The Season: Crowds flock to the Cotswolds for the MARS Badminton Horse Trials 2026
The MARS Badminton Horse Trials 2026 is a popular fixture in our guide to the British Summer Social Season. Positioned a few weeks ahead of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the calendar, this event provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy a countryside escape in the Cotswolds, with all the thrills of top-level equestrian sport and a fantastic shopping village to enjoy during your visit.
Browse our picture gallery from Badminton 2026 here
This year’s event has started in style with riders from across the world presenting their horses in front of Badminton House for the first Horse Inspection. Many of the competitors donned stylish outfits from the pop-up boutique stores located in the Shopping Village.
Highlights in the Shopping Village include the likes of Fairfax and Favor, which has a live saxophonist serenading shoppers as they browse the collection of beautiful footwear and elegant coats. Another standout store is Culinary Concepts. Their statement interiors accessories will add some extra chic to your dining table.
The octopus wine bottle holder was widely admired, along with the golf-themed bottle stoppers. The boutique is also packed with oodles of equestrian and shooting inspired accessories.
Holland Cooper has a large store that is proving as popular as ever. Holland Cooper has also launched a horsebox at the event in partnership with Bloomfields. While the MARS Badminton Horse Trials Shopping Village encompasses many mainstream brands, it is also the ideal place to search out unique, one-off fashion creations because there are plenty of independent boutiques. The same can be said for interiors, with statement pieces such as the glass top table that is perched on horses heads attracting plenty of admirers.
For those visiting the MARS Badminton Horse Trials 2026 on Friday, HM The Queen will be in attendance in her role as Patron of the Ebony Horse Club. The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort have also been spotted enjoying the occasion, with some celebrity guests expected to visit the event over the weekend.
The first couple of days of the competition sees the riders complete the dressage phase. Thursday and Friday are usually the quieter days of the event from a footfall perspective, ahead of the action-packed cross-country day on Saturday. This is when huge crowds gather to watch the horse and rider combinations tackle one of the biggest tracks in the world. The showjumping phase will decide the final standings on Sunday and this is also a popular day for spectators to attend.
