Valkenswaard, The Netherlands – September 02, 2026 – Dutch show jumping fans will be able to follow the Longines Global Champions Tour of Valkenswaard on NOS, bringing the world’s best riders and horses to a major national audience during a landmark year for Global Champions.
The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard will be broadcast live on NOS/NPO/NOS.nl on Sunday 6 September from 13.30. The announcement comes as the Longines Global Champions Tour prepares to return to its spiritual home at Longines Tops International Arena from 4–6 September. With Global Champions celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, the return to Valkenswaard represents a fitting meeting of the series’ past, present and future.
For Dutch star Harrie Smolders (NED), the event carries particular significance. He returns to the venue where he and the remarkable Monaco claimed an emotional home victory in the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard CSI 5*. Twelve months after finishing second in the same class, Smolders and Monaco returned with purpose. They delivered the only double clear of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix to secure victory in front of a sold-out and jubilant Dutch crowd.
“The atmosphere and the reaction from the crowd are what I remember most,” Smolders reflected. “We had finished second there the year before, so to come back and win made it even more meaningful. Monaco jumped an incredible double clear and once again showed what an exceptional horse he is. Winning any five-star Grand Prix is special, but to do it in Valkenswaard, in front of the Dutch crowd and with a horse like Monaco, made it a day I will always remember.”
The victory added another chapter to the extraordinary career of Monaco, whose longevity, consistency and ability to perform on the sport’s biggest stages have made him a firm favourite with fans around the world.
“Monaco is a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” Smolders said. “His consistency at the highest level has been remarkable, but what makes him particularly special is his character and intelligence. He understands the sport and always knows when it is important. We have built a partnership over many years, and that experience and trust make a huge difference in the biggest classes. I am incredibly grateful to him, his owners and the whole team behind us.”
Returning to the Heart of Global Champions
Founded by Olympic gold medallist Jan Tops in 2006, the Longines Global Champions Tour was created to bring the very best of show jumping to exceptional destinations around the world. Twenty years later, the Tour spans continents and connects new audiences with elite equestrian sport, while Valkenswaard remains at the heart of its story.
“Valkenswaard is always a very special event for me,” Smolders explained. “It is one of the most important venues in our sport and, as a Dutch rider, you really feel the support from the home crowd.The facilities are outstanding, and everything is designed around allowing the horses and riders to perform at their best. There is always a different feeling when you compete at home, and I’m really looking forward to returning.”
Smolders has witnessed first-hand the growth and development of the series, both as a leading international rider and a former Longines Global Champions Tour Champion.
“The Tour has played a very important role in the development of our sport,” he said. “It has taken show jumping to some incredible locations, created new opportunities for riders and owners, and introduced the sport to audiences around the world.
“The standard has continued to rise, both in terms of the competition and the presentation of the sport. You see the best riders and horses competing against each other throughout the season, and that consistency makes the Championship very difficult to win. Valkenswaard is at the heart of that history, so it is fitting to return there during the 20th-anniversary year.”
Source: Press Release from the Longines Global Champions Tour
Photos: © LGCT / Stefano Grasso
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