The United States Polo Association (USPA) and the National Polo Center – Wellington (NPC) are proud to announce the 2026 winter season schedule, anchored by NPC’s signature Gauntlet of Polo. Competition will begin in late December and feature an extended schedule, concluding in early May. The season will include tournaments at various levels, highlighted by marquee events such as the NPC 16-Goal Championship, U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, National President’s Cup and annual international event.
Public admission and Sunday Brunch tickets will be available for purchase online at nationalpolocenter.com later this year. In 2026, select tournaments will be livestreamed on the USPA Polo Network, the full schedule of events will be forthcoming.
The New Year will officially kick off with the Heritage Cup. ©David Lominska
The season opener, the George Miller Memorial, will take place on Sunday, December 28, 2025, kicking off a high-octane winter of polo in Wellington, Florida. Action resumes in the New Year with the Heritage Cup final on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Women’s polo returns with unmatched intensity, showcasing the world’s top female players in one premier destination. Taking place earlier in the season for the second year in a row, preliminary matches of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship will be hosted by Port Mayaca Polo Club, in Okeechobee, Florida 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, February 15, 2026, 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.
Feature matches begin December 28, 2025, and will run through May 3, 2026. ©Chrissy Brahney
The centerpiece of the NPC season, the iconic Gauntlet of Polo unfolds as a three-part series, beginning February 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 Port Mayaca Polo Club as well as the Wellington Polo Tour (WPT), led by Patagones Polo Club (Wellington, Florida) and a select group of private fields under the WPT umbrella. The championship is built on four key USPA tournaments—the Joe Barry Memorial, Ylvisaker Cup, Iglehart Cup and 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.
Returning with unmatched intensity, the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship unites the world’s top female players. ©David Lominska
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 December 28, 2025, through May 3, 2026, for an unforgettable season of world-class polo on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One. Your front row seat to America’s finest polo awaits. See below for the full 2026 season schedule.
America’s premier polo destination, U.S. Polo Assn. Field One. ©USPA
NPC SEASON SCHEDULE
George Miller Memorial
12-16 Goal
Hosted and managed by Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida)
Featured Sunday Match: December 28, 2025, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Contact Laura Linfoot for entry at 722.228.0115 or laura@pmpolo.com
Heritage Cup
12-16 Goal
Hosted and managed by Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida)
Tournament Dates: December 30, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Featured Sunday Match: January 4, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Contact Laura Linfoot for entry at 722.228.0115 or laura@pmpolo.com
NPC 16-GOAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Joe Barry Memorial (Qualifier)
12-16 Goal
Hosted and managed by Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida)
Tournament Dates: January 6-25, 2026
Featured Sunday Matches: January 11, 18, and 25, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Semifinals: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Final: Sunday, January 25, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Contact Laura Linfoot for entry at 722.228.0115 or laura@pmpolo.com
Ylvisaker Cup (Qualifier)
12-16 Goal
Hosted by Patagones Polo Club (Wellington, Florida) and managed by the Wellington Polo Tour
Tournament Dates: January 23 – February 22, 2026
Featured Sunday Matches: February 1, 8 and 22, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Semifinals: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Final: Sunday, February 22, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Contact Juan Olivera for entry at 561.601.9316 or wellingtonpolotour@gmail.com
Iglehart Cup (Qualifier)
12-16 Goal
Hosted by Patagones Polo Club (Wellington, Florida) and managed by the Wellington Polo Tour
Tournament Dates: February 16 – March 14, 2026
Contact Juan Olivera for entry at 561.601.9316 or wellingtonpolotour@gmail.com
Outback Cup (Qualifier)
12-16 Goal
Hosted by Patagones Polo Club (Wellington, Florida) and managed by the Wellington Polo Tour
Tournament Dates: March 16 – April 4, 2026
Contact Juan Olivera for entry at 561.601.9316 or wellingtonpolotour@gmail.com
NPC 16-Goal Championship
12-16 Goal
Hosted and managed by the National Polo Center – Wellington
Entry limited to participating teams in the four qualifying tournaments
Tournament Dates: April 9-12
Final: Thursday, April 12, 2026, on NPC Field 2
WOMEN’S POLO
Florida Circuit Women’s Challenge
10-14 Goal
Hosted by Flying Cow Polo Club (Wellington, Florida) and managed by Women of Wellington Polo Series
Tournament Dates: January 5-16, 2026
Final: Friday, January 16, 2026 (Field TBD)
Contact Kylie Sheehan for entry at 443.955.3470 or ksheehan613@gmail.com
U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship
18-22 Goal
Hosted and managed by Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida)
Tournament Dates: January 25 – February 15, 2026
Semifinals: Thursday, February 12, 2026
Final: Sunday, February 15, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Contact Laura Linfoot for entry at 722.228.0115 or laura@pmpolo.com
Florida Circuit Women’s Challenge
10-14 Goal
Hosted by Flying Cow Polo Club (Wellington, Florida) and managed by Women of Wellington Polo Series
Tournament Dates: February 10 – March 6, 2026
Final: Friday, March 6, 2026 (Field TBD)
Contact Kylie Sheehan for entry at 443.955.3470 or ksheehan613@gmail.com
U.S. Open Polo Championship trophy. ©David Lominska
GAUNTLET OF POLO
Hosted and managed by the National Polo Center – Wellington
C.V. Whitney Cup
18-22 Goal
Tournament Dates: February 11 – March 1, 2026
Featured Sunday Match: March 1, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Semifinals: TBD
Final: Sunday, March 1, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Retama Cup Memorial
18-22 Goal – C.V. Whitney Cup Companion Tournament
Tournament conditions, dates and fields TBD
USPA Gold Cup
18-22 Goal
Tournament Dates: March 4-29, 2026
Featured Sunday Matches: March 8, 15, 22 and 29, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Semifinals: TBD
Final: Sunday, March 29, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Tommy Hitchcock Memorial Trophy
18-22 Goal
USPA Gold Cup Event: Sunday, March 22, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
USPA Gold Cup Companion Tournament
18-22 Goal
Tournament conditions, dates and fields TBD
U.S. Open Polo Championship
All teams assume 22 Goals
Tournament Dates: April 1-26, 2026
Featured Sunday Matches: April 5, 12, 19 and 26, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Semifinals: TBD
Final: Sunday, April 26, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
8-GOAL POLO
National President’s Cup
4-8 Goal
Hosted and managed by the National Polo Center – Wellington
Entry limited to the winners of Regional President’s Cup qualifying tournaments
Tournament Dates: April 20, 23 and 26, 2026 (All games played at NPC)
Final: Sunday, April 26, 2026, on NPC Field 2
OTHER EVENTS
NPC International Event
Hosted and managed by the National Polo Center – Wellington
USA vs. TBD
Featured Sunday Match: May 3, 2026, on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One
Tournament entry and information for events hosted by the National Polo Center – Wellington, please contact:
Polo Manager, Haley Bryan at 803.215.3577 or hbryan2485@aol.com
Polo Director, Jimmy Newman at 561.202.5185 or jnewman45tx@gmail.com