Every summer, Gstaad trades its ski slopes for a polo field unlike any other in the world. High in the Swiss Alps, the sport‘s greatest champions gather in a resort where world-class polo meets elegance, hospitality and an incomparable Alpine setting. From the 20th to the 23rd of August, all the ingredients once again appear to be in place for the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad to be an exceptional gathering.

The 2026 edition will be marked in particular by the first participation of Gonzalo Pieres, one of the greatest players in the history of modern polo.

A three-time winner of the Argentine Open, polo‘s most prestigious title, the sport‘s equivalent of Wimbledon, and holder of 21 Argentine Triple Crown titles and 34 major titles won in Argentina, the United States and England, the former 10-goal player* continues to compete at the highest level worldwide. Runner-up at last season‘s Abierto de Palermo playing in the pink colours of Ellerstina Indios Chapalefú, he will finally discover the Swiss tournament after hearing enthusiastic accounts from his brother Nicolás, who played in Gstaad last year. A debut the Argentine champion has long been looking forward to.

Alongside Bautista Beguerie and 15-year-old Alfonso Nero, nephew of Juan Martín Nero, twelve-time Argentine Open winner Juan Martín Nero, Gonzalo Pieres arrives in Gstaad determined to play a leading role. At 43, and still ranked among the world‘s best players, he will finally add to his extraordinary career one of the few major international fixtures still missing from it. “This will be my first time playing in Gstaad and I‘m really looking forward to it. We have a very competitive team, and I hope we can give our best,” he said.

Yet while the Argentine champion is delighted to finally discover Gstaad, his sights are already set on the next Argentine Triple Crown: Tortugas, Hurlingham and the Argentine Open. Alongside his brother Facundo and the Heguy cousins, his ambition remains intact: “Our goal is to stay competitive and reach the final again. We want to win the Argentine Open; that would be another dream come true. We know it will take a great deal of hard work, but we also want strong performances at Hurlingham and Tortugas. What matters most is remaining a team capable of competing for the top spots all season long.” Words that perfectly reflect the mindset of one of polo‘s fiercest competitors.

Before returning to Argentina‘s biggest tournaments, however, it is in the Swiss Alps that Gonzalo Pieres will open this new chapter of his career and it won‘t be an easy one.

Defending champions Gstaad Palace will naturally return to defend their title. The team is led by Markus Gräff and his son Thommy, whose performances left a lasting impression last summer as the young Swiss amateur held his own against professionals without hesitation. The Swiss team will face particularly stiff competition: the three other sides bring strong credentials and several big names in international polo, promising a wide-open edition.

For Pierre Genecand, the tournament‘s president, every sign points to success: “Everything is ready today: we could start the tournament tomorrow! VIP bookings for lunches and the gala have been sold out for a month already, proof of the excitement surrounding this edition. The level of the teams entered is among the highest we‘ve ever seen. My only concern, as for any organiser, is the weather… but I‘m confident.” Genecand also savours what has defined Gstaad‘s unique identity for thirty years: elite competition in a setting unlike any other. „And let‘s not forget: the mountains are just as beautiful in the summer,“ he adds with a smile.

Beyond the sporting spectacle, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad stays true to its spirit. Free and open to the public, the tournament will also feature a lively village with food trucks, exhibition stands and children‘s activities: an invitation to experience polo in one of Europe‘s most spectacular natural settings.

*In polo, players are rated on a handicap scale from –2 to 10 goals; a 10-goal handicap is the sport‘s highest rating, held by only a handful of players in the world at any given time.