Julius Bär Beach Polo World Cup Sylt

Polo on the Sand Since 1998

The Beach Polo World Cup Sylt has been held on Hörnum's East Beach by the Polo Club Sylt since 1998 — one of the most unusual and well-known polo events in the world. On a pitch directly on the sand, with the Hörnum sandbar in the background and the North Sea as a backdrop, six teams battle for the main sponsor Julius Bär's cup over a Whitsun weekend. The sport blends with the special atmosphere of a beach event — and with the social gathering that characterizes Sylt at Whitsun anyway.

Participants 2026: Family History and International Top Level

The 2026 lineup brings together a remarkable mix of family continuity and top-level sport. Five-time tournament winner Mobby Grimme competes with his son Henri — a generational change on the sand. Patrick Maleitzke is on his way to his fifth title and plays with Arlett Heinemann for Team Hörnum, which is aiming for a hat-trick (three consecutive tournament wins). A total of six teams compete for the Julius Bär Cup. The official outfitter is Blackforest-POLO.

Free Admission, Exclusive VIP Tickets

General admission to the beach and the polo arena is free — a deliberate decision by the Polo Club to make the tournament accessible to a broad audience and not to degrade it into an exclusive event for the wealthy. Those who want to experience the game more comfortably can purchase VIP tickets with catering and reserved seating: Saturday €270, Sunday €290. These are limited in availability and can only be purchased in cash at the box office.

Hörnum East Beach and the Hörnum Sandbar

Hörnum is located at the southern end of the island of Sylt and, with around 900 inhabitants, is a small but very well-known tourist community — the Hörnum Odde with its wild dunes is one of the island's most spectacular natural motifs. The East Beach — facing the Wadden Sea side — offers shallow, firm sand, ideal for a polo pitch. Administratively, Hörnum has belonged to the municipality of Sylt since 2009.

Whitsun on Sylt

Whitsun is traditionally the social season-opening weekend on Sylt — the Polo World Cup combines with beach parties, restaurant openings, yacht events, and the Sylt promenade. Those who visit the tournament combine the polo match with the Whitsun hustle and bustle on the island.