Stars of the Future – Kick-off for the ZURICH YOUTH MASTERS 2026
Stars of the Future – Kick-off for the ZURICH YOUTH MASTERS 2026International top-level youth sport from 13 to 17 May in Zurich-Dielsdorf (Switzerland)
Zurich/Dielsdorf (Switzerland), 25 February 2026. – In around three months’ time, from 13 to 17 May 2026, the Zurich Youth Masters will once again take place at the Horse Park Zurich-Dielsdorf (Switzerland). Now in its fifth year, this international event for young talent will once again bring together the young stars who will shape the future of show jumping. Following official confirmation of the new May date by the FEI, preparations are in full swing.
In recent years, the Zurich Youth Masters has established itself as an integral part of the international young talent calendar. In 2026, the event will once again combine high-class show jumping in the CSIO Children / Juniors / Young Riders (Ch/J/Y) and CSI U25 categories. A new sporting feature in 2026 is the upgrade to CSIO-Y (Nations Cup), which means that the Young Riders category will also be represented at the highest international junior level in Dielsdorf in future.
Another key reason for moving the event to May is that it fits in perfectly with the various nations’ preparations for the European Championships, further enhancing the sporting significance of the Zurich Youth Masters.
Tournament Director Dr Yves von Ballmoos: “With the new date in May and confirmation from the FEI, the conditions are ideal. We are now in the middle of the nations’ preparations for the European Championships and can offer our participants the best sporting conditions. We are very pleased that we have been able to further develop the programme in a targeted manner and can now start the decisive preparation phase together with our organising committee.”
Increased support and focus on sustainability
A detachment from the Swiss Army (Vet u A Tiere Abt 13) will be on duty in 2026. Around 20 members of the army with around ten horses will support the event on site, particularly in the areas of stable organisation, logistics and infrastructure. In addition, the detachment will showcase its skills with two public performances on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, adding an extra highlight to the supporting programme.
Another focus will be on sustainability and horse welfare. As part of the Horse Welfare Awards, the groom will be honoured for the first time alongside the riders. The award is sponsored by the Pro Pferd Foundation and the Hasenacher Stud Farm and underlines the Zurich Youth Masters’ holistic approach to responsible and sustainable equestrian sports for young people.
Promoting young talent behind the scenes
The Zurich Youth Masters does not only understand the promotion of young talent in terms of sport. In recent years, the organising committee has been deliberately rejuvenated and supplemented by young talents from Swiss equestrian sports – including in the areas of sport, helper organisation, supporting programme, social media and communication. In this way, the idea of promoting young talent is also consistently put into practice in the organisation.
Media relations: closer to the action
In 2026, there will be an additional focus on media relations: the riders’ meeting, which focuses on ethics, attitude and horse welfare, will now be open to selected media outlets. The aim is to provide in-depth insights into the sporting and ethical foundations of international youth sport.
Ph © Katja Stuppia / Zurich Youth Masters.
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