First major dates announced for 2026

British Dressage is delighted to announce the first major dates for next year and confirm the venues allocated to host Regionals and Quest fixtures from 2026 to 2028. 

With the current cycle drawing to a close, we’re pleased to announce the venues successful in their bids to host Regional Championships and LeMieux Quest Semi-Finals for the next three years, following careful consideration by the BD Sports Operations team and the Rules and Fixtures Committee.

The tender process for the upcoming cycle received over 30 applications. Fixture allocation is a competitive and challenging process, as all venues that meet the criteria deserve their chance to host a major BD fixture. Inevitably there will always be some disappointment for those venues that were unsuccessful this time, but we have aimed to introduce some new additions for 2026 and beyond, alongside more established venues, to reward investment, progress and proven experience.

As an open tender process, all affiliated venues are invited to apply to host a Regional or major BD fixture. These applications are then reviewed by the Rules & Fixtures Committee, with operational feedback from the Sport Operations team and Development Officers. When determining fixture allocation, several key aspects are considered:

Geographical spread
Regional Championships and Quest Semi-Finals are allocated to provide competitors across the UK access to fixtures without excessive travel time or expense. Transport links and accessibility are also taken into consideration.
Facilities and infrastructure
Venues must be able to provide facilities of a high standard – from good quality surfaces to the provision for officials, parking, catering, toilet amenities and disabled access. The two BD seasons are also an important consideration, as a venue with the facilities and infrastructure to host a Summer Regional may not be suitable to host a Winter Regional and vice versa.
Proven experience and event management
Our committee look to reward invested, experienced teams with a proven record of running high quality competitions, who work well with the Development Officers and Head Office, whilst upholding the values of our sport.
Balancing reward
In order to provide equal opportunity to all, we try to rotate events across venues, providing they meet minimum criteria. For example, if a venue that previously hosted a Regional or Semi-Final is not awarded the tender for the upcoming term, it does not mean the venue underperformed. It may simply be under consideration for another major fixture, or the venue may not have chosen to apply. This approach also creates opportunities for emerging venues that have made significant investment in their facilities to progress to higher championship levels.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank those venues that have supported the Regional Championships and Quest Semi-Finals over the past three years. A considerable amount of work and commitment goes into making these events a special occasion for our members, and we appreciate their ongoing contribution to British Dressage. We look forward to working with them in the future as other opportunities arise, building on the successful relationships established in this tender cycle.

There are plenty of familiar names still on the list for next year, who we welcome back to host key events again, alongside several new venues who are joining our major dates list for the first time. We look forward to working with all these venues for the next three-year cycle, from 2026 to 2028 inclusive.

Winter Regional venues