The Premier Jumping League (PJL) is planning a German leg in Hamburg-Klein Flottbek in early September 2027

The Premier Jumping League (PJL), founded by multi-billionaire Frank McCourt, will feature nine tournaments in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Germany—specifically, the Derbypark in Hamburg’s Klein Flottbek district—is set to host one of the events from September 3 to 5.

Who is eligible to compete in the PJL?

• Riders ranked among the top 250 in the world rankings are eligible for team selection.


• A team consists of five riders; 16 teams with a total of 80 riders are planned for the season opener.


• McCourt Global, the family-owned company of Frank McCourt—a father of eight—has pledged $300 million in prize money for the league’s first three seasons.

According to a press release, this “unprecedented investment is intended to ensure that the sport’s top athletes are appropriately rewarded for their performances at the highest level.”

Women’s Team World Champion Sophie Hinners is an ambassador for the PJL. She is quoted in the press release as saying: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the PJL is coming to Hamburg in 2027. We were very successful as the German team this year. It’s a perfect fit that a new, forward-looking league is now holding its competitions here in Germany as well. I hope that the PJL will inspire new audiences to get excited about show jumping and enable more people to understand, follow, and get caught up in the excitement of our sport. All too often, the sport is still misunderstood. The PJL offers the chance to change that and to show what it really means to ride at the highest level: athleticism, dedication, and passion—but above all, the hard work, sweat, and tears that go into every performance. I’m looking forward to the German audience experiencing our sport in a whole new way in Hamburg in September 2027.”

New Target Audiences

The PJL rules are designed to be easy to understand. Every round counts, and the rules should be easy to follow—even for those who have had little exposure to show jumping so far. In addition, the organizers hope this approach will help maintain suspense leading up to the “decisive final events.”

Unlike the Global Champions Tour, the top dog in show jumping series, the PJL is set to be broadcast freely. To that end, a partnership has been formed with Box to Box Films. The production company produced the documentary series “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” for the streaming service Netflix.

Sustainability

In addition, the PJL pledges to operate sustainably: “The PJL’s 2027 event calendar has been carefully aligned with the existing international tournament schedule. This is intended to minimize unnecessary travel and improve horse welfare.”

The organizational team currently in charge of the German Spring and Dressage Derby, Schafhof Connects, and the North German and Flottbek Equestrian Club (NFR) are responsible for managing the German leg of the event. Schafhof Connects Managing Director Matthias A. Rath says the PJL and Hamburg are a perfect fit, partly because of the Derbypark location. “The park is deeply rooted in German equestrian tradition, and generations of riders and fans have created special memories here. We will build on this history to appeal to both longtime Derby fans and those who are just discovering show jumping.”