Pigeon shows are held in most countries where pigeon fancying is a popular hobby.
Many countries have a national association or organization that acts as an umbrella for breed clubs, local racing clubs and regional clubs.
Some clubs will focus on performance pigeons (such as racing pigeons, tumblers and rollers) while others will focus on specific fancy breeds.
Shows happen at club, regional and national levels.
Pigeon Shows in the USA:
The US National Pigeon Association (NPA) was founded in 1920 and does a similar job to its British counterpart.
The US calendar of pigeon shows (opens in new tab) is busy with breed-specific exhibitions and regional shows.
Some examples include:
- The St. Louis Metropolitan Pigeon Fanciers Association all breeds show (Missouri, U.S)
- The Reading Winter Show, billed as the largest pigeon show in the northeast (Pennsylvania, U.S)
- White Rose Pigeon Association annual Fall Show (Pennsylvania, U.S)
- The Grand Circle Pigeon Club Color Country Show (Utah, U.S)
- Salt Lake Premier Show (Utah, U.S)
- Pigeon Young Bird Show (Ohio, U.S)
- Bay City Pigeon Fanciers Young Bird Show (Michigan, U.S)
- Bay City Pigeon Fanciers Annual Winter Show (Michigan, U.S)
- Midwest Pigeon Convention (Illinois, U.S)
- Virginia Pigeon and Dove Association (VPDA) Annual Fall Show (Virginia, U.S)
- The Faircount Pigeon Show (Connecticut, U.S)
- Nor Cal Pigeon Fanciers Winter Classic Pigeon Show (California, U.S)
However the main big pigeon shows in the U.S are:
The NPA Grand National
Held each January, the Grand National is the NPA’s main national show.
The venue changes from time to time, so check the NPA website for the current year’s location.
It is the best-known pigeon show in the US.
Exhibitors come from all over the country, as well as from Canada and sometimes further afield.
Several thousand birds are usually entered, covering well over a hundred breeds with agreed standards.
Pigeons compete for breed champion, best of show and other awards. There are also demonstrations by rollers, tumblers and racing homing pigeons.
Like most large pigeon shows, there are trade and community stands, vendors, exhibits, talks, meetings and raffles, finishing with an awards banquet.
The National Young Bird Show
The National Young Bird Show has been part of the fanciers’ calendar for decades.
The show is run by the Louisville Pigeon Club and is held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville each autumn.
It is one of the largest pigeon shows in the US, bringing together breeders from across the country with a wide range of breeds and activities.
Pigeon Shows in the UK:
In the UK, the National Pigeon Association is the governing body of championship shows, also providing support to affiliated breed clubs and societies.
The NPA also sets and administers breed standards by which birds are judged at the many shows held around the country.
Covering over 200 varieties of fancy and flying pigeons, affiliated clubs (opens in new tab) may be breed-specific or regional. The list has included around 40 breed clubs and 29 regional clubs.
Many of these clubs hold annual events so the UK calendar of pigeon shows is very busy.
Some examples of these pigeon shows include:
- The Newark Championship Show
- Egremont Fancy Pigeon Society Championship Show
- National Modena Club of Great Britain Show
- Dragoon Club Show
- Antwerp Smerle Club Show
- Airdrie & Coatbridge Fancy Pigeon Club
- Sussex Columbarian Society Show
- Lancashire Show Pigeon Society Show
- Newcastle Columbarian Society Show
- The HOT Pouter Show Society (see our English Pouter breed guide)
- BPSS & NPA National Show
- Aberdeen & District Show Pigeon Society
- United Fancy Homer Club Show
- Scottish Flying Breed Club Show
- Reading Fancy Pigeon Club Show
- British Mookee Club Show
- British Jacobin Society Show
- Muffed Tumbler Club Show
- Swansea Variety Pigeon Club Show
- Barb, Carrier & Scandaroon Club Show
The biggest and best-known shows in the U.K are:
Show of the Year
The British Homing World Show (opens in new tab) of The Year is usually held in January.
Organized by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, the show is often called “the Crufts” of the pigeon world, and it has drawn over 20,000 visitors to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.
There’s all the paraphernalia of the pigeon world with trade and community stands, buying and selling of pigeons, talks and films, events of interest to young pigeon owners – everything of interest to pigeon fanciers.
The main event is the exhibition of racing pigeons, with over 2,000 birds competing for Best in Show in their section and for the Supreme Champion title.
The show raises money for charity, including the British Fanciers’ Pigeon Lung Research Team.
Doncaster Pigeon Show
Held at the racecourse, the Doncaster Pigeon Show (opens in new tab) is one of the largest after the Show of the Year.
It is also said to be one of the longest-running British pigeon shows, with roots going back to the First World War.
According to the organisers’ history, the early shows were run by former military staff who had handled messenger pigeons in the war, before the show moved to Doncaster racecourse.
Taking place on just one day in November, the show claims to be the home of everything a pigeon fancier needs as well as a number of very well-respected auctions.
If you are interested in attending a show, check your national pigeon association for listings. You can also sign up for newsletters and keep an eye on updates from local and regional clubs.
Last updated 27 October 2026 · Keeping