77,000 spectators in the Villa Borghese stands for an event completely free of charge: +24.2% compared to the 2025 edition.

According to a KPMG study, the economic impact generated by the Competition, on the centenary of its first edition, has reached €33.73 million, a 26.6% increase compared to €26.67 million last.

Unprecedented media coverage: 23 hours of live coverage on Rai and a total of 30 hours of programming, whilst the official social media channels have exceeded 6.3 million views, an increase by 57.5% compared to 2025.

The Piazza di Siena – Master d’Inzeo CSIO in Rome has celebrated the 100th anniversary as the world’s finest equestrian competition, and it has achieved exceptional results in every respect. Booming audience, economic impact, media visibility and digital engagement attest to the steady growth of an event that is increasingly strengthening its role on the international sporting scene.

Following the opening marked by the traditional Wednesday evening concert, the four days of competition have attracted a total of 77,000 spectators, 24.2% more than in 2025, confirming the strong bond between Piazza di Siena and the Roman, Italian and international public. This figure is even more significant considering that admission to the event has been free for everyone, as always. The first edition of the FIP Arena Polo European Championship at the Galoppatoio was also sold out, even if free of charge for the public, with a total of 5,000 spectators over the course of four evenings.

There are also extremely positive signs on the economic front. According to a study carried out by KPMG, the economic impact of the competition has been estimated to reach €33.73 million, compared to €26.67 million in 2025, a 26.6% increase. This shows the event’s ability to generate value for the local community, for tourism and for the capital’s economy.

Piazza di Siena thus proves to be much more than just a sporting competition: an event that combines sporting excellence, culture, sustainability, the promotion of the local community, and the celebration of the historical and environmental heritage of Villa Borghese.

ATHLETES, STAFF AND ORGANISATION - The Centenary edition has produced truly impressive numbers: 620 horses and 475 athletes from over 20 countries, whilst the entire sporting contingent – including riders, trainers and support staff – has brought 1,833 accredited individuals to Rome, from 38 countries and five continents.

The event has been supported by an organizational team of 1,345 people, including the organizing committee, operational staff, sponsors, media representatives, volunteers and collaborators.

MEDIA – The event’s reach has grown further in terms of media coverage. Compared to the 1,267 publications of the 2025 edition – prior to the Rolex GP that concludes the event – the web, TV, radio and print media related figures had already exceeded 1,500 articles and reports by Sunday morning, with a full day of competitions still to come. The contribution of Rai has been decisive; through RaiSport and RaiPlay, it has provided top-quality coverage with 23 hours of live television and a total of 30 hours of programming, bringing the spectacle of Piazza di Siena into Italian homes.

SOCIAL - The event’s digital community continues to grow. According to the figures updated at 10am on Sunday 31 May, prior to the Rolex Grand Prix, the Piazza di Siena’s official channels have featured 92,000 social media followers, compared to 78,000 in 2025, with an increase by 18%.

The viewing figures are even more impressive: 6.3 million, compared to 4 million last year, i.e. a growth by 57.5% ì. Over 300,000 interactions generated by more than 350 posts published during the event show its ability to engage an ever-wider and more diverse audience, introducing new generations to the world of equestrian sports.

With the end of the competition, Piazza di Siena returns to being part of the city’s everyday life. A place open to residents, families, students and tourists, which for a few days has represented the beating heart of international sport and which now continues to thrive as one of the most recognized and beloved places in the world.

A GLOBAL STANDING

The figures above confirm the international standing of the Rome competition within the global equestrian scene and the event’s ability to attract the leading international equestrian schools. But perhaps the most interesting statistical finding concerns the “global” geography of Piazza di Siena. The Rome competition has indeed succeeded in attracting delegations from very distant and strategic parts of the globe: China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Libya, Angola, Algeria and El Salvador. A presence spanning four continents that transforms the oval-shaped arena of Villa Borghese into an international hub, not only in terms of sport but also of culture and tourism.

This aspect goes beyond the competitive realm. Every athlete, groom, coach or support staff member is, in fact, a potential international ambassador for Rome: hotel stays, dining, transport, shopping, cultural experiences and the indirect promotion of the city generate tangible benefits for the tourism economy and the capital’s international image. In this sense, Piazza di Siena is increasingly establishing itself not only as a major sporting event, but also as a tool for international diplomacy and regional marketing.

This global dimension is further enhanced by television rights and the international distribution of the event. In recent years, Piazza di Siena has managed to build a global media network that enables the Rome CSIO to reach strategic markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. For 2026 and 2027, the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation has entrusted the development and marketing of international television rights in the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, much of Asia, Russia and the CIS countries, as well as certain territories in the Pacific and the Caribbean to Pro International Marketing LLC, a company based in the United Arab Emirates specialized in the global development of sports rights. The agreements with RAI for Italy and with Horse & Country TV for Europe, North America and Oceania also remain in place. Horse & Country has renewed the international streaming rights up to 2028, thus ensuring the live and on-demand broadcasting of the Rome CSIO on the television and digital platforms of the Western world and in emerging countries. The move to tap into the Chinese market is also particularly strategic. A three-year agreement has granted DP Group the exclusive digital media and streaming rights for mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan until 2028, thus opening up Piazza di Siena to one of the largest and most dynamic media markets on the planet.

It is a sign of a clear transformation: Piazza di Siena is no longer merely one of the world’s most prestigious jumping events, but an exportable international product, capable of promoting Rome, Villa Borghese and Italian excellence to millions of viewers across four continents. The most “remote” or symbolically most representative countries participating the 2026 Rome CSIO are China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Libya, Angola, Algeria, El Salvador, Australia, Venezuela and Ecuador: a global map increasingly showing that Piazza di Siena is now a true international showcase for Rome across the world.