Horse & Symphony – Gala Concert at CHIO Aachen

Where Equestrian Sport Becomes a Symphonic Show

CHIO Aachen – official name: Concours Hippique International Officiel – has been the world's most important equestrian tournament since 1924 and one of Germany's most prestigious sporting events. Every year, Olympic champions, royal families, and over 350,000 fans from all over the world gather on the grounds of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Integrated into the tournament program since 2003 is an artistic creation by the organizer: Horse & Symphony, the grand gala concert to open the week.

2026 – Special CHIO Year in the Main Stadium

2026 is a special year for Aachen: the city is hosting the World Equestrian Games (FEI World Championships), and the regular CHIO will become the TSCHIO 2026. For this occasion, Horse & Symphony will move to the Main Stadium at Allianz Park for the first time in its history – the largest equestrian stadium in the world, normally reserved for the Grand Prix and the opening ceremony. It will transform from the intimate Deutsche Bank Stadium into a grand open-air opera.

James Bond in the Saddle

The 2026 program is entirely themed around James Bond. The Aachen Symphony Orchestra will play the most famous themes from the 007 film series – from John Barry's original James Bond Theme and Shirley Bassey's Goldfinger to Tina Turner's GoldenEye, Adele's Skyfall, and Billie Eilish's No Time to Die. In the arena, riders, dancers, and acrobats will translate the film themes into choreographic sequences: dynamic Trakehner dressage routines to action themes, slow quadrilles to ballad pieces, and stunt riding to dramatic highlights.

Christopher Ward Bids Farewell

For British conductor Christopher Ward, General Music Director of the City of Aachen since 2019, this evening is a double major event: it is his last concert in this role before he leaves the position in 2026, and simultaneously his largest live audience to date. With his characteristic blend of serious symphonic music and popular show music, Ward shapes the musical direction of the evening.

International Equestrian Art at the Highest Level

Over 50 horses with international riders – including Olympic participants in dressage, vaulting, and show jumping – will create the arena sequences. The Ferberberg Ballet School, a long-standing partner of the show, will also be participating. The result: 90 minutes of open-air theater where orchestral sound, choreography, equestrian performance, and lighting design intertwine.