The Soul Ripped Out: Why Fugare Pigeon Fair 2026 Faces Its Darkest Hour

It is a message that has struck like a lightning bolt, weighing down the hearts of pigeon fanciers across Europe. Fugare Pigeon Fair, the undisputed international high mass we crave all year, has been brutally robbed of its heart and soul. In the halls of Kortrijk Xpo, where passion usually sizzles and the world’s finest winged athletes take center stage, it will be painfully quiet this year. Not a single living pigeon is allowed across the threshold. A ban that feels like a dagger to the heart of everyone who breathes this sport.

A Twist of Fate No One Saw Coming

The cause is a bitter stroke of misfortune: an outbreak of avian flu at a turkey farm in nearby Deerlijk. The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) and the city of Kortrijk have closed the doors to live birds as a precaution. For the organizers, the thousands of visitors, and the hundreds of exhibitors who worked for months with heart and soul toward this moment, the disappointment is beyond words. A Fugare without pigeons is like a spring without sunshine, or a race without cyclists.

Unbreakable Passion at Fugare Pigeon Fair

But let us make one thing crystal clear: pigeon racing is not a sport for quitters. Right now, as fate strikes mercilessly, is the time to stand tall. The international prestige of the Fugare Pigeon Fair remains unshaken. With over 100 exhibitors from at least 15 countries, Kortrijk Xpo is still the absolute epicenter of our world.

Of course, the absence of the pigeons themselves is a trauma for the sport. But on February 14 and 15, we will show our resilience. All the big names will be there. The latest innovations in loft construction, the most advanced supplements, and the expertise of leading manufacturers are waiting to be discovered. The representatives of numerous One Loft Races and the prestigious award ceremonies will proceed as planned, because the pride we take in our champions cannot be caged by any virus.