There will be no poultry classes at this year's Balmoral Show, it has been confirmed.

The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society said it is "disappointed" to announce that there will be no poultry classes at the 2026 event, which is taking place from May 13 to 16.

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

"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 be the 157th Balmoral Show.

It is taking place at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn, which is situated just outside of Belfast.

Poultry classes also did not take place at the show in 2025.

Bird flu

Earlier this month, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (bird flu) within a flock in Co. Tyrone.

This marked the fifth bird flu outbreak in Northern Ireland since October 2025.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for the whole of Northern Ireland remains in place since it was introduced in early November last year.

All poultry farmers and bird keepers are legally required to house their flock or captive birds and follow strict biosecurity measures under these AIPZ requirements.

Additionally, 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.

Detections of avian influenza in birds in Europe have begun to decline, according to EU health officials.

This follows an autumn and winter period in which bird flu circulation in waterfowl reached its highest level in five years.

Between November 29, 2025 and February 27, 2026, authorities reported 406 outbreaks of bird flu in domestic birds and 2,108 in wild birds across 32 European countries.