Thirteen teams, fifty-two players, twelve nationalities and no fewer than thirteen players who have competed in the legendary Argentine Open will once again make the Open de France BARNES one of the strongest tournaments on the European calendar. Held just before the start of the Argentine high season, Chantilly has firmly established itself as one of Europe‘s premier high-goal destinations.
Defending champions Octogone return with serious ambitions. Alexis Morange has retained the formidable partnership that proved so successful last year, featuring David „Pelón“ Stirling, ten-time Argentine Open champion with La Dolfina, alongside England‘s Louis Hine, one of the revelations of the 2025 season. They will be joined by Hazel Jackson, former Ladies French Open champion and one of the sport‘s leading mixed polo players.
The 2026 field once again boasts an exceptional concentration of players who have competed in the world‘s most prestigious tournament, the Argentine Open at Palermo. Alejandro Muzzio, Juan Gris Zavaleta, Alfredo Bigatti, Alfredo Cappella, Teodoro Lacau, Juan Ruiz „Tito“ Guiñazú, Facundo F. Llorente, Guillermo „Sapo“ Caset, Juan Martín Zubia, Guillermo Terrera, Tommy Beresford, Gonzalo Ferrari and, of course, Pelón Stirling will all take to the Chantilly. Outside England and Sotogrande, very few European tournaments can claim such an impressive gathering of Palermo veterans.
The tournament will also shine a spotlight on the sport‘s next generation. At just sixteen years of age, Leon Donoso is already regarded as one of polo‘s brightest young prospects. He will compete alongside other heirs to Argentina‘s great polo dynasties, including Dante Castagnola (20), Pedro Chavanne (17), Fermín McDonough (16), Milo McDonough (16) and Blas Bensadon (20), young talents whose famous surnames are likely to shape the future of international polo.
French polo will also be well represented. Thanks in particular to the continued commitment of Jean-Claude Le Grand, two French professionals will once again have the rare opportunity to play alongside Guillermo Terrera, an experience that continues to benefit the development of French polo. France‘s highest-rated player, Pierre-Henri Ngoumou, runner-up in the 2023 Open de France, will this year line up for the ambitious team led by Mexican patron German Coppel.
Following in the footsteps of the editions that built its reputation, the 2026 Open de France BARNES promises another outstanding vintage. All that remains is to wait until 3 September and savour every match on the magnificent grounds of the Ferme d‘Apremont.
Palermo Comes to Chantilly… for Women Too
Just weeks before the start of the Argentine season, Chantilly will once again welcome an extraordinary concentration of the world‘s leading women players for the SkinCeuticals Ladies French Open.
The 2026 edition will feature Milly Hine, five-time Argentine Women‘s Open champion and joint record holder alongside Mia Cambiaso, Catalina Lavinia, who claimed her first Palermo title with La Dolfina in 2025 and will make her Chantilly debut, as well as former Palermo champions Hazel Jackson and Lia Salvo. They will be joined by Maitena Marré and Milagros Sánchez, two of the leading names on today‘s international women‘s circuit.
The tournament will welcome players from 14 different nations, an even broader international representation than the Open de France BARNES itself, highlighting the growing international appeal of the event.
Former French Open champion Milly Hine arrives fresh from her recent victory at the British Open, while a new generation, led in particular by South African rising star Charlie Spilsbury, continues to emerge alongside the sport‘s established champions.
Thanks to the exceptional quality of its field and its remarkable international diversity, the SkinCeuticals Ladies French Open has firmly established itself as Europe‘s benchmark women‘s polo tournament. While Palermo remains the pinnacle of the discipline, Chantilly has become the essential meeting point before the Argentine season begins.
The World Polo Festival: From Elite Competition to Polo for Everyone
Alongside the Open de France BARNES and the SkinCeuticals Ladies French Open, the World Polo Festival continues with the Trophée Castel and the Trophée du Capitaine des Jeux, allowing players of every level to experience the unique atmosphere of Chantilly.
The Castel will once again welcome international teams from Germany, Italy, Belgium and, for the first time, Saudi Arabia, represented by Casa del Riyadh, led by yadh emmenée par Salman bin Sultan, recent winner of the Desert Polo tournament in AlUla. He will be joined by a talented new generation of French professionals including Jules Legoubin, Côme Dubois, Elouan Badarello, Corentin Mahé and Ilan Bossard, all considered among the brightest prospects of French polo.
The Trophée du Capitaine des Jeux follows the same philosophy, giving amateur players the opportunity to enjoy the Open experience on the very same grounds as the world‘s best professionals. Germany‘s Maike Hölty, who will also compete in the Ladies French Open and the Castel Trophy, Luxembourg‘s Marie Jeanne Kapweiler, Sweden‘s Niclas Johansson, competing simultaneously in the Open de France BARNES, and Salman bin Sultan will all feature in this low-goal competition.
With the arrival of Saudi Arabia, the Festival will bring together 21 different nationalities over three weeks of competition.
Every day, matches will be played across the magnificent grounds of the Ferme d‘Apremont. Free admission, the newly renovated Taco Bar, on-site catering, an exhibitors‘ village, food trucks during finals weekend and even a surprise international Test Match will all contribute to the unique atmosphere of the event.
Three weeks of competition. Four tournaments. Twenty-one nations. More than 1,200 horses. Rarely has the world of polo found such a natural meeting point as Chantilly.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Getting to the Polo Club
Simply search for Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly in your GPS or navigation app. All major navigation systems will guide you directly to the club entrance.
Match Broadcasts
All matches of the BARNES French Open will be filmed live and available for replay on Pololine TV.
Results and statistics
Live scores, results and full tournament statistics will be available on the Polo Club‘s website and via the ChukkerApp, which also provides coverage of all tournaments played at Chantilly throughout the season.
