Balmoral Show 2026: Royal Ulster Agricultural Society cancels poultry classes due to avian flu risk

The show is due to take place from 13 to 16 May 2026 at the Eikon Centre outside Lisburn.

The society said the decision has been taken due to the uncertainty of when any ban on bird gatherings may be lifted.

Instead, show organisers plan to host a display of birds from the same flock during the four days of the Show, alongside the popular egg and decorated egg classes.

This will minimise the risk of any infections being transferred from one flock to another.

On 5 March the Department of Agriculture said a suspected case of notifiable Avian Flu had been found in commercial poultry premises near Omagh in Co Tyrone.

Disease control measures were initiated following the case, with all birds in the flock humanely culled.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for the whole of NI remains in place, which means it is a legal requirement for all poultry and other captive birds to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds.

In addition, bird keepers must follow strict biosecurity measures in order to mitigate against disease incursion.

A ban on the gatherings of galliforme (including pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey, guinea fowl), anseriforme (including ducks, geese, swans) and poultry is also in force.

Members of the public are encouraged to report dead waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location, via https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/daera-dead-wild-bird-online-reporting-tool

The Public Health Agency has confirmed Avian Influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.

The Food Standards Agency has also advised that Avian Influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers, and that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.