Adelaide Equestrian Festival | 16-19 Apr 2026
The Adelaide Equestrian Festival will once again deliver a show stopping 5-star equestrian event at Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi in April 2026.
The Adelaide Equestrian Festival returns to the East Parklands of Adelaide during the April school holidays, combining world-class equestrian competition with a vibrant festival atmosphere. It’s Australia’s premier horse-trials event and the only CCI5 Star event in the Southern Hemisphere. Families can experience elite Dressage, Cross Country and Show Jumping spread across four action-packed days.
The Adelaide Equestrian Festival blends elite sport with community fun, including over 50 retail, lifestyle and food stalls, premium beverages, and plenty of family-friendly experiences. Families with young children can enjoy the ATCO Kids Corral with arts, crafts, outdoor games and face painting, while adults can explore food, wine and horse-sport culture. An expanded Education Hub led by internationally recognised equine expert Dr Andrew McLean offers free seminars on horse behaviour and training for attendees of all ages.
Held in the heart of the city and attracting large interstate and international crowds, the festival celebrates sport, culture and community with something for horse lovers and families alike.
ENTER TO WIN A FAMILY PASS TO CROSS COUNTRY DAY
READ OUR 2026 FAMILY FRIENDLY REVIEW
2026 SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY
Thanks to the generous support of ResourceCo they have been able to keep the Festival FREE for all spectators on Thursday 16 April 2026. With more to see than ever before Thursday is sure to be a great day out for any horse enthusiast or family wishing to immerse themselves in a world-class sporting event.
FRIDAY
Pryde’s Easifeed continue their support of Dressage Day on Friday 17 April 2026, watch as the top international horses dance around the Gillian Rolton Main Arena.
SATURDAY
RB Sellars continues as the naming rights partner to the benchmark competition discipline – Cross Country on Saturday 18 April 2026. Immerse yourself in the thrill and exhilaration through the scenic Adelaide Park Lands.
Festival Director Kirsty Withers said:
“Cross Country Day on Saturday never disappoints. This wildly energetic day sees families and equine enthusiasts spread across the Adelaide Park Lands, enjoying great food and drink, browsing vibrant pop-up markets and soaking up the unforgettable sights and sounds of horses galloping past – a thrilling display of both grace and power – and this year a perfect end to the big day will be watching Tom Curtain perform.”
ENTER TO WIN A FAMILY PASS TO CROSS COUNTRY DAY
SUNDAY
ATCO remains on board as a long-term partner of the Festival supporting a number of initiatives including Naming Rights to the finale, the ATCO Show Jumping Day Sunday 19 April 2026.
Tom Curtain ‘Katherine Outback Experience’
The Adelaide Equestrian Festival in partnership with the City of Adelaide is proud to bring a little country to the city with Golden Guitar winning musician and renowned horseman Tom Curtain ‘Katherine Outback Experience’ presented by the City of Adelaide, on Saturday 18 April 2026.
Scheduled directly following the Cross Country phase of the Adelaide Equestrian Festival, afternoon tickets provide access from 2pm. Enjoy 2.5 hours of the award winning ‘Katherine Outback Experience’. The show is entertaining, engaging, interactive and family-friendly, and consists of:
- 1 hour Katherine Outback Experience Show of real horse training and working dog demonstrations including plenty of hands-on fun for the kids
- 1.5 hours of live music by Tom Curtain, Chris Matthews, Laura Frank
Spectators can purchase tickets to the performance only (tickets to the Adelaide Equestrian Festival Cross Country Day include concert access) with children under 12 FREE when accompanied by an adult. BOOK TICKETS HERE
2026 TICKETS
There are many different ticketing options available to ensure that you have the best possible experience at the 2026 Adelaide Equestrian Festival, ranging from General Admission, to the Giddy Up Club, to the full VIP experience in the Chairman’s Lounge Marquee. There are also extra events such as masterclasses, exhibitions and Saturday night Last Jump Party.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL TICKET INFO & TO BOOK
ENTER TO WIN A FAMILY PASS TO CROSS COUNTRY DAY
READ OUR 2026 FAMILY FRIENDLY REVIEW
Follow the Adelaide Equestrian Festival Facebook page to keep up to date with all event news.
For more information and all enquiries please visit Adelaide Equestrian Festival website or follow their Facebook page.
What: Adelaide Equestrian Festival
When: Thursday 16 – Sunday 19 April 2026
Where: Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi, Adelaide
Who: Everyone
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: supplied – Adelaide Equestrian Festival
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