combinations who place in the top two (unless a class is split and then the winners only qualify) will earn a coveted spot (providing the minimum score of 63% is achieved) at the Petplan Summer Area Festival Championships held at Arena UK, 30 - 04 October 2026.
Membership
You can ride in Prelim Bronze sections to get your scores for an Area Festival as a Club member on a Club horse. If you do qualify for a Petplan Area Festival, you and your horse must upgrade to become a Full member to take part. Don't forget, if you own a horse taking part in the Petplan Area Festivals, you'll need to be a Full (competing) or Full (non-competing) member too.
For Prelim Silver and Novice level and above both you and your horse need to be a Full (competing) member and have a Full horse registration to gain your scores.
