Starting in 2026, the Helsinki Horse Show - a key event in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series - will feature a new venue, a new date, and a new CEO, enhancing the experience for riders, spectators, and the global equestrian community.

Scheduled for 26 February - 1 March 2026, Helsinki will now be the concluding event of the Western European League, meaning it will follow the Gothenburg Horse Show. Currently, and for the 2024/25 season, it’s the second leg in the series after Oslo, with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ scheduled for 27 October 2024.

Helsinki Fair Centre

From 2026, the Helsinki Horse Show will take place at the expansive Helsinki Fair Centre. This move marks a return to its original location, where the event was first established in 1985, now significantly upgraded to accommodate the growing demands of the sport. The new venue offers a larger competition arena, revamped spectator seating, and comprehensive indoor infrastructure, promising an elevated experience for all attendees.

Valtteri Gundersby Appointed CEO

Valtteri Gundersby, a 31-year-old lawyer and equestrian entrepreneur, has been named the new CEO of BCM Scanhorse Ltd, the organizing company behind the Helsinki Horse Show. Gundersby will work alongside Tom Gordin, the long-time Event Director, during a three-year transition period. This leadership change is expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the event’s organisation.

The transition to the Helsinki Fair Centre allows for greater flexibility and creativity in event planning. The new venue, approximately four times larger than the current location, the Helsinki Ice Hall, enables the development of additional side events, improved hospitality services, and a significant equestrian shopping and event venue at the Horse Expo.

FEI Jumping Director, Todd Hinde said;
“We are thrilled with the transformative plans for the Helsinki Horse Show. The move to the Helsinki Fair Centre, the new timing as the final event in the Western European League, and the new leadership under Valtteri Gundersby are set to ensure a world-class experience for athletes, spectators, partners and all participants. These changes will reinforce Helsinki's position as a premier destination in the equestrian calendar.”

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org

The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.

Image: Janne F. Meyer-Zimmermann, GER and Buettner´s Minimax at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League - Helsinki (FIN) Copyright FEI