Arundel Castle is delighted to announce that its flagship summer event, the International Medieval Jousting Tournament, will return for 2026, taking place from Tuesday 21st to Sunday 26th July.
This year, the six-day tournament will feature eight world-class competitors divided into four teams, each representing their home countries of England, France, Canada and the USA.
Visitors can watch in awe as the knights charge down the tilt rail, their lances shattering dramatically on their opponent’s shield in a display of incredible horseback combat, and look forward to an exhilarating contest of skill, strength and chivalry as they vie for individual titles, national honour for their country, and special awards, including the prestigious Chivalry Award and the Skill at Arms prize.
Alongside the jousting, there is a full programme of family-friendly medieval entertainment, including falconry, a fire eater, medieval musicians and the renowned Arundel Castle ‘Kids Battle’. Visitors can immerse themselves in the spirit of the event by trying their hand at archery, axe throwing, mini joust and warrior training or by exploring a range of interactive medieval crafts. The living history encampment will also bring the past to life with captivating demonstrations of forging, traditional cooking, leatherwork and other period skills, offering a vivid glimpse into everyday life in a medieval world.
For those in need of refreshment, the Knights’ Table, complete with a festival bar, will be serving up a spectacular feast. Visitors can also enjoy a range of food and drink options at the castle café and coffee shop, scenic tea terrace, or bring their own picnic to enjoy in the stunning grounds.
Andrew Lewis, Castle Manager at Arundel Castle, said:
“We are thrilled to welcome the International Medieval Jousting Tournament back to Arundel Castle for another unforgettable year. A true celebration of history, pageantry and international sport, this event brings together world-class competitors in one of the most breathtaking historic settings in the country. Once again, the calibre of this year’s lineup is exceptional, and we’re excited to offer visitors a rare opportunity to witness the drama, skill and spectacle of traditional jousting up close.”
2026 competitors in the Arundel Castle International Jousting Tournament include:
Benedict Green (England)With his medieval motto of “Benedictus sol aureus est” – Blessed is the golden sun, Benedict epitomises the essence of English chivalry. Marking his third year competing at Arundel, Benedict is ready to take on any challenger and uphold the honour of the joust. He is a seasoned joust competitor with nine years of experience and most recently represented the Royal Armouries against Australia in ‘The Smashes’.
Emma Pearn (England) An experienced competitor, Emma has enjoyed multiple victories at home and abroad, most recently taking the individual tournament champion title at the Queen’s Jubilee Horn International Jousting Tournament 2025. Emma works tirelessly to raise the profile of jousting as a sport and is passionate about bringing new audiences to the arena. Her motto is “Damnant quod non intellegunt” – They condemn what they don’t understand.
Luc Petillot (France) With 25 years of experience as a jouster, Luc has travelled far and wide competing in and winning competitions both individually and in team championships. He is also the founder of the medieval reenactment group ‘Excalibur’ and has featured in TV programmes and films. His motto is “Meus honor est fides” – My honour is my faith.
Marie Baron (France) A professional horse trainer, Marie first entered the jousting arena 18 years ago. Fellow founder of ‘Excalibur’ alongside Luc, Marie organises tournaments and historical shows worldwide, as well as riding in films. Marie is a regular at Arundel, having returned as the defending team champion in 2019 and 2022. Her motto is “Fides ad gladium, affectus ad scutum, vita exaudiendum” – My faith for sword, my passion for shield, my life to comply.
Jean-Francois Drapeau (Canada) Representing his country is a passion for Jean-Francois, who has been jousting for 23 years. His life has revolved around horses since the age of four, and in his own words, “Medieval is my life”. Jousting has taken Jean-Francois all over the world, winning international championships along the way. Ready to throw down the gauntlet at Arundel, his motto is “Si vis pacem para bellum” – If you want peace, prepare for war.
Jessy Dufresne (Canada) Following a successful rodeo career, Jessy retired from the sport in 2009 to forge his first full armour and embark on a new career in medieval jousting. For the last 15 years, he has organised his own tournaments and successfully participated in international competitions in Canada, Finland, the UK, and the USA, including the Royal Armouries Tournament. His medieval motto is “Deus me In Adversis Ducat” – God guide me in adversity.
Kyle Van Dolah-Evans (USA) Fresh from her 2025 win at the Royal Armouries International Joust, Kyle returns to Arundel in 2026. Although her jousting career began only three years ago, Kyle is no stranger to riding, having been an avid eventer for many years. She has built up an impressive range of experience in historical riding events and was Marshal of the Field at Arundel until 2025. Kyle’s motto is “Alis volat propriis” – She flies with her own wings.
Vince Todd (USA) Jousting since age 10, Vince brings 27 years of experience. A regular on the big screen in films such as War Horse and Game of Thrones, jousting has taken Vince to all corners of the world. After competing at the Royal Armouries Easter Tournament in 2025, Vince is excited to be back in the UK representing his country under his motto “In hac vita et in altera semper” – In this life and in all lives to come.
Arundel Castle will also welcome back Nigel Amos as tournament compère in 2026. Marshal of the Field is Per Estein Prøis-Røhjell (aka Pelle), who last competed at Arundel in 2023 and was individual champion in 2016, and The Knight of Mercy is Mark Caple, who last competed at Arundel in 2025.
Tickets to the International Jousting Tournament (including access to the castle, grounds, gardens and all have-a-go activities) are available at www.arundelcastle.org and cost from £33.00 per adult, £14.00 for a child, or £80.00 for a Family Ticket. Children under the age of five can enter for free.
Please note that catering and event details are subject to change, including due to weather conditions; for full details, check the website. Arundel Castle reserves the right to change events or access to areas at any time. All catering is subject to menu & opening hours variations and availability. Age and height restrictions apply to some of the visitor activities. |
