Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ 2026: Richard Vogel Chases History as Piergiorgio Bucci Joins the Stars in Calgary
From 9 to 13 September, the international show jumping elite will return to Calgary for the 2026 edition of the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, one of the most prestigious and eagerly anticipated fixtures on the sporting calendar.
Held in the iconic International Ring, the tournament is one of the four Majors that comprise the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping and will culminate in the CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, which boasts a record-breaking $5 million prize purse. Further highlights include the BMO Nations’ Cup and the TELUS Evening of the Horse, featuring the Tourmaline Oil Cup and the ATCO Electric Six Bar.
Richard Vogel One Victory Away from the Rolex Grand Slam
All eyes will be on Richard Vogel, the newly crowned World No. 1. Following consecutive victories at The Dutch Masters and in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen aboard United Touch S, the German rider will arrive in Calgary with the opportunity to complete the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
Only Scott Brash has achieved this feat before, completing the Grand Slam at Spruce Meadows in 2015. Victory in the CPKC ‘International’ would therefore make Vogel only the second rider in history to secure this extraordinary accolade, as well as earning him a €1 million bonus.
Piergiorgio Bucci Among the World’s Leading Riders
Two Boeing 747 aircraft chartered by Spruce Meadows will land at Calgary International Airport over the weekend, carrying some of the world’s finest equine athletes and their respective teams. A total of 22 nations will be represented at the 2026 edition.
Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci, who has recently climbed to seventh place in the world rankings, will be among the most eagerly awaited contenders. His appearance in Calgary marks another prestigious international engagement for the Italian rider, who will compete against an exceptional field.
Joining him will be World No. 1 Richard Vogel, defending CPKC ‘International’ champion and World No. 3 Scott Brash, as well as Ben Maher, Daniel Deusser and McLain Ward. The stellar line-up also includes World Champion Steve Guerdat, reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk and the world’s leading Under-25 rider Thibeau Spits.
Five Days of World-Class Sport
Competition will begin on Wednesday, 9 September, with the 1.50m TELUS Cup and the 1.55m Cardel Homes Cup. The top three finishers in each class will automatically secure a place in Sunday’s CPKC ‘International’.
Thursday, 10 September, will feature the 1.50m ATCO Cup and the 1.60m CANA Cup, while the International Ring will come alive on Friday, 11 September, for the TELUS Evening of the Horse.
The evening’s centrepiece will be the ATCO Electric Six Bar. In 2025, two combinations cleared a record-breaking 2.13 metres, surpassing a mark that had stood for 21 years. Following the final round, the Celle State Stud stallions will enter the arena before the night draws to a close with a fireworks display accompanied by live music from His Majesty’s Band of the Welsh Guards.
Earlier that day, riders will also contest the 1.45m Paramount Resources Cup and the 1.60m Tourmaline Oil Cup, which serve respectively as qualifiers for the Friends of the Meadows CSI2* Grand Prix and the CPKC ‘International’.
Nine Nations to Contest the BMO Nations’ Cup
Saturday, 12 September, will be devoted to the BMO Nations’ Cup. Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United States and Canada will vie for one of the most coveted team titles in international show jumping.
Great Britain will seek to defend the title secured in 2025. For the occasion, the International Ring will be divided into nine sections, one for each nation, while spectators will be invited to take part in the “Wear Your Colours Costume Contest”, offering a total of $10,000 in prize money.
Sunday’s $5 Million CPKC ‘International’
The final day, Sunday, 13 September, will open with the Suncor Winning Round, reserved for the top 30 combinations qualified throughout the week. Regardless of the number of clears recorded in the opening round, only the leading ten will advance to the decisive winning round.
In the afternoon, attention will turn to the CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex, one of the most demanding and lucrative competitions on the global show jumping circuit. Introduced in 2025 to mark Spruce Meadows’ 50th anniversary, its $5 million prize purse remains the largest ever offered for a single show jumping competition.
It will be the moment when Richard Vogel attempts to write a new chapter in the sport’s history. Yet Calgary’s prestigious International Ring is ready to welcome the full cast of the world’s leading riders, including Piergiorgio Bucci, for a week certain to deliver outstanding sport and spectacle.
Ph. Rolex/Ashley Neuhof – Spruce Meadows Media
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