Watch Badminton Horse Trials on TV this week and join eventing fans across the world to follow the action at Britain’s first five-star of the 2026 season.
The five-star competition at Mars Badminton Horse Trials begins with the first horse inspection on Wednesday 6 May, with last year’s winners Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo heading in as favourites.
At a glance
- Badminton Horse Trials date: 6–10 May 2026
- Watch Badminton on TV: Badminton TV and BBC (Free)
- Watch Badminton from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off
How to watch Badminton Horse Trials on TV
The BBC will be showing their usual highlights programme that culminates with live showjumping, starting at 1:45pm on BBC2 on Sunday 10 May. This is free to all in the UK with a TV license.
Badminton TV, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, is the only way to watch all the action live, including trot-ups, but you can also watch back on demand. It has a wealth of features, including live rewind and full access to footage of past years.
To subscribe to Badminton TV or reactivate a previous subscription, visit clipmyhorse.tv. A Badminton TV pass costs £22.99.
You don’t need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton, but if you have a premium membership already Badminton TV is included in your subscription.
If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.
Badminton Horse Trials broadcast times
| Session | Date | Time* | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| First horse inspection | Wednesday 6 May | 4:30pm–6pm | Badminton TV |
| Dressage day one | Thursday 7 May | 9am–5pm | Badminton TV |
| Dressage day two | Friday 8 May | 9am–5pm | Badminton TV |
| Cross-country | Saturday 9 May | 11am–5pm | Badminton TV |
| Final horse inspection | Sunday 10 May | 8:30am–10am | Badminton TV |
| Showjumping (session one) | Sunday 10 May | Starts 11:30am | Badminton TV |
| Showjumping (session two) | Sunday 10 May | Starts 2:45pm | Badminton TV |
| Highlights programme with live finale | Sunday 10 May | Starts 1:45pm | BBC (UK) |
*Times are provisional and correct as of 5 May 2026.
Badminton Horse Trials commentary team
The commentary you hear from Badminton Horse Trials will depend on where you’re watch or listening.
John Kyle will be returning to lead the commentary team on Badminton TV, with a host of special guests throughout the week, including former European Champions Nicola Wilson and Tina Cook, plus New Zealand championship rider Lucy Jackson.
The BBC coverage will be hosted by Nick Luck, Tina Cook and Clare Balding.
On site commentary comes from Roly Rickord, Tadgh Ryan, Hugh Lochore and Spike Milligan.
Radio Badminton is fronted by Jo Thoenes and Sam Lloyd. They’ll be joined by Bobby Hayler-Wright and Christian de Coulon for the dressage, followed by Matt Heath, Daisy Berkeley and Nick Gauntlett during the cross-country and showjumping. You’ll also hear from Ben Way in the mixed zone and Ginny Howe as their roving reporter.
Is there a Badminton Grassroots live stream?
Action from the LeMieux Badminton Grassroots Championships is not being live streamed via ClipMyHorse.TV. If you want to watch the action, you will need to attend in person.
How to watch Badminton Horse Trials from anywhere
If you’re away from home and your normal BBC coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.
There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.
How to follow Badminton Horse Trials with Horse & Hound
Horse & Hound will have three journalists (Pippa Roome, Lucy Elder and Martha Terry) and a photographer on the ground at Badminton throughout the competition, plus multiple members of the team supporting remotely.
Follow via our website
We will be creating extensive online coverage of Badminton in addition to what will be included in the magazine report. Our coverage will include:
- Course photos of the five-star and Grassroots Championships tracks (Wednesday, 6 May)
- Full form guide with details of every horse and rider competing
- Times for the next day’s competition so you know when your favourites compete and preview pieces so you know what to watch out for
- Breaking news and numerous reports on all the action as it unfolds throughout the event
- Interviews with first-timers, comeback stars, British heroes, grooms and more
To keep reading after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription either to the website or to the magazine. To buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription, visit horseandhound.co.uk/join. Or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com/XHH-brandsite for a magazine subscription that includes unlimited website access plus the digital version of the magazine. If you are already a magazine subscriber, find out how to activate your website access at horseandhound.co.uk/subscription-benefits
Magazine
- 30 April: preview including five-star cross-country course walk with William Fox-Pitt (watch videos here)
- 7 May issue: full form guide with details of every horse and rider competing, plus interview with first-timer Tom Strawson
- 14 May issue: 28-page special report, containing the best photos, analysis and insight from our team on the ground at Badminton, as well as from experts including Mark Phillips. We will also report on the grassroots championships in this issue.
Horse & Hound subscription offer plus free magazines at Badminton
- Magazine and website unlimited subscription: six issues for £6, followed by our flexible offer of £29.99 quarterly, saving 29%. Visit: magazinesdirect.com/XHH/DJ59M
- Website unlimited subscription: save 40% – pay £52 for a full year of access. Visit: horseandhound.co.uk/join
- Buy a programme at Badminton and receive a free copy of 7 May issue of Horse & Hound magazine
How to listen to Badminton Horse Trials
Check out the Badminton app, which provides free live results and much more this year. Sign up for Badminton Plus membership for £4.99 to access the live Radio Badminton broadcast and receive exclusive offers from on-site exhibitors. Search for Badminton Horse Trials in your app store.
- To stay up to date with all the breaking news from Badminton and other major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
You may also be interested in:
*Exclusive* ‘Competitors will have to dig deep’: watch William Fox-Pitt walk key cross-country fences ahead of Badminton
Three more last-minute withdrawals as competitors start to arrive at Badminton
Badminton’s box office is now open for all – here’s everything you need to know about tickets for 2026
Celebrating Badminton Horse Trials winners: 1949 to current day
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