Ottawa, ON, April 13, 2026 — Equestrian Canada (EC) is pleased to officially announce the 2026 National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships, showcasing the nation’s top horse-and-rider combinations across both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. With premier venues, identical East and West judging panels and a clearly defined qualification pathway, the 2026 Championships promise an exceptional and unified national standard of excellence.
Championship Dates & Venues
- Eastern Championships
October 1–4, 2026
Bécancour, Québec
- Western Championships
October 9–11, 2026
Thunderbird Show Park, British Columbia
FIND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED for Declarations and Qualifications HERE.
Christine Peters, EC’s Senior Manager Dressage Olympic / Paralympic Program is enthusiastic about the return of the Championships following the 2025 edition.
“From emerging talent to seasoned international competitors, the 2026 Championships are where Canada’s top dressage and para dressage combinations will come together to compete, inspire, and define the national standard.
“The success of last year’s Championships showed us this is exactly what we needed at the right time to bring our Dressage and Para Dressage communities together in the spirit of sport. We are looking forward to building on that this year, and in the years to come.”
KEY INFORMATION
Declaration Process
Riders may declare their intent to compete in the 2026 EC National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships during their annual Sport Licence renewal or by updating their declaration at any time through their MyEC account.
How to Declare:
- Select the National Championships Declaration option
- Choose the intended event (East or West), if qualified
- Submit the $25 declaration fee
Key Deadlines:
- Late Declaration Fee: $100 for declarations submitted after July 17, 2026
- Final Declaration Deadline: August 14, 2026
Once declared, riders are automatically added to the EC National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships Ranking List for qualification consideration. Declaration fees collected go to directly support the delivery of the respective East or West Championship event.
Qualification Overview
- Qualification Period: January 1 – August 31, 2026
- Riders must earn a minimum of two qualifying scores at EC Gold or Platinum sanctioned competitions held in Canada
- Scores must be achieved at two different competitions
- Where a judging panel is present, the panel score will be used
- Qualification scores must come from the test with the highest degree of difficulty in the rider’s division
EC will maintain official Qualification Ranking Lists for each division and category (Junior, Amateur, Open) in both regions.
Invitations to Compete
For both the East and West Championships:
- The top eight ranked combinations (including ties for 8th place) in each division and category will be invited to compete for National Championship titles.
Identical National Judging Panels
To ensure fairness and consistency, the judging panels will be identical for both the Eastern and Western Championships, with judges officiating from the same positions at each event.
Judging Panel – East & West Divisions:
- Brenda Minor (Acton, ON) – Senior /FEI
- Joan MacCartney (Manotick, ON) – Senior
- Karen Michele Ashbee (Calgary, AB) – Senior
- Jayne Essig (Nanoose Bay, BC) – Senior
- Margaret Boyce (BC) – Medium
- Championship Highlights and National Titles & Awards
- Mandatory horse inspection prior to competition
- Two-day championship format
- Championship rings with premium footing, announcers, and spectator seating
- Ribbons awarded to 8th place for each technical test
- Championship titles determined by combined scores from two technical tests within division
- Champion and Reserve Champion named for each division and category
- Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion recognized nationally following completion of both events
The 2026 EC National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships represent the pinnacle of Canadian dressage sport, celebrating athletic excellence, horsemanship, and inclusivity across the country.
For full qualification details, test charts, and championship updates, riders are encouraged to visit the EC website including the Info and Rankings page HERE and monitor official communications throughout the 2026 season.
As excitement builds toward the 2026 National Dressage and Para Dressage Championships, Equestrian Canada is also pleased to share an early preview of the 2027 National Championship venues and dates! The Eastern Region Championships will be hosted by Caledon Dressage (September 17-19, 2027), while the Western Region Championships will be hosted by ADA Alberta Dressage (September 24-26, 2027). These confirmed hosts reflect Equestrian Canada’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality championship experiences at premier Canadian competition venues.
Questions?
Please contact:
Christine Peters
Senior Manager, Dressage Olympic/Paralympic Program
cpeters@equestrian.ca