🐴 The Jerez Horse Fair 2026 is not just any fair: it is the most eagerly awaited equestrian event in a city where the horse is a religion.
Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, it combines the passion for the Pure Spanish Horse with the joy of Andalusian fairs.
For nine days (from 4 to 10 May 2026), Jerez dresses in polka dots, flamenco dresses and short jackets to pay tribute to its greatest ambassador. At The Sun Places we organise a unique experience for you that connects Jerez with The City of Seville, so you can enjoy the best of both provinces without giving up luxury.
When is the Jerez Horse Fair 2026?
📅 The Jerez Horse Fair 2026 is from 9 to 16 May 2026 (both inclusive). Although it officially lasts a week, the pre-events start at the end of April with the Spanish Dressage Championship and the Pure Spanish Horse Morphological Competition.
The opening speech takes place on 8 May, and the lighting gives the starting signal on the night of the 9th. The culminating moments are the carriage parade, the great cavalcade and the Vaquera Dressage Competition.
The recommended times to visit the fairground (the González Hontoria Park) are from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to eat in the casetas, and from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. for the night-time bustle. If you prefer a more authentic and family-friendly atmosphere, come in the morning to see the equestrian competitions.
📍Where is the Jerez Horse Fair 2026 located?
The Jerez Horse Fair 2026 is held in González Hontoria Park, a 12-hectare fairground located south of Jerez de la Frontera, next to the San Miguel neighbourhood and just a 15-minute walk from the historic centre (Plaza del Arenal, Cathedral and Alcázar).
This park, designed at the beginning of the 20th century, has more than 200 casetas (many of them private, but also public such as the municipal caseta and that of the horse associations).
The Jerez Horse Fair 2026 is very close to emblematic points such as the Tío Pepe Winery (González Byass), the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art (10 minutes by car) and the Archive of the Indies (although this is in Seville, we mention it as a historical reference for your combined route).
Our Luxury Apartments in Seville or our Luxury Apartments in Sanlúcar de Barrameda are the perfect base: from the capital Seville (just 1 hour by train or car) you can travel to Jerez to enjoy the fair and return to rest next to the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza in Seville. From Sanlúcar de Barrameda the distance is 25 minutes.
📜 History of the Jerez Horse Fair 2026
The Jerez Horse Fair 2026 has its roots in the late 19th century. The first edition dates back to 1897, when a "Livestock and Agricultural Products Exhibition" was held in the Paseo de las Delicias. But it was not until 1905 that the horse morphological competition was included, giving rise to the equestrian tradition.
In its early days, the fair lasted three or four days and had only a few wooden casetas. Over the decades, it gained prestige thanks to the quality of the pure Spanish horse bred in the Jerez countryside.
In 1948, it was definitively moved to González Hontoria Park, which was remodelled to accommodate more than a hundred casetas, streets named after foremen and stud farms, and a large central track for exhibitions. The fair was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 1970 and International in 1980.
In the 80s and 90s, the rise of flamenco and the fashion of faralaes dresses consolidated the festive side. In 2026, the fair celebrates 129 years of history, and each edition pays tribute to the old horse traders who gathered at the Fairground.
From the carriages of the Spanish royal family to the best riders in the world have paraded through its streets. It is, without a doubt, the equestrian soul of Andalusia.
🏛️Who organises the Jerez Horse Fair 2026?
The Jerez Horse Fair 2026 is organised by the City Council of Jerez de la Frontera, through its Department of Festivals and Tourism, in collaboration with the Royal Carriage Club of Andalusia, the Association of Pure Spanish Horse Breeders (ANCCE) and the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art Foundation.
Brotherhoods, flamenco groups and neighbourhood associations that manage private casetas also take part. Institutional sponsorship is provided by the Provincial Council of Cádiz, the Regional Government of Andalusia and Jerez wine brands such as Tío Pepe, Lustau and González Byass.
The Sun Places advises you on how to get invitations to the most exclusive casetas, book boxes at the Vaquera Dressage Competition and combine the fair with a private visit to the century-old wineries.
🍽️ Seville cuisine and wines at the Jerez Horse Fair 2026: fried fish, spinach with chickpeas and much more
Seville cuisine takes centre stage in the culinary offering of the Jerez Horse Fair 2026, although with a Jerez accent.
In the casetas, you cannot miss: Andalusian fried fish (anchovies, sole, whiting, squid), classic spinach with chickpeas (a dish of Moorish origin served as a tapa), whisky sirloin (from Salamanca but very popular at Andalusian fairs), Iberian ham cut with a knife, camaron fritters (from Sanlúcar) and onion tuna if in season.
The mandatory pairing is with Sherry wine: Fino (dry and light, ideal with fried fish), Manzanilla (more saline), Amontillado (for meats) and Oloroso or Cream for desserts. In Hell Street (fairground rides area) you will find churros with chocolate and candy floss stalls.
For a luxury gastronomic experience, we recommend booking at the casetas of the Royal School Foundation or at the Domecq Stud Farm caseta, where you eat à la carte with top-quality products.
The Sun Places arranges a tapas route for you through the best casetas, and if you prefer author cuisine, we take you to Mantúa (Michelin star in Jerez) or to the restaurant LÚ Cocina y Alma (by chef Juanlu Fernández) in the year when Jerez is Spanish Gastronomy Capital.
🏅What the Jerez Horse Fair 2026 represents for Seville, Andalusia and The Sun Places
For Andalusia, the Jerez Horse Fair 2026 is the highest expression of equestrian culture and stately tradition. Jerez is the world capital of the horse, and this fair attracts breeders, riders and fans from more than 30 countries.
For Seville, although the fair is in Jerez, the link is inseparable: many Seville families have their own caseta, the carriages take part in the Seville April Fair, and the Guadalquivir River connects both cities through the history of the wine trade.
For The Sun Places, it represents the opportunity to offer a bicultural luxury trip: Stay in a Luxury Apartment in Seville (in the heart of the Arenal neighbourhood with María Luisa Park just a stone's throw away), travel to Jerez by high-speed train to experience the Jerez Horse Fair 2026, and return at sunset to stroll along the banks of the Guadalquivir River.
It is the perfect combination of Jerez equestrian elegance and Seville's magic.
🐎The star events of the Jerez Horse Fair 2026: carriages, vaquera dressage and morphological competition
The Jerez Horse Fair 2026 would not be the same without its equestrian milestones:
- Pure Spanish Horse Morphological Competition (PRE): Held in the annex to González Hontoria Park. More than 300 horses compete for the title of "Best Horse in Spain". Breeders exhibit specimens from legendary bloodlines such as Domecq, Terry or Osborne.
- Luxury Carriage Parade: The big day (usually the Tuesday of the fair). 19th-century carriages, landaus, victories and brakes, pulled by teams of horses decked out with silver harnesses and tassels. Riders and horsewomen dressed in frock coats, top hats and walking suits of Andalusian high society.
- Vaquera Dressage Competition: An exhibition of equestrian skill inherited from Andalusian cowboys. The horse must perform gallops, dead stops, turns on itself and the famous "garrocha" (a long pole that the rider sticks into the ground while galloping).
- Great Cavalcade of the Opening Speech: On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of riders and horsewomen go through the streets of the historic centre (from Alameda Cristina to the fairground) accompanied by floats, paso dobles and sevillanas.
- Spanish Dressage Championship at the Royal School: Prior to the fair, one of the most prestigious high-level dressage competitions (pirouettes, flying changes, piaffé and passage) is held at the tracks of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.
To complete the experience, every night at the municipal caseta there are Flamenco and Spanish ballet shows, and on the main street of the fairground you can see Horse Rides until the early hours of the morning.
📜The Archive of the Indies and the historical relationship with horse breeding
Although the Archive of the Indies is located in Seville (next to the Cathedral and the Alcázar), it holds a fascinating connection with the Jerez Horse Fair 2026.
Its collections contain thousands of documents from the 16th to the 19th century that certify the shipment of Andalusian horses to America. The Spanish conquistadors took Spanish horses (predecessors of the current PRE) to Mexico, Peru and Argentina, forever changing the equestrian history of the continent. Jerez was one of the main export points thanks to its port (nearby, in the Bay of Cádiz).
The files of the Archive of the Indies contain the names of Jerez stud farms from the 18th century that already bred "walking and galloping horses".
Therefore, when you visit The Sun Places in Seville, we can arrange a private visit to the Archive of the Indies for you to see these historical documents before going to the fair. This way you connect two centuries of equestrian history.
🏠The perfect plan with The Sun Places for the Jerez Horse Fair 2026
Friday (30 April or day before the fair):
- In the afternoon, a walk through María Luisa Park and Plaza de España to acclimatise to the Andalusian light.
- Dinner at Abades Triana (with a terrace over the river) or Cañabota (a Repsol sun, seafood cuisine).
Saturday (first day of the fair):
- Breakfast of churros at Valor (by the river).
- In the morning, AVE train to Jerez (1 hour) or Private Transfer. Arrival at González Hontoria Park for the opening speech and the night-time lighting (from 9:00 p.m.).
- Lunch in a private caseta (managed by The Sun Places): Andalusian fried fish, spinach with chickpeas and Sherry wine.
- Afternoon: PRE Morphological Competition. Guided visit to the stables of emblematic stud farms (Domecq, Álvaro Domecq).
- Night: Dinner at the Royal School Restaurant (inside the equestrian facilities, subject to availability) and then dancing sevillanas.
- Return to Seville on the last train (12:30 a.m. or private vehicle).
Sunday:
- Relaxed morning: visit to the Archive of the Indies (with a guide specialised in equestrian documents).
- Lunch at El Rinconcillo (the oldest tavern in Seville, founded in 1670): try the whisky sirloin and the house Sherry wine.
- In the afternoon, shopping for equestrian handicrafts (Cordoban hats, boots, spurs) in the city centre shops. Carriage ride through María Luisa Park.
- Farewell with a tasting of Sherry wine and Andalusian cheeses at Casa del Vino (Rodrigo Caro street).
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your experience at the Jerez Horse Fair 2026. Train, casetas, private guides and the luxury of sleeping in Seville. Experience it with us! ✨
But if you prefer other destinations, The Sun Places also has ready for you: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús and More luxury apartments in Seville so you can continue discovering Andalusia.