United States Eventing Association

The USEA American Eventing Championships Presented by Nutrena Feeds are the pinnacle event for USEA members as the top competitors from across the country go head-to-head at every level from Starter to Advanced. But the week of Aug. 25–30 isn’t all serious competition–it is a whole lot of fun, too! As the AEC moves back to the Kentucky Horse Park this year, the USEA and its co-organizers, Equestrian Events, Inc. and Mary Fike, have an exciting VIP Hospitality and party schedule lined up to make sure you enjoy every moment of your championship experience! Keep reading to learn how to make the most of your week and start planning your outfits for each party theme.

VIP Hospitality

From Tuesday through Sunday, an exclusive Daily VIP Hospitality ringside tent at Rolex Stadium will be serving delicious food and drink for interested attendees. The tent will be open for breakfast and lunch and will have a cash bar available until 5:00 pm. Click here to purchase tickets to the Daily VIP Hospitality. Daily hospitality menus are listed upon clicking on each daily ticket and prices are as follows:

• Single Day Ticket - $78 per day (selections available for Tuesday through Sunday)
• VIP Hospitality Package - $403
  • Includes access to the VIP Hospitality ringside tent for all six days of the AEC
• VIP Hospitality and Party Package - $513
  • Includes access to VIP Hospitality ringside tent for all six days of the AEC, plus one extra ticket for each party (Welcome Reception and Competitor Party).

AEC Parties

Wednesday, August 25 – Western Welcome Reception, sponsored by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

Do you have a beloved pair of cowboy boots sitting in your closet? Kick off the dust and join us at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25 for the Western Welcome Party in the KHP Big Barn! All AEC attendees are encouraged to attend to mingle with fellow competitors and kick off the excitement for the week. Each horse entered will receive one complimentary ticket to the reception and additional tickets can be purchased here for $66 per person.

From cutoff jeans to flannels or a cowboy hat and rope, we want to see your best Yellowstone-inspired outfit! Party sponsor Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation will also be in attendance, so be sure to say hello and learn more about all of the equine health and safety research they’ve been doing to help improve equine welfare.

Thursday, August 27 – Team Spirit Adult Rider Party & Young Rider PJ Party

Calling all Adult and Young Rider program members! Each program will host an exclusive party for their members at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27. The Team Spirit Adult Rider Party will be hosted in the Stonelea/Claiborne Pavilion, and attendees are encouraged to represent their Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships team, if applicable, or their Adult Rider Area Program when attending. Adams Horse Supply will be on-site to help with some exciting games and activities, as well as greeting the ATC competitors.

The Young Rider PJ Party will be hosted in the Rolex Stadium Breezeway, underneath the grandstand, at 6:30 p.m. as well. Break out your comfy clothes and your slippers and join us for an evening of fun! As part of the gathering, the Intercollegiate Eventing Program and Interscholastic Eventing League teams are invited to promote their teams and mingle with other USEA members. If you are looking to join an IEL Club in your Area or are starting to think about eventing in college, this is a great opportunity to meet the members of each program and ask questions.

All USEA Adult Rider and USEA Young Rider program members will receive one ticket to attend the party. Additional tickets will be available for purchase on-site.

Friday, August 28 – Tacky Tourist Competitor Party

Bucket hats and binoculars are encouraged! Celebrate the incredible accomplishment of making it to the 2026 AEC with a Taco Bar and your tackiest travel fit at the competitor party on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The party will be centered around watching the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, where the Champion will walk away with a whopping $30,000 check. Cheer on your favorite combinations while enjoying good food and even better company!

Each horse entered will receive one complimentary ticket to the reception and additional tickets can be purchased here for $66 per person.

Interested in additional tickets for the Welcome Reception and the Competitor Party? Save by purchasing the Party Package here, which includes one extra ticket for each event.

Qualification and Entry Reminders

Entries for the 2026 AEC will open next Tuesday, July 14. The USEA anticipates significant interest in this year’s event with potential for waitlists, so it is strongly recommended that members enter on opening day or during opening week. Entries will close on Tuesday, Aug. 11. As a reminder, you do not need to have complete qualifications to submit your entry to the event. The qualification window is open through Aug. 11, so members are encouraged to enter as soon as possible, including anyone that still has pending qualifications, as competitors will be accepted based on date of entry.

Both horse and rider must be qualified for the AEC at the level they wish to compete at, but they do not need to achieve their qualifications as a combination. Please visit the AEC qualification page, and view the lists of Qualified Riders and Qualified Horses to confirm your current eligibility. Full refunds, minus an office fee, will be provided for any entries without complete qualifications after August 11.

In addition to the individual championship divisions, the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) will also return to the AEC. ATC divisions will be offered for members of the USEA Adult Rider Program at the Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, and Modified levels. Adult Riders interested in participating in the ATC must submit the letter of intent linked here no later than Aug. 1, 2026. National and Area-specific requirements for competing in the ATC can be viewed here.

Additional Helpful Information

The 2026 USEA AEC omnibus page is now available. For a tentative schedule of events, please click here.

The organizing team of EEI and Mary Fike have secured room blocks at several local hotels and camping is available on site at the Kentucky Horse Park. Click here for more information on AEC Accommodations.

Interested in volunteering? The AEC offers flexible morning and afternoon volunteer shifts to accommodate varying schedules. Consider giving time back to the sport while you’re on-site and earn exclusive volunteer gifts in the process. Click here to sign up, and join the AEC Kentucky Volunteer Facebook Group to stay in the know as the event approaches.

Follow along with the AEC updates by joining the 2026 AEC Facebook page. For general questions about the AEC, please email [email protected].

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 through 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 Sponsors: Bates Saddles, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Gallaghers Water, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Kerrits, The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program; Bronze Level Sponsors: 70°, Antech Diagnostics, Athletux, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe; Contributing Level Sponsors: AnimaSol, CrossCountry App, Santa Cruz Animal Health, #WeRideTogether; Prize Level Sponsors: EquiLab, Equiluxe Tack, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, I Love My Horse Boutique, LeMieux, Mare Modern Goods, Natalie Hummel Coaching, Outlaw Nutrition, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman, Ride iQ, Saddle Bird Boutique, Sidelines Magazine, and Strides For Equality Equestrians.

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, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and SmartPak for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.