Equestrian Canada (EC) has officially announced the upcoming 2026 National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships, a significant event designed to highlight the country's elite equestrian talent. The championships are scheduled to unfold across two distinct locations: the Eastern Championships from October 1-4, 2026, in Bécancour, Québec, and the Western Championships from October 9-11, 2026, at Thunderbird Show Park in British Columbia. This dual-venue approach ensures broad participation and showcases the nation's top horse-and-rider combinations in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.
A Unified Standard of Excellence
The 2026 Championships are set to provide an exceptional and unified national standard of excellence, according to EC communications. A key feature will be the use of identical East and West judging panels, ensuring a consistent and fair evaluation of all competitors. This approach aims to bring the Dressage and Para Dressage communities together, building on the success of the previous year's championships and fostering a cohesive spirit within the sport. Christine Peters, EC's Senior Manager of the Dressage Olympic/Paralympic Program, expressed enthusiasm for the return of the championships, stating, "From emerging talent to seasoned international competitors, the 2026 Championships are where Canada's top dressage and para dressage combinations will come together to compete, inspire, and define the national standard."
Declaration and Qualification Process
Riders intending to compete in the 2026 National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships must declare their participation. This can be done during their annual Sport Licence renewal or by updating their declaration through their MyEC account at any time. The declaration process involves selecting the intended event (East or West) and submitting a $25 declaration fee. A late declaration fee of $100 will apply for declarations submitted after July 17, 2026, with the final deadline for declarations being August 14, 2026.
Qualification for the championships will be based on a period running from January 1 to August 31, 2026. Once declared, riders are automatically added to the EC National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships Ranking List for qualification consideration. The top eight ranked combinations in each division and category, including ties for eighth place, will be invited to compete for the national championship titles.
Looking Ahead for Equestrian Sport
Beyond the 2026 championships, Equestrian Canada is also looking towards the future, with early previews of the 2027 National Championship venues and dates already being shared. The Eastern Region Championships for 2027 are slated to be hosted by Caledon Dressage from September 17-19, 2027, while the Western Region Championships will be hosted by ADA Alberta Dressage from September 24-26, 2027. These early announcements underscore Equestrian Canada's commitment to providing high-quality championship experiences at premier venues across the country. The organization continues to be active with other announcements, including the upcoming 2026 Equestrian Canada Annual General Meeting on May 26, and the call for rule change proposals for the 2027 EC Rules, with a deadline of May 31, 2026. These ongoing initiatives reflect a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to the development and governance of equestrian sport in Canada.