Adelaide Equestrian Festival Sets New Benchmark with Landmark 2026 Event
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Key Highlights
Record attendance of 38,000+ across the four-day Festival
Delivered a $14.8 million economic impact to South Australia
Audience satisfaction rated 4.8/5, with 98.9% of ticket buyers saying they would return
More than 3 million people reached nationally through media and publicity campaigns
The 2026 Adelaide Equestrian Festival has delivered its biggest and most successful event yet, cementing its reputation as both Australia’s premier equestrian competition and equine celebration.
Across four days in the heart of Adelaide, more than 38,000 people attended the Festival — a record crowd and an increase of more than 15 per cent on last year — as spectators experienced world-class equestrian sport in a truly one-of-a-kind city setting.
The Festival also delivered a significant economic benefit to the State, contributing $14.8 million to the South Australian economy through tourism, hospitality, accommodation, retail and event-related visitation.
As the only CCI5* event in the Southern Hemisphere and the only urban horse trials in the world, the Adelaide Equestrian Festival once again brought elite horse sport to a broad mainstream audience, transforming Adelaide’s CBD and parklands into a vibrant celebration of sport, lifestyle and community with an rich family-friendly focus.
Importantly, the success of the event extended well beyond attendance figures.
Independent research showed spectators rated their Festival experience an outstanding 4.8 out of 5, while 98.9 per cent of ticket buyers said they would attend again — reflecting the strong connection audiences continue to have with the event.
The Festival was also praised by competitors, officials and stakeholders for the presentation of the event and its continued focus on horse welfare, which remained central to event operations throughout the week.
From course preparation and footing quality to veterinary support, significant investment and planning ensured the wellbeing of horses remained a priority at every stage of competition.
Chairman Greg Rolton said the event’s continued growth demonstrated the increasing appeal of equestrian sport to wider audiences.
“There really is nothing else like the Adelaide Equestrian Festival anywhere in the world,” Mr Rolton said.
“To see elite five-star competition take place in the centre of a capital city, with thousands of people enjoying the atmosphere both inside and outside the competition arenas, is incredibly special.”
“What makes this event so important is that it introduces horse sport to people who may never normally attend an equestrian event. Families, visitors, corporate guests and tourists are all able to experience the partnership between horse and rider up close in an exciting and accessible environment.”
“The positive feedback from competitors and officials, particularly around event presentation, has also been extremely pleasing and reflects the hard work of our staff, volunteers and partners.”
Event Director Kirsty Withers said the success of the Festival was only possible through the commitment and collaboration of the broader event community.
“This event is powered by an extraordinary group of people — from our officials, volunteers and staff, through to our athletes, stakeholders, commercial partners and suppliers,” Ms Withers said.
“The professionalism and passion shown by everyone involved across the four days was exceptional, and the atmosphere across the event reflected that shared commitment to delivering something truly world-class.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of the South Australian Tourism Commission and the City of Adelaide, whose partnerships continue to help grow this event and showcase South Australia to national and international audience.”
The Festival’s growing national profile was reflected across broadcast, digital and media platforms.
The Channel 9 Highlights Package attracted more than 210,000 viewers nationally and continues to be available on 9NOW, while Horse & Country TV delivered more than 22,000 unique livestream viewers during the event, alongside more than 8,000 Video On Demand views to date.
A national publicity campaign generated more than $700,000 in media value and reached an audience of more than 3 million people across the three-week campaign period — a 50 per cent increase from 2025 — helping further elevate equestrian sport into mainstream Australian media coverage.
Digital engagement also reached record levels, with more than 544 social media content pieces published across Facebook and Instagram throughout the campaign, contributing to a reach of more than 4 million users across Meta platforms — almost double the previous year.
The strong crowds and vibrant event atmosphere also delivered significant benefits for traders and hospitality operators, with many vendors reporting record sales across the four-day Festival.
The Adelaide Equestrian Festival will return from 15–18 April 2027, continuing its proud legacy as one of the world’s great equestrian events and a major event success story for South Australia.
ENDS
For media enquiries, interviews, or more information, please contact:
Kirsty Withers
Chief Executive and Event Director
0408 804 806
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