EQUITANA
The World's Leading Horse Show
Highlights
7 halls, 40 nations
Riders, horses, and brands from 40 countries come together in Essen every two years. Seven exhibition halls fill up with exhibitors, demonstrations, and pretty much everything the equestrian world has to offer.
Over 1,000 horses in action
More than 1,000 horses take part across all disciplines throughout the show. From young horses to Grand Prix horses, there's a lot to watch.
500 hours of programming
The programme runs throughout the entire fair week, from training evenings to big evening shows. Across multiple arenas and stages, it adds up to 500 hours of equestrian sport.
Barrier-free fairgrounds
All halls and outdoor areas are equipped with ramps, elevators, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms. The entire fairgrounds are fully navigable without restrictions.
What is EQUITANA?
EQUITANA is an international equestrian trade fair held at Exhibition Centre Essen in North Rhine-Westphalia, running 18–24 March 2027. Spread across seven halls and more than 30,000 square metres of exhibition and show space, around 650 exhibitors from 40 countries present products, horses, and services covering the full breadth of equestrian sport. EQUITANA is an industry event aimed at trade visitors, breeders, retailers, trainers, federations, and equestrian professionals, rather than a general-public day out. A ticket gets you into a dense programme spanning dressage, show jumping, eventing, and multiple riding styles, alongside training sessions with international riders and the HOP TOP Show, a large-scale show production featuring over 1,000 horses. The EQUITANA brand has long stood for this combination of trade exhibition, sport, and live performance, and returns to Essen in March 2027.
EQUITANA at a Glance
What do you need to know beforehand?
What happens at EQUITANA?
EQUITANA 2027 runs for seven days, Thursday 18 March through Wednesday 24 March. Halls open daily at 10:00, closing at 18:30 from Thursday through Tuesday, and at 18:00 on the final day. More than 500 hours of programming are spread across the week: demonstrations and training sessions in dressage, show jumping, and eventing, talks, and appearances by international riders. Confirmed names include Ingrid Klimke (Olympic champion, eventing), Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Benjamin Werndl (member of the German Olympic squad), Isabell Werth, Uta Gräf, Simone Blum, Kenzie Dysli, and Pat Parelli. The HOP TOP Show is the headline evening production, a large-format show with more than 1,000 horses, where participating riders have described the experience as a genuine step outside their competitive comfort zone: performing and presenting in front of thousands of spectators is a different challenge from competing alone. Across the week, dressage performances, show jumping demonstrations, and show acts alternate across the seven halls.
Where does EQUITANA take place?
EQUITANA takes place at Exhibition Centre Essen (Messe Essen) in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. The venue is a large modern congress and exhibition complex; for EQUITANA, seven halls are in use, with entry via Hall 6 and the South entrance. The site is spread out, the distances between halls can add up over the course of a day, so comfortable footwear is a practical choice. Essen sits at the centre of the Ruhr region and is well connected by road and rail from across Germany and neighbouring countries.
Maps disabled
Interactive maps are disabled because they transmit data to Mapbox (US servers).
The Messe Essen exhibition centre is reachable by train via Essen Hauptbahnhof, about 15 minutes on foot or by shuttle bus from there. By car, the A40, A42, and A52 motorways lead directly to the site, with parking on-site and Park & Ride options nearby. Horse trailer and lorry drivers use a separate entrance via Messeallee, where dedicated spaces are available.
Entry to EQUITANA 2027 is ticketed. Options include day tickets for adults and children, a family ticket, and a VIP day ticket. Atmosphere A visit moves you through seven days of trading floors, show horses, training arenas, and an audience drawn from across the equestrian world. Food and seating are available between the halls. The format suits people who are active in equestrian sport, as spectators, buyers, or professionals looking to connect. Good to know
- Dogs are welcome on the grounds.
- The site is large, bring comfortable shoes.
- Tickets are available on the official EQUITANA website.
EQUITANA has a dedicated family area with pony rides, a bouncy castle, and painting activities for children. The space gives kids their own programme while adults explore the rest of the fair. Additional play opportunities and age-appropriate activities are available within the family zone.
Exhibitors and trade visitors with a professional connection to equestrian sport are the primary participants at EQUITANA, riders, breeders, retailers, trainers, and federation representatives who register and receive accreditation in advance. Registration Interest registration for exhibitors and participants is handled via the official form on the EQUITANA website. Accommodation Hotels and accommodation in Essen and the surrounding area can be booked through official partners or standard booking platforms. Further details are available on the EQUITANA website under 'Visitor Info'.
The exact terms for ticket returns and cancellations are set out in EQUITANA's general terms and conditions. Details on refunds in case of cancellation or rebooking are available on the official EQUITANA website under 'Visitor Info'.
Who's behind it?
RX Deutschland GmbH
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