Vienna has something special to look forward to: when the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) returns to Schönbrunn Palace from September 24 to 27, 2026, not only will world-class equestrian sport be taking place in the capital, but for the first time there will also be a foal auction at a historic setting. Eleven foals will be presented. One of the foals will be the centre of attention: the charity foal, the proceeds from which will go to Lichtblickhof, a children's hospice offering animal-assisted therapy in Vienna.
‘This foal symbolises what has been important to me my whole life: supporting people in need and combining my love for people and animals with social commitment. It's about social responsibility – and the joy of making a difference together,’ says Sonja Klima, initiator and co-organiser of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Vienna. ‘With the proceeds, we are supporting an extraordinary project and sending a clear signal for social responsibility in sport.’
In cooperation with the Westphalian Studbook, eleven selected foals with dressage and show jumping pedigrees will be auctioned off. The foals descent from proven, carefully managed dam lines and are all carried and born naturally by their own mothers – without embryo transfer or surrogate mares. Thanks to this tried-and-tested form of breeding and their internationally sought-after pedigrees, the foals offer an attractive opportunity to secure promising young horses at an early stage.
An evening that combines world-class sport and heart
On Friday and Saturday, visitors will have the opportunity to see the foals live as part of the LGCT Vienna 2026 supporting programme. Experts will be on site to explain the bloodlines, talents and special characteristics of each of the young horses.
The auction itself will take place on Saturday evening in a special atmosphere and will be integrated into the evening programme of the event. ‘The setting of Schönbrunn makes this event unique – and the combination of sport, breeding and charity at a historic setting is unique in Europe,’ says Thomas Münch, auction and sales manager of the Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch e.V. (Westphalian Studbook in Münster, Germany).
With the premiere of this foal auction, the event in Schönbrunn is providing further impulse for international networking between sport, breeding and business, and creating an additional stage for promising young horses.
Dressage premiere expands the sporting profile of the LGCT Vienna
And that's not all: the LGCT Vienna is also opening a new chapter in terms of sport. For the first time, an international dressage competition of the highest standard will take place in the courtyard of Schönbrunn Palace. With the integration of a second Olympic discipline, the LGCT Vienna is expanding its sporting concept and positioning Vienna even more clearly as a location for world-class equestrian sport. As with the show jumping competition, the courtyard of Schönbrunn Palace will provide the stage – a historic setting that lends the competitions a special aura in front of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tradition meets the future: the Spanish Riding School and Children's Day open the programme
In addition to top sporting performances, the 2026 event will focus more on experiences and youth development. A special children's day on Thursday – with free admission for children – is designed to appeal to young target groups. Plans include pony riding, working equitation demonstrations, insights into the work of the farrier, and child-friendly educational stations focusing on horses, nature and the history of Vienna. These insights will enable children to experience first-hand the special value of interacting with horses and develop an understanding of nature and the environment – all at the unique historical setting of Vienna.
The Spanish Riding School will open the event with a festive performance on Thursday evening (September 24). This special opening combines traditional equestrian art, which is listed as intangible UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, with the modern stage of top-class sport and underlines the cultural and historical character of the venue.
More information at www.lgct-vienna.com
Source: Press release LGCT Vienna
