Skip to content

Koi shows in the UK

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: The United Kingdom hosts a circuit of koi shows run largely by volunteer koi clubs, running roughly from June through October, including the National Koi Show, the Great British Koi Show, and several regional open shows.[1][2]
UK koi shows are organized by local and national koi clubs and judged by members of Koi Judges UK, formerly the British Koi-Keepers Society (BKKS) Judging and Standards Committee. As of 2026, the organization operates independently of the BKKS, which closed after fifty years of operation.[1][5]According to Koi Judges UK, the UK show season runs from June through October and features volunteer-run events supported by koi dealers, food suppliers and other trade exhibitors offering their wares.[1] The flagship events are the National Koi Show and the Great British Koi Show, alongside a number of smaller regional open shows.[2]

The National Koi Show

The National Koi Show is held at the Heart of England Conference & Event Centre in Fillongley, Coventry, and describes itself as hosting the competition for the UK's finest koi.[3][2] It presents a Grand Champion award along with Life Stage, Special and Best in Class awards, as well as a Shinkokai Award judged on quality alone regardless of size or variety, awarded by UK Shinkokai members.[3]In 2026 the show listed adult admission at £12, free entry for under-16s, and a weekend concession price of £20, with show patrons admitted free.[3] The event's 2026 Grand Champion was a Sanke measuring 82 cm, bred by Taniguchi Koi Farm, aged four, supplied through dealer Yume Koi Japan and owned by Andy “Chip” Kawalsingh, according to the show's own results listing.[3] Friday at the show is reserved for exhibitors benching their koi, with the show open to the public on Saturday and Sunday before Grand and Shinkokai Champions are announced at the close of the weekend.[3] The 2026 edition was held 27–28 June, per the Koi Judges UK show calendar.[2]

The Great British Koi Show

The Great British Koi Show began as the Yorkshire Section of the BKKS's first Open Show, held at Newark Showground on 27–28 August 2022, after the club's previous Closed Show venue at Mexborough became unavailable.[7][8][9] A total of 219 koi were entered in that inaugural show, which was organized under show chairman James Colley, who secured sponsorship and dealer participation, according to Koi Net magazine.[7]The show has continued annually at Newark Showground, Coddington, Newark.[4][10] In 2025 it ran 23–24 August with admission of £7.50 for adults and free entry for under-12s.[10] The 2026 edition, listed by the Midland Koi Association, was scheduled for 29–30 August, matching the dates given in the Koi Judges UK show calendar.[4][2]

Other UK shows

Judging and organization

UK shows are judged by members of Koi Judges UK, which books judges for member clubs via its website and deployed members at numerous shows during 2026, including events in Belgium and the Netherlands alongside UK shows.[2][1] The organization states its shows are supported by koi dealers and trade suppliers of food and dry goods, and frames the events as exhibitions of koi-keeping expertise intended to keep standards high for the hobby.[1]

Clubs behind the shows

UK shows are typically organized by regional koi clubs. The Yorkshire Section Koi Club, for example, meets at the Hilltop Hotel in Conisbrough, Doncaster, during the winter months and holds informal pond visits with members during summer; it is the club that originated the Great British Koi Show, first opening its previously members-only show to koi keepers from across the UK in 2022.[8] Clubs such as this coordinate with Koi Judges UK for judging and with national umbrella structures described further on the page for UK koi organizations.[1]

Importing koi into the UK

Exhibitors and dealers bringing koi into Great Britain must use sources approved by the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), which checks that the source country is authorized to meet animal health certification requirements for import.[6] Authorization to import live fish and shellfish into England and Wales must be applied for, with no fee, and unauthorized imports can carry an unlimited fine.[6] Importers of ornamental coldwater fish such as koi must include a biosecurity measures plan describing how fish health and disease will be managed, and additional rules apply to non-native and CITES-listed species.[6] Further detail on international movement of koi is covered on the page for importing and exporting koi.

Entries in this section

Common questions

What is the biggest koi show in the UK?
The National Koi Show, held at the Heart of England Conference & Event Centre in Fillongley, describes itself as where the UK's finest koi compete, presenting a Grand Champion award alongside a Shinkokai Award judged by UK Shinkokai members.[3]
When did the Great British Koi Show start?
It began in 2022 as the Yorkshire Section Koi Club's first Open Show at Newark Showground, after previously being a closed, members-only event at Mexborough.[7][8]
Who organizes judging for UK koi shows?
Koi Judges UK, formerly the BKKS Judging and Standards Committee, now operates independently of the British Koi-Keepers Society, which has closed after 50 years, and provides judges to UK club shows.[1][5]
What time of year are UK koi shows held?
According to Koi Judges UK, the UK show season runs from June through October, encompassing events such as the National Koi Show, Crouch Valley Open Show, Scottish Koi Show, North of England Koi Show, Great British Koi Show, Mid Staffs Koi Show and All England Koi Show.[1][2]
Do I need special approval to import koi into the UK?
Yes; sources must be approved by the Fish Health Inspectorate, importers need authorization (which is free to apply for), and ornamental coldwater fish imports such as koi require a biosecurity measures plan.[6]

References

  1. ^ Happy New Year – 2026. – Koi Judges UK | The former BKKS JSC. Koi Judges UK. koijudges.uk/happy-new-year-2026/. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ Koi Shows – Koi Judges UK | The former BKKS JSC. Koi Judges UK. koijudges.uk/koi-shows/. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ The National Koi Show | Where the UK's Finest Koi Compete. National Koi Show. nationalkoishow.co.uk/. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ The Great British Koi Show 2026 - Midland Koi Association. midlandkoi.co.uk. midlandkoi.co.uk/event/the-great-british-koi-show-2026/. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ British Koi-Keepers Society (home page notice). bkks.co.uk. bkks.co.uk/. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ Importing or moving live fish and shellfish - GOV.UK. UK Government. gov.uk/guidance/importing-or-moving-live-fish-and-shellfish. Retrieved November 2026.
  7. ^ The Great British Koi Show 2022 (Koi Net, issue 63). koinet.co.uk. koinet.co.uk/koi-net/issue-63/files/basic-html/page10.html. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ Yorkshire Section Koi Club (Koi Net, issue 63). koinet.co.uk. koinet.co.uk/koi-net/issue-63/files/basic-html/page90.html. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ The Great British Koi Show – The Great British Koi Club. ysbkks.uk. ysbkks.uk/event/the-great-british-koi-show/. Retrieved November 2026.
  10. ^ The Great British Koi Show 2025 (Midland Koi Association events listing). midlandkoi.co.uk. midlandkoi.co.uk/event/the-great-british-koi-show-2024/. Retrieved November 2026.