Horse of the Year has been cancelled for 2026. Photo / Connull Lang
Horse of the Year, one of Hastings’ biggest annual events, has been cancelled for 2026.
Organisers say they could not secure the funding required to deliver the nation’s premier equestrian event.
That included not securing a major sponsor.
The show costs about $2.2 million to put on and was scheduled for March next year.
The announcement was made today by the Horse of the Year (HOY) board, which said sustained increases in operational costs, combined with reduced commercial and trade revenue, had made the 2026 show “financially unviable”.
The annual gathering, one of New Zealand’s largest sporting celebrations, draws thousands of riders, supporters, spectators and tradespeople to the Tōmoana Showgrounds and contributes millions of dollars to the local economy.
National titles are also on offer across many disciplines.
Established in 1953, the Horse of the Year Show is considered the pinnacle of New Zealand’s equestrian calendar.
HOY board chairman Tim Aitken said his team had worked extensively to find a solution.
“This was an incredibly tough call, but we could not deliver the show to the standard expected of a national flagship event,” Aitken said.
“We needed to make the decision before entries opened and before infrastructure, accommodation and other major commitments were locked in.”
Rights holder Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) remain committed to the long-term future of the event, including a return in 2027.
ESNZ chief executive Julian Bowden said funding for the annual event came from five different avenues – sponsorship, entry fees, gate sales, trades (such as equestrian-related companies running tents and stalls), and council support.
He did not disclose how short they expected to be on the $2.2m figure for 2026, but said they faced funding challenges “across the board” and were “feeling the toughness of the market from both the sponsorship and the trade point of view”.
He also said they had not secured a major sponsor.
“No stone has been left unturned. We have found the economic conditions pretty tough.
“To protect the brand and to ensure [the show] rises again, we have made this really difficult decision.”
He said if a solution had been found they would have pushed ahead with the 2026 event but “the risk was just too great”.
“This is a devastating blow for our equestrian community, from riders to sponsors and of course our trade partners,” Bowden said.
“We will work collaboratively with key stakeholders to bring the show back in 2027.
“That will include assessing whether changes to the format may be needed to deliver the Horse of the Year experience in a more financially viable way. ”
As for national title events scheduled during the 2026 show, Bowden said they were looking at options for what would happen for those events.
Horse of the Year spans 14 disciplines and is where some of the sport’s most prestigious national titles are won.
The event is regarded as a rite of passage for many riders and a showcase of top-level equestrian talent from here and abroad.
More than 400 volunteers, international judges and riders from across New Zealand and Australia contribute to the week-long competition.
Hastings has hosted the event for more than 20 years, but the show was not held between 2021 and 2023 due to Covid lockdowns and Cyclone Gabrielle, before returning in 2024.
The major sponsor was Land Rover in 2024 and Defender in 2025.
Hastings Mayor Wendy Schollum said the cancellation would be felt widely.
“We are saddened not to welcome the national equestrian community in March 2026,” she said.
“The show delivers significant value to local businesses and the tourism economy, and provides enjoyment for our wider community.
“Hastings District Council remains a committed partner and we look forward to working with ESNZ to host the event again in 2027.”