Equestrian Grand Performance – Spirit of the Horse, a show created by ISSA Resort, brings over 20 horses and international performers to Cluj
A national premiere will take place on the first day of Sports Festival 2026. More than 20 horses from breeds renowned for their elegance, energy, and strength — including Pura Raza Española, Arabian Thoroughbred, Haflinger, and Mustang — will enter BTarena on Thursday, June 11, at 6:00 PM, in a spectacular performance that highlights the unique relationship between humans and horses.
Equestrian Grand Performance – Spirit of the Horse, created by ISSA Resort, is one of the special events of this year’s festival and will mark a premiere for BTarena, as the multipurpose arena will be transformed into a space adapted for an equestrian show, with a specially prepared surface designed for this performance.
Mirel Alexa, Executive Director of Sports Festival:
“We want Sports Festival to surprise the public year after year not only through the major names invited, but also through the diversity of experiences it brings to Cluj. Spirit of the Horse is a unique sporting performance, a premiere in Romania, bringing together discipline, elegance, strength, and the extraordinary relationship between humans and horses. It is an event that perfectly complements the program of the festival’s opening day.”
Equestrian Grand Performance – Spirit of the Horse offers the audience a performance where technical precision meets artistic expression. The program brings together classical dressage, liberty dressage with six horses, elements of Cossack vaulting, equestrian acrobatics, garrocha, and sequences inspired by the Iberian equestrian tradition, complemented by posta carousel. The entire show is built around precision, synchronization, and trust, in a scenic format that transforms balance into the central point of the experience.
The event is presented by ISSA Resort, which has developed in Turda a project dedicated to equestrian excellence. Within the complex, there is a large indoor arena, one of the most remarkable in Europe, where the public can regularly experience equestrian productions and performances by Romanian and international artists and trainers. Members of the team have participated in major competitions and on important stages of the equestrian world, including MISEC Avignon, one of the international landmarks of this field.
Adina Calfa, CEO of ISSA Estate Group:
“For us, experience is the starting point in everything we build at ISSA. The ISSA Resort team includes renowned athletes and performers from Romania and from the great European equestrian schools. Every week, our indoor arena becomes the stage of a remarkable show, where ISSA’s equestrian artists take this experience into a space where precision and expressiveness meet in a form of living art.
Equestrian Grand Performance – Spirit of the Horse was created exclusively for Sports Festival and takes ISSA’s vision further, into a new format designed for a wider audience. We want this moment to mark not only a national premiere, but also a direction: bringing equestrian performances to a level that unquestionably belongs on the international stage.”
On stage, the audience will see performers trained and active in some of the most important equestrian centers and professional shows across Europe, America, and Asia. The team includes Yannis Madrid, excelling in dressage and working equitation; Elisaveta Madrid, international equestrian artist; Nicușor Szekely, known for liberty dressage with six horses; Sacha Colantoni, stunt performer and specialist in trick riding and horseback archery; Robert Molnar, active in show jumping competitions and equestrian shows; Georgiana Neagu, specialized in Cossack vaulting and trick riding; Marina Maroto, an artist from Spain who combines dressage, vaulting, and aerial performances; as well as Florian Madrid, performer in working equitation and garrocha demonstrations. The show also brings to Cluj special guests Liviu Bococi and Corentin Fleche, alongside other international artists.
The performance will also feature some of ISSA Resort’s most appreciated horses, such as Infante, Acicalado, and Elegido, each with a distinct profile and training carried out according to international standards.
Tickets and Prices for Equestrian Grand Performance – Spirit of the Horse
During the Early Bird stage, valid until April 30, 2026, ticket prices for the equestrian show are:
● Category 1 – 115 RON
● Category 2 – 75 RON
● VIP – 400 RON (includes finger food & beverages)
During the Regular stage, valid starting May 1, 2026, until the start of the event, prices are:
● Category 1 – 140 RON
● Category 2 – 95 RON
● VIP – 400 RON (includes finger food & beverages)
Category 1 includes all seats in Ring 1. Category 2 includes the seats in Ring 1 located above the arena access corridors, as well as the seats in Ring 2. The VIP ticket offers access to the dedicated VIP area located on the second floor.
About Sports Festival
The seventh edition of Sports Festival will take place between June 11–14, 2026, and will once again bring dozens of sports activities, competitions, demonstrations, international guests, inspirational talks, and free access to most activities. Following a 2025 edition with over 150,000 participants and a gala match featuring Ronaldinho, the Cluj-Napoca festival continues to confirm its status as a landmark European event for mass participation sports and the passion for movement.
About ISSA Resort
Located near the famous Turda Salt Mine, ISSA Resort is an integrated concept combining five-star hospitality with a universe built around equestrian experiences, gastronomy, wine, and events.
Part of the ISSA Domain, the five-star resort includes 75 hotel rooms and suites, private villas, event halls with a capacity of up to 800 guests, dedicated corporate event spaces, restaurants and fine dining concepts, spa facilities, sports amenities, and access to its private vineyard with exclusive wine tastings.
The resort is built around one of the most spectacular indoor equestrian arenas in Europe, a space dedicated to equestrian performances, training sessions, and demonstrations held by Romanian and international artists.
Located just 30 minutes from the airport and easily accessible from Cluj, Sibiu, Alba, and Târgu Mureș (30–60 minutes by car), as well as Bucharest (60 minutes by plane), ISSA Resort is an ideal destination for events, holidays, and curated experiences throughout the year.
More details at: www.issaresort.ro
