Harrie Smolders returns to Valkenswaard as defending Grand Prix winner, with the 2026 LGCT action broadcast live to Dutch viewers on NOS.
Harrie Smolders returns to Valkenswaard in September carrying the useful burden of being the defending Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix winner.
The Dutch rider’s homecoming already had a story; now it has a bigger audience too, with Sunday’s Grand Prix set for live coverage on NOS/NPO/NOS.nl. In a sport often better at producing drama than explaining where to watch it, that is no small detail.
Harrie Smolders Has Unfinished Business of the Pleasant Kind
Smolders’ 2025 victory landed twelve months after he had finished second in the same class. This time he and Monaco produced the only double clear, winning before a sold-out Dutch crowd.
“The atmosphere and the reaction from the crowd are what I remember most,” Smolders reflected. “We had finished second there the year before, so to come back and win made it even more meaningful. Monaco jumped an incredible double clear and once again showed what an exceptional horse he is.
Winning any five-star Grand Prix is special, but to do it in Valkenswaard, in front of the Dutch crowd and with a horse like Monaco, made it a day I will always remember.”
That sequence — second, then first — gives his 2026 return more substance than the usual anniversary confetti. He knows the arena, he knows the noise and, crucially, he knows what Sunday afternoon can demand.
Monaco Gave the Victory Its Emotional Centre
The 2025 result also added another major success to Monaco’s long partnership with Smolders.
“Monaco is a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” Smolders said. “His consistency at the highest level has been remarkable, but what makes him particularly special is his character and intelligence.
He understands the sport and always knows when it is important. We have built a partnership over many years, and that experience and trust make a huge difference in the biggest classes. I am incredibly grateful to him, his owners and the whole team behind us.”
The supplied material does not confirm which horse Smolders will ride in the 2026 Grand Prix, so the sequel should not be written before the start list. Still, Monaco’s performance is the reason Smolders arrives with the status of reigning champion rather than merely a popular local hope.
Valkenswaard Meets a Landmark Season
The Longines Global Champions Tour was founded by Olympic gold medallist Jan Tops in 2006. Its 20th-anniversary year therefore brings the series back to a venue described as central to its history: Longines Tops International Arena.
The meeting runs from 4–6 September, with CSI1*, CSI2* and CSI5* competitions, Friday’s GCL team contest and the Grand Prix on Sunday. The timing matters. The championship is moving into an important stage, so Valkenswaard offers points as well as nostalgia. Sentiment is pleasant; points tend to travel better.
NOS Brings the Grand Prix to a Wider Dutch Audience
The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard will be shown live on NOS/NPO/NOS.nl on Sunday 6 September from 13.30. That national exposure gives the event a chance to reach viewers beyond the established equestrian audience.
“Accessibility is very important,” Smolders added. “The easier it is for people to watch and follow the sport, the more opportunity we have to create new fans. You do not need to be an expert to appreciate the partnership between horse and rider or the excitement of a jump-off.
If somebody watches for the first time through NOS and then wants to learn more, follow the riders or attend an event, that is a very positive step for our sport.”
He has a point. Show jumping is not short of immediate jeopardy: one rail can undo a round, a clock can settle an argument and nobody needs a twenty-minute explainer to understand a jump-off.
Home Pressure Comes With the Territory
A Dutch crowd naturally adds expectation, particularly for last year’s winner. Smolders has framed that pressure as fuel rather than freight, recalling how the home support lifted him in 2025.
Tickets are on sale for the three-day meeting, while the NOS broadcast gives those at home access to the decisive Grand Prix without requiring a journey to Valkenswaard.
Smolders already owns one memorable Sunday at this arena. On 6 September, the interesting question is not whether the crowd remembers it. It is whether he can give them another.
