The Global Champions Tour show jumping held in Liberty State Park, with the sparkling New York City skyline as a backdrop, was a huge hit last September.
It attracted an enthusiastic group of spectators, many of whom had never seen the sport before. After the final class, organizers were optimistic about bringing the competition back in 2026. But the venue is not on this year’s GCT schedule, which includes a Cairo, Egypt, location for the first time. Miami Beach, a regular stop that wasn’t held in 2025 because of scheduling issues, is back on the calendar and will be the tour’s only U.S. competition.
The absence of the New Jersey location is disappointing. Many of those attending hoped to return to a spot in the grandstand in 2026, while others who saw coverage wanted to attend in person. But they may be able to do that next year.
Jessica Springsteen was among the big-name riders who competed at Liberty State Park last year, with the Statue of Liberty in the background
“The inaugural event was a great success, and we remain very much committed to returning in the future. We continue to maintain a close and positive dialogue with the Liberty State Park authorities and are currently looking ahead to 2027,” Colm McKay, GCT’s technical director, told me on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately,” he explained, “the reason the event will not take place this year is due to the FIFA (soccer) World Cup, with Liberty State Park being designated as a major fan zone. While the tournament (at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.) itself will conclude later in the summer, there remain significant uncertainties around ground conditions and venue availability following such large-scale use. Without the necessary guarantees, it was not possible for us to proceed this year.”
However, he added, “Looking ahead, we have some exciting new ideas planned for our return, building on the strong foundation established at the first edition. In the meantime, our focus turns to delivering an outstanding event in Miami Beach this April, which continues to be a very popular destination with athletes, owners, and fans alike.”
Stay tuned…