Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival presented by Täkt Saddlery Celebrates 5th Anniversary with Entries Now Open
The 2026 Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival and Lexington CDI*** (MADFest), presented by Täkt Saddlery, is excited to announce that entries are officially open and the 2026 prize list is live — marking the beginning of the festival’s landmark fifth year.
Since its founding, MADFest has grown into one of the most celebrated dressage events on the East Coast, and this year promises to be its most ambitious yet. The festival returns to the premier facilities of the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia for four days of elite international and national competition, May 14–17, 2026.
MADFest hosts both an FEI CDI*** international competition and a concurrent national show — the only dressage show in Virginia to offer riders this dual opportunity. Nestled in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, the Virginia Horse Center provides a spectacular backdrop that keeps competitors and spectators coming back year after year. For riders at every level, the show offers a rare regional opportunity to compete on either a national or international stage without the cost and logistics of traveling south for the winter.
MADFest is an official event in the US Equestrian Open Dressage Series, placing it among a select group of competitions that feed directly into a prestigious national championship pathway. The festival serves as an important qualifier for multiple championships including the 2026 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championships, the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships and the USDF Region I CBLM Championships making it a strategically valuable start to the spring season.
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Dressage| MADFestival and CDI 3*
