The stage is set for a spectacular conclusion to the 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) season as an exceptional line-up of international show jumping stars arrives in Rabat, Morocco, from 30 October to 1 November.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Moroccan capital, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat, founded by Qatar's Years of Culture, will bring together Olympic medallists, championship contenders, established stars and rising talents for three days of elite sporting action.
As the Tour celebrates its landmark 20th anniversary season, Rabat provides a fitting setting for the final chapter of an extraordinary year, with the world's best riders looking to end their campaigns on a high in Sunday's prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Rabat.
Founded by Qatar’s Years of Culture, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat celebrates the powerful connection between sport, culture and international collaboration. Building on the success of the Qatar–Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, the partnership highlights the shared equestrian heritage of both nations, bringing communities together through world-class sport while strengthening cultural ties and celebrating Morocco’s rich traditions.
Newly Crowned Champion Abdel Saïd Leads the Charge
Fresh from securing the coveted 2026 Longines Global Champions Tour Championship title, Belgium's Abdel Saïd arrives in Rabat as the man of the moment. With the championship title already secured, all eyes will be on whether he can add one final LGCT Grand Prix victory to his exceptional campaign.
However, the competition will be fierce.
Germany's Christian Ahlmann, one of the most experienced and decorated riders in international show jumping, arrives determined to finish the season in style. A central figure in this year's championship battle, Ahlmann will be looking to deliver another standout performance on the final weekend.
Austria's Max Kühner also features among the headline names, alongside France's Simon Delestre, both of whom have enjoyed strong campaigns and remain among the sport's most formidable competitors.
Belgium's Gilles Thomas, Dutch Maikel van der Vleuten, and German stars Marcus Ehning, Philipp Weishaupt and Sophie Hinners add further firepower to an already exceptional field.
Hinners arrives following her impressive LGCT Grand Prix victory in Vienna, while Brazil's Yuri Mansur, winner of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard, will be another rider to watch as the world's best prepare for one final showdown.
Adding to the excitement, a strong contingent of Moroccan riders will compete in front of their home crowd, bringing local passion and national pride to the international stage. Leading the home challenge is Abdelkebir Ouaddar, one of Morocco's most celebrated show jumping riders and a familiar face at the highest level of international competition.
He will be joined by fellow Moroccan riders Majid Djaidi, Abdelslam Bennani Smires, Ali Al Ahrach and El Ghali Boukaa, each eager to make their mark at this prestigious event. With Morocco's rich equestrian heritage and passionate sporting community, the home riders can expect an electric atmosphere as they take on some of the biggest names in international show jumping.
The depth of talent heading to Rabat extends far beyond the championship frontrunners. Belgium will be strongly represented by Jérôme Guéry, Pieter Devos, Gudrun Patteet, Victor Bettendorf, Nathan Budd and Zoé Hank Conter, while Ireland's Denis Lynch, Michael Pender, Harry Allen and rising talent Ciaran Nallon add further international quality to the field.
Brazilian stars Marlon Zanotelli, Eduardo Pereira de Menezes and Luiz Felipe de Azevedo will also be in action, alongside the Netherlands' Jur Vrieling and Pim Mulder. Among the other notable names are Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano, Germany's Sandra Auffarth and Philipp Schulze Topphoff, Greece's Ioli Mytilineou, and Mexico's Carlos Hank Guerreiro.
With established champions competing alongside the next generation of international talent, the Rabat Finals promise a thrilling mix of experience, ambition and world-class sporting excellence.
While the 2026 individual championship title has already been decided, the stakes remain high in Rabat. Sunday's Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix offers riders one final opportunity to claim a prestigious five-star Grand Prix victory, with qualification for the exclusive Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix at the GC Playoffs in Verona also adding to the excitement.
From 19–22 November, the qualified Grand Prix winners will reunite in Verona, Italy, for the GC Playoffs, where over €11 million in prize money will be at stake across the season-ending competitions.
But first, all eyes turn to Rabat. With an extraordinary international line-up, passionate home support and one of the most spectacular settings on the calendar, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat promises a fitting finale to 20 years of championship excellence.