“In Vilamoura, our priority is to offer a new environment entirely designed for modern sport,” says Vincent Goehrs

From February 2026, Vilamoura will once again host show jumping competitions. As part of a partnership with Arrow Global, the main owner of the resort’s tourist complex in this Algarve seaside town in southern Portugal, GRANDPRIX Events has commited to staging international sporting events there for the next fifteen years, up to CSI5* level.

The venue has been under construction for several months, with brand-new, ultra-modern infrastructure. From the safety and comfort of the horses to the sporting and extra-sporting experience of riders and their entourage, GRANDPRIX aims to deliver flawless, top-quality service. Vincent Goehrs, president of GRANDPRIX, explains the full scope and long-term vision of this major project.

 

Starting in February 2026, GRANDPRIX Events will organize its first shows in Vilamoura, Portugal. How did this initiative come about?

European riders increasingly want and need to extend their competition seasons. Like Spain, Portugal benefits from temperatures and sunshine unlike any northern European country, not even the south of France. GRANDPRIX has been wanting to develop a project on the Iberian Peninsula for several years. In this context, we met with Arrow Global, the main owner of the Vilamoura resort complex, which is investing several hundred million euros in the destination. Arrow Global wanted to redevelop a long-established equestrian site that had been hosting international shows since 2000. The goal is to better meet the expectations of all stakeholders in our sporting community—professional and amateur riders, grooms, owners, breeders, and dealers—and to offer them a venue capable of welcoming the entire show jumping family every year, from October to March.

Furthermore, Portugal, which has not hosted a CSI5* since 2019, is a fast-growing, dynamic, and attractive territory in terms of tourism and economy. We are therefore happy to contribute to this momentum and to ensure that equestrian sports become an additional driver of economic development in this beautiful region of Portugal, the Algarve.

For several months, you have undertaken a radical modernization of the infrastructure. What are the main changes expected?

The site as riders, accustomed to competing in Vilamoura, knew it mainly consisted of temporary structures. To modernize the infrastructure, we first demolished everything. We then started to develop a modern project. In practical terms, riders will have four sub-irrigated competition arenas (one grass and three sand), four large warm-up rings, a 5,000-square-meter covered training arena, and lunging areas. There will be 600 permanent stalls at the opening, measuring 3.5 × 3.5 m, as well as large outdoor areas allowing horses to get away from the competition atmosphere and move around comfortably.

We are genuinely convinced that quality goes hand in hand with space. This is why we wanted to maximize the space available for training and limit the number of horses. We want to guarantee that every horse and rider can perform in the best sporting and sanitary conditions, which we believe is crucial. A veterinary clinic offering all the services necessary for riders and horses who settle in Vilamoura for longer periods will also be available on site. Finally, the venue will include three restaurants: one for the general public, one in the stabling area, and a large 1,000-square-meter hospitality lounge.

How will the Vilamoura Equestrian Centre stand out from other venues hosting fall and winter tours?

The main difference compared to other circuits we know, most of which are very well organized and on high-quality sites, is precisely the modernity of the infrastructure. From February 2026, we will offer a new environment designed to meet the needs of modern sport, whose requirements now go far beyond the quality standards of twenty of thirty years ago, particularly in terms of equine welfare. Our focus is to build a site in tune with the times and ongoing developments, with a vision for 2040. This is why, for example, the stalls are significantly larger than what is required by the FEI. The aim is to anticipate both the riders’ expectations and future regulatory changes. We are pushing limits in terms of modernity, arena quality, and comfort for both horses and humans. When hosting hundreds of horses in one place, safety and comfort must be paramount. As for the riders and their teams, we want them to feel at home and enjoy a flawless sporting and extra-sporting experience.

We are fortunate to be developing this project in partnership with Arrow Global, which owns Vilamoura’s five golf courses, three marinas, a major hotel portfolio, and numerous real-estate developments. Our ambition is to offer riders seamless access to all these services. Today, this level of integration exists nowhere else in Europe.

So this is a partnership with Arrow Global?

Yes. We had the pleasure of meeting with the leaders of Arrow Global, who were looking for a partner to revitalize equestrian sports in Vilamoura. They asked us about our vision of a solid equestrian project for this site. We spent one year defining the project, then another year bringing it to life through construction. From February 2026, we will enter the most exciting phase: operating the venue we designed together with Arrow Global, the site owner. We have committed, for the next fifteen years, to managing and organizing international sporting events up to 5* level for fifteen weeks a year. For GRANDPRIX Group, this is a major, long-term commitment.

The Algarve is a rapidly expanding tourist region. What can Vilamoura offer its visitors?

Portugal is a highly attractive country. Tourism there has grown strongly over the past years. The Algarve is the tourism center of Portugal. Today, it is very well connected to Europe and beyond. Faro Airport, located twenty-five minutes from Vilamoura, serves eighty European destinations, with direct flights now available from the United States. As for Vilamoura, it is a modern seaside resort with magnificent beaches, three marinas, five golf courses, and many activities for families and visitors of all ages. Its hotel facilities are undergoing a major renovation with the aim of reaching the standards of the finest European destinations.

As part of the Algarve Vilamoura Classic, GRANDPRIX Events will be organizing its first CSI5*. What does this represent?

This first CSI5* project in Vilamoura follows two strategic lines. The first is that we are building a venue designed to host the best in global sport. Naturally, we want to welcome the best riders in the world. We are convinced that the infrastructure will enable them to perform at the highest level. The second is that Portugal, as a sporting destination, deserves a CSI5*.

I believe this will also meet the expectations of the equestrian community, which motivates us even more. Alongside this CSI5*, we will organize CSI4* and 3* shows in Vilamoura, complemented by CSI1* and Young Horses events. Throughout the year, all audiences, regardless of their level, will benefit from infrastructure designed and scaled for 5* competitions.

How does the experience GRANDPRIX Events has gained since 2013 help you to successfully carry out such a large-scale project?

Organizing equestrian events is a profession that requires attention to detail and constant reinvention. It only works if it is based first and foremost in a passion for the sport, supported by rigorous organization and management. Today, GRANDPRIX has expertise that has already been expressed in a wide variety of venues – Deauville, Chantilly, Le Touquet, Cabourg, Compiègne, and Fontainebleau.

We are happy to deploy this know-how, acquired and refined in France, in Portugal, at a site designed and built according to the needs we ourselves have identified. Having the opportunity to design a venue from scratch is also a great responsibility. We have worked hard to address every detail and optimize the quality of both rider and horse experience. This is our absolute priority. We have structured operations to be as efficient as possible, allowing us to focus on the final details that make all the difference. We also want to preserve space for constant reinvention so that those who attend our events continue to be pleasantly surprised and never get bored or indifferent.