2026 "Saut Hermès" Equestrian Event Held at the Grand Palais

On March 22, the 16th edition of the "Saut Hermès" equestrian  event was successfully held at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Hermès CEO and sixth-generation family member Axel Dumas (below) stated at the opening ceremony: "'Saut Hermès' means loyalty. Loyalty to exquisite craftsmanship, loyalty to the Grand Palais, loyalty to all partners of the competition, and loyalty to riders from around the world."

Image from Saut Hermès official website

For this grand event, Hermès brought in 2,500 tons of white sand to create a unique setting, dotted with beach huts, side paddocks, and a boutique selling scarves, helmets, riding crops, and of course, saddles. There was even a high-tech virtual reality horse that made visitors feel as if they were flying alongside a winged horse.

A total of riders from 21 countries and 120 horses participated in this event. The obstacles were adorned with exquisite wooden buckles, giant horseshoes, double H logos, or prancing ponies painted in Hermès' signature orange and light blue.

Didier Fusillier, President of the Grand Palais, said: "We are obviously very pleased to host this important event. This continues the great tradition of the Grand Palais since 1901. The first major salon held here was called 'L'Hippique' (The Equestrian Salon). That is to say, just one year after the opening of the Grand Palais and the 1900 World's Fair, horses were already here. We are continuing this tradition in our own unique, personal, and brilliantly beautiful way."

It is reported that this year's event tickets were completely sold out, with a total prize fund of €770,000.