The countdown to CSIO Barcelona 2026 has officially begun. From 1 to 4 October, Barcelona will once again become the world capital of equestrian sport with the 114th edition of the Barcelona International Show Jumping Competition and the highly anticipated final of the Longines League of Nations™, bringing together the world’s eight best nations at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona, with Spain as the host nation. This afternoon, CSIO Barcelona officially kicked off the countdown in the heart of the city, outside Casa Cupra Raval, with the unveiling of the winning obstacle from the 12th edition of the ‘Un Salto para la Ciudad’ design competition.
The winning design, ‘Trazo y Salto: Barcelona en código Mariscal’, was created by Abril Chun Acero Miró, a student at Eina, University Centre of Design and Art of Barcelona. Inspired by the creative universe of Javier Mariscal, she explains: “Barcelona is a creative and colourful city, and Javier Mariscal has been one of its great representatives thanks to his unmistakable graphic universe. His approach to drawing, line and shapes inspired me to reinterpret some of the city’s most iconic symbols and create a design that conveys playfulness, expressiveness and the essence of Catalonia.” Her creation will feature in the CSIO Barcelona 2026 courses at the Olympic arena of the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona.
The ‘Un Salto para la Ciudad’ competition is part of the programme of initiatives promoted by CSIO Barcelona under the umbrella of the Barcelona Equestrian Challenge (BECH). Its aim is to strengthen the connection between the century-old competition at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona and the city, while contributing to the international promotion of Barcelona through sport, design and creativity.
An obstacle bringing CSIO Barcelona to the heart of the city
The obstacle was unveiled today as part of the CSIO Barcelona Opening Party, held at Casa Cupra Raval, one of the city’s leading venues. For one day, the event brought to the heart of Barcelona one of the elements that, in just a few days, will feature in the courses at the Olympic arena of the Real Club de Polo.
The event was attended by the designer of the obstacle, Abril Chun Acero Miró, as well as representatives and authorities connected to CSIO Barcelona, including Abel Garcia, Secretary General of the Department of Sports of the Government of Catalonia; Susana Closa, Managing Director of the Institut Barcelona Esports (IBE); Pablo Sánchez Marquiegui, President of the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona; Luis Comas Martínez de Tejada, President of the RCPB Foundation; Santiago Mercé Muntañola, President of CSIO Barcelona; Juan de Dios Aguirre, Partner & Chief Commercial Officer at Tennium; and Daniel García Giró, Director of CSIO Barcelona.
