The Defender Burghley Horse Trials is set for a fresh look in 2026 as organisers seek to attract new generations of fans while preserving the traditions that have made the prestigious event a fixture of the sporting calendar.
Fresh Feel for 2026
Event director Martyn Johnson believes a refreshed approach to the prestigious 5* event will ensure it appeals to as many people as possible. The 2026 edition will be the 65th edition of the Trials, which is one of the jewels in the three-day eventing calendar.
It has developed into a multi-faceted event over the years, with the world-class eventing taking place alongside a large shopping experience and other attractions. Johnson knows that the sport remains the centrepiece of the four days in September but revealed his team are ensuring Burghley is always evolving to stay ahead of the competition and open its doors to as many fans as it can.
He said: “It’ll be quite a fresh feel for people who come to Burghley this year. There’s quite a big change to the shopping area, we’ve got a new shopping avenue round the house arena. It'll feel a little bit different for people, whilst we'll still have the traditional elements that people really enjoy.”
Balancing Tradition and Innovation
“It's important that we make sure we provide for both people who've been coming for a long time and the younger generations who have maybe different expectations and a different view of the event,” Johnson added. “We're always very conscious of that — we don't take it lightly when we're making decisions about changing things on the event site or adding things in. It's always very considered, and hopefully we get the right balance.”
“The lifestyle side of things is really important — that's something that's developed quite a bit in the last three or four years - but fundamentally, it is still a five star major sporting event and everything wraps around that. That's the main attraction of Burghley, and I think that still remains the case.”
Planning for Sustainability
Looking to the future is one of Johnson’s key tasks, as Burghley seeks to continue to innovate amidst a difficult climate for large-scale events. Operating costs are a key issue for the Trials but Johnson and his team are planning a decade in advance to ensure that the event’s long history continues to be written.
He added: “One of the biggest threats to Burghley is just the general rising cost of running any event — the risk profile now, of the budget, has grown considerably since Covid. We’re always very conscious that we can't just whack that onto the cost of a ticket. We have to be a little bit creative in terms of how we present things at the event, and we also want to keep moving things forward, so we have to look towards different sources of revenue to make sure the event still is sustainable.”
“We actually have quite a detailed strategy in place that we created about 18 months ago now, and the pillars of how we take the event forward are key to how we make decisions. It's making sure we keep the key elements that have made it successful, whilst also taking it forward. It's really about having the right balance of the traditional elements and how we bring in the new elements as well.”
Defender Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September 2025) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
