Exciting Winter Polo Season On Tap For 2026 At NPC In Wellington

By The United States Polo Association

The thundering hoofs of horses galloping down the polo field will return to Wellington this winter as the 2026 polo season gets underway at the National Polo Center in Wellington (NPC).

NPC and the United States Polo Association (USPA) recently announced the schedule for the upcoming season, anchored by NPC’s signature Gauntlet of Polo series.

Competition will begin in late December and feature an extended schedule, concluding in early May. The season includes tournaments at several levels, highlighted by marquee events, such as the NPC 16-Goal Championship, the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, the National President’s Cup and the annual international event.

NPC remains the place to see and be seen on Sundays during the winter equestrian season. Public admission and Sunday brunch tickets will be available for purchase online at www.nationalpolocenter.com later this year. In 2026, select tournaments will be livestreamed on the USPA Polo Network.

The season opener, the George Miller Memorial, will take place on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, kicking off a high-octane winter of polo in Wellington. Action resumes with the Heritage Cup final on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at NPC.

Women’s polo returns with unmatched intensity, showcasing the world’s top female players. Preliminary matches of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship will be hosted by the Port Mayaca Polo Club in Okeechobee, with the high-stakes semifinals and final to be held at NPC. All eyes will turn to U.S. Polo Assn. Field One on Sunday, Feb. 15 for the championship final. In addition, the Women of Wellington (WOW) Polo Series, a medium-goal league dedicated to supporting and advancing women in polo, will hold two Florida Circuit Women’s Challenge finals at NPC.

The centerpiece of the NPC season, the iconic Gauntlet of Polo, unfolds as a three-part series, beginning Feb. 11 through March 1 with the prestigious C.V. Whitney Cup. The battle continues with the fiercely contested USPA Gold Cup from March 4-29, and culminates in the sport’s pinnacle event, the U.S. Open Polo Championship, running April 1-26. The prize money distribution for the 2026 season will follow last year’s format, awarding $25,000 to the C.V. Whitney Cup winners, $75,000 to the USPA Gold Cup champions and $100,000 to the U.S. Open victors.

The NPC 16-Goal Championship remains a cornerstone of the winter season. Qualifying rounds will be hosted across several clubs in South Florida, concluding in the championship event at the National Polo Center. This season’s contenders will compete at venues including the Port Mayaca Polo Club, as well as the Wellington Polo Tour (WPT), led by the Patagones Polo Club in Wellington and a select group of private fields under the WPT umbrella.

The championship is built on four key USPA tournaments — the Joe Barry Memorial, the Ylvisaker Cup, the Iglehart Cup and the Outback Cup. Each event serves as a qualifier, with teams accumulating points based on their standings in the four designated tournaments. The top performers across all four events will advance to the championship showdown at NPC.

Alongside the NPC 16-Goal Championship, the 2026 season will continue to shine a spotlight on some of the nation’s top 8-goal teams. Now in its third season at NPC, the National President’s Cup features up to 14 qualifying tournaments held from June 2025 through April 2026.

Regional President’s Cup qualifying tournaments may be awarded to one member club in each of the 11 USPA circuits. The Florida Circuit, host of the National President’s Cup, is the only exception, with four qualifying events. The winner of each qualifier is invited to the National President’s Cup competition, and teams advancing from a club outside the Florida Circuit receive a $10,000 travel stipend.

NPC invites spectators every Sunday afternoon from Dec. 28, 2025, through May 3, 2026, for an unforgettable season of world-class polo on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One.

NPC, the perpetual home for polo in America, is owned and managed by the United States Polo Association to showcase the finest the sport has to offer. Spectating from the stadium, private boxes, fieldside tailgates or special hospitality tents, all overlooking the U.S. Polo Assn. Field One, is an unparalleled experience.

The United States Polo Association exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo; coordinating the activities of its member clubs and registered player members; arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions and games; and providing rules, handicaps and tournament conditions for those events. Its overarching goals are improving the sport and promoting the safety and welfare of its human and equine participants. The USPA is made up of more than 200 member clubs and more than 5,000 registered player members. For more information, visit www.uspolo.org.

The National Polo Center-Wellington is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. To learn more, call (561) 204-5687 or visit www.nationalpolocenter.com.

NPC SEASON SCHEDULE

12-16 GOAL POLO
George Miller Memorial
Dec. 28, 2025
Heritage Cup
Dec. 30, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026
Joe Barry Memorial
Jan. 6-25
Ylvisaker Cup
Jan. 23 – Feb. 22
Iglehart Cup
Feb. 16 – March 14
Outback Cup
March 16 – April 4
NPC 16-Goal Championship
April 9-12

WOMEN’S POLO

Florida Circuit Women’s Challenge
10-14 Goal
Jan. 5-16
U.S. Open Women’s
Polo Championship
18-22 Goal
Jan. 25 – Feb. 15
Florida Circuit Women’s Challenge
10-14 Goal
Feb. 10 – March 6

GAUNTLET OF POLO
(18-22 Goal)

C.V. Whitney Cup
Feb. 11 – March 1
USPA Gold Cup
March 4-29
U.S. Open Polo Championship
April 1-26

8-GOAL POLO
National President’s Cup
April 20-26–