Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026: The show jumping World Cup returns to Croatia after 18 years
From Thursday, May 7, to Sunday, May 10, 2026, Samobor will host the international equestrian competition Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026, an event that the organizers present as the largest sporting equestrian event ever held in Croatia. The competition is being held at Etno Farm Mirnovec, and according to the organizers' announcements, competitors, their teams and horses from 15 countries have already arrived in the city. This has completed the final phase of preparations for the event that brings the show jumping World Cup back to the sporting calendar after an 18-year absence from Croatia.
This is a competition whose significance goes beyond an ordinary sports weekend. Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026 brings together international competition, features classes that count toward the world ranking list and places Samobor at the center of attention of equestrian sport in this part of Europe. The official FEI schedule lists Samobor as the host of the competition from May 6 to 10, while the visitor program has been announced from May 7 to 10. The organizers emphasize that all conditions have been met for the start of the tournament, from the arrival of athletes and horses to the preparation of the arena, accompanying facilities and the logistics needed for a competition of this level.
For visitors who plan to come to the city during the four-day program, the fact that entry to the stands is free is especially important. Because of its proximity to Zagreb and its tourist offer, Samobor is already recognized as an excursion and event destination, and the international equestrian spectacle additionally increases interest in
accommodation in Samobor and the surrounding area. The organizers expect the sports program to connect with gastronomy, family activities, socializing in the event zone and the evening program, which gives the tournament a broader social and tourism framework.
Olympians and top international competition
Among the competitors, names familiar to followers of world show jumping have been announced, including Olympians Alberto Zorzi and Bryan Balsiger. Zorzi is an Italian rider with extensive international experience, while Balsiger is a Swiss national team member who has already proven himself at major competitions and in the World Cup series. Their arrival in Samobor further raises the sporting value of the tournament because, alongside domestic representatives, competition capable of delivering contests of a high technical level is expected.
According to a statement conveyed by the organizers in the event announcement, Zorzi and Balsiger are in Croatia for the first time and have brought to Samobor the best horses with which they hope to achieve notable results. They praised the conditions at the farm and assessed that the location looks very well prepared for the competition. Such assessments are important beyond the sporting result as well, because international show jumping tournaments depend on the confidence of riders, horse owners, trainers and officials in the quality of the footing, the safety of the infrastructure and the professionalism of the organization.
Over the four days of the event, five to eight classes per day are planned, mostly between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Up to 300 horses are expected, which organizationally requires precise coordination of stables, warm-ups, entries into the arena, veterinary procedures and safety protocols. Show jumping is a sport in which the result depends on the partnership between rider and horse, but also on a series of technical details: the course design, the height of the obstacles, the time limit, a possible jump-off and the ability of the competing pair to maintain rhythm without mistakes.
Longines Ranking classes and Sunday's Grand Prix as the highlight of the program
The sports schedule of the Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026 is especially important because of the classes that carry points for the international ranking list. On Friday, May 8, a CSI2 class at a height of 1.45 meters that counts for the Longines Ranking has been announced, while Sunday's Grand Prix, also at a height of 1.45 meters, will be the highlight of the sporting part of the program. According to the official FEI schedule, Sunday's World Cup Grand Prix FEI LR2 class is planned as a competition with one basic round against the clock and a possible jump-off, with a limit on the number of starters and a prize fund for that class of 28,500 euros.
The total prize fund of the event has been announced in the amount of 85,000 euros. The official event website also lists two FEI ranking classes, free entry to the stands, a new outdoor warm-up arena with an area of 3,400 square meters and accompanying facilities for the audience. Such data confirm that Samobor is not hosting only a national tournament in an expanded format, but an event aligned with international standards that require technical, sporting and organizational preparation.
The Grand Prix in show jumping is usually the most attractive part of the tournament because it brings together the best-placed and best-prepared rider-and-horse combinations. Courses at a height of 1.45 meters require a high level of precision, strength, speed and concentration. A mistake at an obstacle, knocking down a rail or exceeding the time can decide the ranking, while the jump-off further intensifies the tension because it often requires the shortest possible route while maintaining technical safety. That is why Sunday's program will be the central point for sports enthusiasts, but also for the wider audience that encounters show jumping through an event of this format.
The return of the World Cup and a message from state institutions
State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport Josip Pavić emphasized that the return of the World Cup to Croatia after 18 years carries both sporting and tourism value. In a statement on the occasion of the event announcement, he stressed that equestrian competitions are increasingly present in Croatia and that the Samobor Jumping World Cup has added value precisely because it brings back an international level of competition that had not been held in the country for a long time. According to his words, the event contributes to the promotion of year-round and continental tourism, which is one of the important strategic goals of the Government.
Such a message fits into a broader trend in which sporting events increasingly play the role of destination promoters. Unlike mass one-day gatherings, an international equestrian competition implies a multi-day stay by competitors, accompanying teams, horse owners, judges, sponsors and visitors. This is reflected in demand for hospitality services, local gastronomy, transport and
accommodation offers close to the event venue. That is precisely why organizers and representatives of the tourism sector see the event as an opportunity to connect sport, the local economy and the promotion of a continental destination.
It is important, however, to maintain a realistic measure: a sporting event by itself does not change the long-term tourism positioning of a destination, but it can be a strong incentive if it builds on existing infrastructure, quality organization and continuity of events. In that sense, Samobor relies on its recognizability as an excursion destination, its proximity to the capital, its gastronomic tradition and the natural setting of its surroundings, while the Jumping Samobor World Cup adds international sporting content that can attract a new audience.
Samobor and Zagreb County see an opportunity in an event of high added value
The Mayor of Samobor, Petra Škrobot, emphasized the importance of the event for the city and thanked the Koletić family and the Mirnovec Equestrian Club for their work, effort and engagement in the organization. In her assessment, the competition brings a contribution to Samobor in a tourism, sporting and social sense. Previous competitions at this location were well attended, and this year's edition, because of its world level and greater international reach, is expected to attract an even larger number of competitors and visitors.
At the county level, the event has been presented as an opportunity to profile the destination through quality, not mass appeal. Ivana Alilović, director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board, stated that the Jumping Samobor World Cup strongly positions Zagreb County as a destination of high added value, attracts guests with greater spending power, encourages sustainable development and contributes to creating a complete experience that motivates arrival and a return visit to Samobor. Such an interpretation is especially important for continental tourism, which is increasingly seeking to develop through events outside the main summer season.
Events like this can help a destination extend the season and attract an audience that travels because of a specific interest, in this case equestrian sport, nature, family programming and a premium sporting experience. In Samobor, increased interest is therefore expected in restaurants, local products, walks through the city, excursions into the surrounding area and
accommodation for visitors to the Jumping Samobor World Cup. Such an effect is particularly valuable if it is repeated over several years and if the event succeeds in developing into a recognizable international date.
Etno Farm Mirnovec as the center of the competition
Etno Farm Mirnovec has in recent years profiled itself as an equestrian sports center with the ambition of developing international competitions. The official Jumping Samobor website states that the center is located in Samobor and highlights infrastructure, a professional approach and continuous investment as key prerequisites for organizing increasingly demanding events. For a tournament of this level, it is especially important that the location can accommodate a large number of horses, athletes and visitors, with clear organization of the areas for competition, warm-up and support services.
According to the organizers' announcements, this year's tournament also includes a new outdoor warm-up arena measuring 75 by 45 meters. This item is important because warm-up is not a secondary part of the competition, but a key element of rider and horse preparation before entering the main course. Crowding in the warm-up area, poor footing or insufficient flow can affect the safety and quality of performances, so investments in such infrastructure directly support the sporting standard of the tournament.
The organizer and tournament director, Josipa Koletić, said that everything is ready for the start of the Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026 and, as she stated, a fantastic weekend in Samobor. She emphasized that after the arrival of competitors, teams and horses, the conditions have been met for a competition at the highest world level. At the same time, she invited lovers of nature and horseback riding to join the program and be part of the international spectacle. This message clearly shows that the tournament also wants to open itself to an audience that may not regularly follow equestrian sport, but can recognize the attractiveness of the event.
Accompanying program: drone show, riders party, gastronomy and family activities
Alongside the sporting part of the program, Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026 also announces a series of contents intended for a wider audience. On Saturday evening, after the end of the classes, a drone show is planned, followed by a riders party. During all four days, visitors will have access to additional activities, including horse walks, a shopping zone and a diverse gastronomic offer. In this way, the competition is shaped as an all-day event, not only as a series of sporting performances in the arena.
This kind of model is increasingly common at international sporting events because visitors expect a broader experience. The sporting part remains the center of the program, but accompanying contents help attract families, recreational visitors, excursionists and visitors who want to spend a day in the destination. In the case of Samobor, the local context brings additional value: the city is known for gastronomy, excursion routes and proximity to natural attractions, so the competition can be incorporated into a longer stay or a weekend plan. For this reason, during the days of the event, interest in
accommodation options in Samobor will probably increase, especially among visitors who follow several days of the competition.
For the organizers, it is especially important to harmonize the dynamics of the sporting and entertainment programs. Competitions last from morning until the early evening hours, and evening contents need to build on the atmosphere without compromising the safety of people and animals. Equestrian sport requires special attention because of the presence of animals, transport, stables and competition equipment, so a successful event depends on the balance between attractiveness for the audience and strict professional standards in the background.
A turning point for equestrian sport in Croatia
After numerous national tournaments, the organizers present Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026 as the beginning of a new development phase for equestrian sport in Croatia. This assessment is not only promotional: the arrival of the World Cup, international riders and a large number of horses creates an opportunity to bring domestic athletes closer to competition they otherwise more often encounter at tournaments outside the country. Domestic riders thereby gain the possibility to perform in a demanding environment, in front of an audience and in conditions that simulate a stronger international rhythm.
Equestrian sport in Croatia does not have the mass appeal of football, handball or basketball, but that is precisely why events like this are important for its visibility. Through the tournament, the public can better understand the discipline of show jumping, the requirements of horse preparation, the role of trainers and teams and the level of investment needed for professional competition. Visibility can encourage the interest of new participants, young riders and sponsors, and in the long term also broader support for infrastructure.
The biggest challenge will be to maintain continuity after the end of this year's edition. If Samobor succeeds in confirming a high organizational level, the tournament could become an important point in the regional calendar and further strengthen the position of Etno Farm Mirnovec as an international equestrian center. In that case, the effect would not remain only on the four days of the May program, but could spill over into future sporting, tourism and social projects connected with equestrian sport.
Practical information for visitors
The competition program is being held from May 7 to 10, 2026, at Etno Farm Mirnovec in Samobor, and classes have been announced daily in the period from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday brings the first Longines Ranking class at a height of 1.45 meters, Saturday is marked, alongside the competition schedule, by the evening drone show and riders party, while Sunday's Grand Prix has been announced as the highlight of the sports program. Entry to the stands is free for all visitors, which makes the event accessible to a wider audience.
Because of the expected arrival of competitors, teams and visitors from several countries, timely planning of arrival is recommended, especially for those who want to follow several competition days. During four days, Samobor will host an event that combines sporting ambition, tourism promotion and a social program, and the greatest attention will be directed toward the main arena, international names and Sunday's Grand Prix. If the organization meets the expectations announced before the start, Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026 could become one of the events remembered as an important point in Croatia's return to the map of world show jumping.
Sources:- Jumping Samobor – official event website with information on the location, program, accompanying contents and free entry to the stands (link)- FEI Approved Schedule Samobor (CRO) 06-10 May 2026 – official competition schedule, class categories, obstacle heights, prize fund and technical program data (link)- City of Samobor – announcement of the international equestrian competition Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026, data on competitors, the program and statements by the organizers (link)- Jumping Samobor – official website of the equestrian sports center and information on Etno Farm Mirnovec, the address and organization (link)- FEI – profile of Alberto Zorzi, Italian athlete in the discipline of show jumping (link)- FEI – profile of Bryan Balsiger, Swiss athlete in the discipline of show jumping (link)- FEI – official information on Longines Rankings and the FEI Jumping World Cup standings (link)- Radio Samobor – event announcement and information from the presentation of the Jumping Samobor World Cup 2026 (link)
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