United States Eventing Association

The 2026 United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is headed back to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, on Aug. 25-30! The championships will again be co-organized by the incomparable team at Equestrian Events, Inc. and Mary Fike. As the spring season heats up, it is time to set your sights on gaining the necessary qualifications to enter this year’s AEC. Get your entries into a USEA Recognized Event near you to start the process!

After a picturesque year at Galway Downs, the AEC will return to the iconic Kentucky Horse Park for what is hoped to be another record-setting championship. With the continued growth of new levels, like Modified and Starter, the AEC will offer up to 28 divisions this year, covering all levels of eventing through the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final. The AEC will also host the 2026 Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) at the Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, and Modified levels.

Entries & Qualifications

Entries for the 2026 AEC will open on Tuesday, July 14 and close on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The USEA anticipates significant interest in this year’s event, so it is strongly recommended that you enter on opening day. A waitlist will be created by level once maximum entry capacities are reached. Completed entries will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, and competitors can enter the event prior to completing their qualifications to secure their space in the championships. If qualifications aren’t met by closing date, the entry will be canceled and refunded.

Both horse and rider must have qualifying MERs at a total of three USEA Recognized Horse Trials during the qualifying period, although not necessarily as a horse/rider combination for Starter through Preliminary Championships. The placing requirement, where applicable, is included in the total of three competitions and must be achieved by the rider and the horse at the level intended for the AEC, although not necessarily as a horse/rider combination. Placing requirements earned through the USEA Amateur Upgrade Policy only apply to the amateur divisions. To view a full listing of qualification requirements by level, click here.

The 2026 AEC qualification period is May 20, 2025, through Aug. 11, 2026, and both horse and rider must be qualified for the AEC at the level they wish to compete. For more information, please visit the AEC qualification page, and view the lists of Qualified Riders and Qualified Horses.

Travel

For those traveling to the AEC from out of town, there are several ways to get to Lexington. The Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) are all within a one-hour radius of the venue. These airports offer non-stop service through various carriers from several major U.S. cities and provide the option to utilize rental cars or public transportation once you’re on the ground.

For traveling around town, visitors can easily access taxis and ride share services, like Uber or Lyft, or take advantage of public bus service in downtown Lexington provided by LexTran. For anyone planning to drive to the AEC, the Kentucky Horse Park is accessible from Interstate 75 north or southbound. When utilizing GPS or phone mapping functions, be sure to use “4089 Iron Works Pike” (not “parkway”) as the street address, as these services may not accurately direct to the park otherwise. For a full list of driving directions, click here.

Accommodation

More information on discounted room rates secured through the USEA and EEI will be available in the coming weeks. Until then, competitors are welcome to review the variety of accommodation options available in the area to start determining needs. If you are interested in staying in a hotel, the Marriott Griffin Gate Hotel and Everhome Suites Lexington North are great local options within 15 minutes of the horse park. For those that prefer rental options, Airbnb and VRBO have many homes and apartments available in the greater Lexington area to accommodate longer term stays and large parties. For those traveling by RV or camper, the Kentucky Horse Park has limited camping spots available for 2026 AEC competitors. Click here or call 859-259-4257 to make your reservation today.

Additional accommodation options will be announced as the event approaches, so continue to check the AEC Competitor Information page for updates.

For general questions about the AEC, please contact Kate Lokey. For questions regarding AEC qualifications, contact Hannah Seagle. To confirm qualifications, visit the AEC Qualified Riders and AEC Qualified Horses lists throughout the year.

About the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport at the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Starter to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of combinations from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. In fact, the 2021 AEC garnered over 1,000 entries and now stands as the largest eventing competition in North American history. The 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on August 25-30 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Gallagher’s Water, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, Standlee; and more!

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Aug. 26-28. Thanks to Adequan’s amazing support, the Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will bring together the country’s top riders to vie for $60,000 in prize money and the title of Adequan® Champion. To qualify for the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final at the AEC in 2026, competitors will need to complete a minimum of two events without cross-country jump penalties at any USEA recognized Advanced horse trials, CCI4*-S, CCI4*-L , CCI5*-L, World Championships, or Olympic Games. Click here to learn more about the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final.

About the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

The Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships, which debuted in 2014, is the capstone event for the USEA Area Adult Team Challenges, providing adults the chance to compete as a team and represent their Area of the country in a friendly and fun environment. Historically, adult riders had three regional Team Challenges in which to compete with fellow adults in a team environment, with the locations changing each year. In 2013, the USEA Adult Rider Coordinators voted to move to support Adult Team Challenges taking place in all 10 Areas across the country, with the finale being the ATC at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. Each Area can send up to nine teams and 39 riders for the BN, N, T, and M levels, plus an additional eight members if they are at the Starter level only. Adult Riders know how to have a good time, and there is no doubt that they bring an increased level of excitement and camaraderie to the AEC! Click here to learn more about the USEA Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank ATC Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and contributing sponsors ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher’s Water, Kerrits, Majyk Equipe, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, SmartEquine, and Santa Cruz Animal Health for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.