Italian Endurance Championships — Terre Toscane Festival
Four days of long-distance equestrian action among the Brunello vineyards in the Val d'Orcia
About Italian Endurance Championships
Endurance returns to Montalcino
From May 6th to 10th, 2026, Montalcino, in the heart of the Val d'Orcia in the province of Siena, becomes the Italian capital of endurance riding. The Terre Toscane Festival hosts the national championships for this fascinating long-distance equestrian discipline, where horse and rider tackle long trails across natural terrain together, testing stamina, pacing, and the deep bond between athlete and horse.
The event is organized by the Generali Endurance Team with the support of the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE), the International Federation (FEI), and the Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF), in collaboration with the Tuscany Region, the Province of Siena, and the Municipality of Montalcino.
A UNESCO World Heritage setting
The choice of Montalcino is no coincidence: the race tracks wind through the Brunello vineyards and the hills of the Val d'Orcia, a landscape inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Official ceremonies take place at the scenic Castello Banfi - Poggio alle Mura estate, while the operational headquarters, including stables and veterinary checks, are set up in Sant'Angelo Scalo, a hamlet of the Municipality of Montalcino.
A major sporting event
Approximately 300 pairs are expected in total, including 184 in the FEI international races, representing six nations and fourteen Italian regions. The event generates an influx of about two thousand people, including athletes, technicians, support staff, and fans, confirming its status as one of the most important fixtures on the national equestrian calendar.
The race program
- Italian Absolute Championship CEI3* over 160 km, the premier event;
- Italian Under 21 Championship over 120 km and Under 14 over 90 km;
- the new Italian Pony Championship, in its first edition;
- the Criterium, Ambassador, and FISE Italian Cup circuits, as well as the MASAF young horse category.
To ensure animal welfare—the heart of this discipline—a team of ten veterinarians conducts mandatory health checks at the end of each race loop. For those visiting Montalcino during these days, it is the perfect opportunity to combine sporting spectacle with the discovery of the village, its fortress, and the world-famous Brunello wine.
Italian Endurance Championships — edition 2026
The 2026 edition established Montalcino as the capital of Italian endurance. From May 6th to 10th, with the official opening of the stables and ceremonies at Castello Banfi - Poggio alle Mura, around 300 pairs battled it out on the trails of the Val d'Orcia. Despite bad weather on Sunday, the event concluded with great success.
In the premier event, the CEI3* 160 km Absolute Championship, Ita Marzotto triumphed riding the grey mare JM Julieta, finishing the final loop with a significant lead. Among other category victories, Carolina Tavassoli won the 120 km FISE Criterium with Euphorie a.a., also earning the Best Condition award; Antonello Mulas won the 100 km National Trophy with Dolia; and Giorgia Baldicchi won the 100 km Junior Criterium riding Catalin.
Programme Italian Endurance Championships 2026
Tuesday, May 5
- 1:00 PM — Official opening of the stables in Sant'Angelo Scalo
Wednesday, May 6
- Opening of the event and official ceremonies at Castello Banfi - Poggio alle Mura
Thursday, May 7
- 9:00 AM — Italian Pony Championship (first edition)
Friday, May 8
- 6:30 AM — Italian Under 21 Championship (120 km) and Under 14 (90 km)
Saturday, May 9
- 6:00 AM — Italian Absolute Championship CEI3* (160 km), the premier event
- FISE Criterium, National Trophy, Junior Criterium, Ambassador and FISE Italian Cup circuits, MASAF young horse category
Sunday, May 10
- Conclusion of races and awards ceremony
Highlights Italian Endurance Championships 2026
- Victory of Ita Marzotto on JM Julieta in the 160 km CEI3* Absolute
- Debut of the Italian Pony Championship
- Ceremonies at the Castello Banfi estate among the Brunello vineyards
- Around 300 pairs, 184 in FEI races, 6 nations and 14 Italian regions
Prices Italian Endurance Championships 2026
Practical information — Italian Endurance Championships
How to get there
Montalcino can be reached by car via the SS2 Cassia and the Strada Provinciale del Brunello; the nearest motorway exit is Valdichiana (A1), about 50 minutes away. The reference train station is Buonconvento, on the Siena-Grosseto line, with bus connections to Montalcino and the hamlet of Sant'Angelo Scalo. The most convenient airports are Florence and Pisa.
Venues
Official ceremonies at Castello Banfi - Poggio alle Mura; headquarters, stables, and veterinary checks at Sant'Angelo Scalo.
Tips
The 160 km race starts at dawn: to witness the departures, you need to arrive very early. Comfortable clothing and hiking shoes are recommended to follow the action along the trails. It is also an ideal time to combine the event with a visit to the Brunello wineries.
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Where does it take place — Italian Endurance Championships
Castello Banfi - Poggio alle Mura / Sant'Angelo Scalo
Castello Banfi - Poggio alle Mura, 53024 Montalcino