The Art of Horsepower
A new chapter for Bolesworth International
Every so often, an established event finds a new gear - not through noise or spectacle alone, but through clarity of vision and a renewed sense of purpose. In 2026, Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International steps confidently into that next chapter: a celebration of power, style and culture, seen through a broader lens. This is The Art of Horsepower.
Set within the rolling parkland of Bolesworth Castle, the event returns from 26 June to 5 July with a contemporary identity that blends world-class showjumping with a sophisticated new lifestyle programme. Still anchored by the sport at its core, Bolesworth now expands its horizons to embrace automotive excellence, fashion, food, music and social theatre - a fusion of equine excellence and automotive mastery.
At the centre of everything sit the two Al Shira’aa Grand Prix classes, the heartbeat of the fortnight and the moments when the entire estate holds its breath. The first Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 29 June, delivering the power, precision and drama of top-level showjumping at its most compelling. Riders from around the world meet the castle backdrop in a contest that blends athleticism with theatre - the kind of sporting crescendo that defines summer.
A week later, the second Grand Prix on Saturday 4 July closes the event with equal intensity. These are the pinnacle moments, the true highlights of Bolesworth International, and the reason the world-class sport remains the anchor of everything that surrounds it.
Yet between these two Grand Prix highlights lies a new expression of horsepower.
One of the major additions for 2026 is The Drivers Lawn: a refined social heart where automotive culture takes centre stage. Over the ten days, it will host two distinct themed weekends, each exploring a different vision of horsepower.
The first, Classics Weekend (26–28 June), introduces the inaugural Bolesworth Concours – The Art of Horsepower. A curated showcase of rare, historic and contemporary automobiles, judged to the highest concours standards, it celebrates story, beauty and provenance as much as engineering. Set against the architectural drama of the castle, guests drift through curated displays, long lunches and golden-hour conversations in a setting that feels elegant, immersive and unhurried.
The second, Supercar Weekend (3–5 July), shifts the mood entirely. This is where modern automotive innovation takes the spotlight -celebrating design, performance and contemporary luxury. The contrast is deliberate: classic meets cutting-edge, heritage meets innovation, all connected by the same underlying idea that horsepower, in all its forms, is something to be admired, felt and enjoyed.
Sporting style also takes on a new prominence in 2026. Sporting Style Day on Friday 3 July invites guests to dress with intention — a blend of relaxed glamour, modern tailoring and timeless accessories inspired by the worlds of both thoroughbreds and finely tuned engines. It signals an evolution for Bolesworth: an event where sport and style are not parallel tracks, but part of the same experience.
But what truly distinguishes Al Shira'aa Bolesworth International is its atmosphere. There is no rush, no sense of being funnelled from one attraction to the next. Instead, the event encourages a slower rhythm - afternoons spent on the Champagne Terrace soaking up the atmosphere of the Main Arena, long indulgent lunches inside the VIP Hospitality Pavilion, flowing drinks and a service style that feels polished yet effortlessly relaxed.
The VIP Hospitality Pavilion becomes a natural gathering point for all of this — equally suited to discreet corporate hosting or long, celebratory lunches with friends turning into a lively evening vibe. With panoramic views across the main arena, it places guests at the heart of the drama while still offering the luxury and ease of a modern social hub.
For Cheshire, a county rooted in craftsmanship, heritage and understated luxury, this evolution feels entirely fitting. Bolesworth International has long been a summer landmark; now, with The Art of Horsepower, it speaks directly to a contemporary audience seeking premium experiences. It becomes a place where worlds intersect: equestrian excellence and automotive culture, tradition and modernity, performance and pleasure.
As summer 2026 approaches, Bolesworth isn’t asking to be seen as simply an equestrian event, or a car showcase, or a social occasion — though it is all these things. Instead, it invites guests to reimagine what horsepower means when it is elevated, curated and consciously celebrated.
This is Bolesworth International, reimagined.
This is horsepower in all its forms.
This is The Art of Horsepower.
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