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Koi shows in the USA

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: The United States hosts a network of regional nishikigoi shows organized mainly by local clubs affiliated with the American Koi Judges Association (AKJA), Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA) America chapters, and Shinkokai USA, with events held across the country throughout the year.[1][2][3]
Koi shows in the USA are organized by a mix of independent clubs and chapters of larger international koi organizations. The American Koi Judges Association (AKJA) publishes an annual schedule of US shows, listing events from early spring through late September across many states.[1] Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA), founded in Japan and now operating chapters worldwide including the United States, South Africa, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Taiwan and others, has had an American presence since its first US chapter formed in Southern California in 1972 or February 1973, according to differing accounts from ZNA-affiliated sources.[2][4]Shinkokai USA, described as the All USA Nishikigoi Promotion Association and a General Incorporated Association, also lists both USA and international koi shows on its website, though detailed listings beyond event dates were not available in the cited material.[3]

Koi Club of San Diego show

The Koi Club of San Diego (KCSD) holds an annual show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in California, listed by the AKJA for March 7–8, 2026.[1] An earlier announcement from ZNA America referred to the event as the “36th Koi Club of San Diego Koi show,” scheduled for March 6.[5]According to the club's own published schedule of events, the show runs over a Saturday and Sunday with a vendor marketplace, a Kid's Korner activity area, and judges' introductions followed by judging beginning at 10:00 a.m. on the Saturday.[6] Educational presentations are part of the program, including sessions on “Water Quality – Maintaining a Healthy Environment” and “Pond Management – Design, Equipment, and Emergencies,” both presented by John Svelan.[6] On Sunday, the schedule includes a judges' discussion at 10:00 a.m., a koi auction with auctioneer Scotty Yee at noon, and the presentation of trophies for Best in Class and Best in Size before the show closes at 2:00 p.m.[6]

Other US shows

The AKJA's 2026 schedule lists a wide range of koi shows across the United States. These include the Central Florida Koi & Goldfish Show in Orlando (March 6–8), the ZNA SoCal Koi Show in Gardena, California (March 21–22), the All American Koi Show in Las Vegas (March 27–29), the Music City Koi Show in Nashville (April 10–12), the ZNA Carolina Koi Show in Raleigh (April 24–25), the Dallas Koi Show at Dallas Market Hall (May 16–17), the Greater Louisville Koi and Goldfish Society's 28th Annual Show (May 22–24), and the Atlanta Koi Club Annual Show at The Mill on Etowah in Canton, Georgia (June 12–14).[1]Later in the year, the schedule lists the Rocky Mountain Koi Show and Aquatic Expo in Castle Rock, Colorado and the Miami Koi Show (both September 4–6), the Idaho Water Garden and Koi Society show (September 12–13), the NMZNA Koi Show in Ellisville, Missouri (September 18–20), the South Carolina Koi & Goldfish Show in Simpsonville (September 25–27), and the Fresno Koi Show at Woodward Park (September 26–27).[1]The Northern Midwest Zen Nippon Airinkai (NMZNA), a regional chapter of the Beppu, Japan–based ZNA organization, describes its own event as its “24th Annual Koi Show & Pond Expo,” held September 18–20, 2026.[7] This date aligns with the NMZNA Koi Show listed on the AKJA schedule.[1][7]Shinkokai USA's website also lists a calendar of “USA Koi Shows,” with events including entries beginning March 6 and March 12, though the site did not provide further detail on specific show names or locations in the cited material.[3]

ZNA SoCal Koi Show

ZNA Southern California (ZNA SoCal), described as the first US chapter of ZNA, began in 1972 according to the chapter's own site, or July 1972 according to a related ZNA SoCal page.[8][4] Its annual open koi show is one of the club's signature events alongside monthly meetings and an annual auction.[8]The published schedule included opening ceremonies with taiko drumming, vendor sales, and koi judging on Saturday, followed on Sunday by special presentations, show winners, and a judges' walk-around and commentary before the show's close.[9] The exhibitor registration packet for the 2026 show set out rules requiring that entered koi be free of visible disease or parasites and that koi exposed to koi herpesvirus (KHV) not be transported to the show site.[10] Entries were also organized by variety class, such as Kohaku, Sanke, Showa and Utsurimono, and by size groups ranging from 20–29 cm up to 90 cm and above.[10]

ZNA and its US chapters

ZNA was originally formed in Japan by local hobbyists and evolved from a regional western Japan organization into a national and international body in 1968, according to ZNA America and ZNA SoCal.[2][4] The organization's motto, “Friendship through scales,” reflects a stated mission to build relationships among members and to spread the hobby of koi keeping internationally.[2]ZNA America describes itself as the North American Regional District of the Beppu, Japan–based international society, with a goal of spreading the koi-keeping hobby and improving husbandry techniques.[2] The organization is said to have chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Brazil.[2] ZNA America also lists international events on its calendar, such as the 2025 ZNA Taiwan District Koi Show held in Hsinchu Taoyuan City on December 6–7, 2025.[5]

Shinkokai USA

Shinkokai USA presents itself as the All USA Nishikigoi Promotion Association, operating as a General Incorporated Association and maintaining a website section for both USA and international koi shows.[3] Its site states that participants can “discover stunning Nishikigoi, compete for national awards, and connect with top breeders and hobbyists from across the United States,” though specific 2026 show listings beyond partial dates were not detailed in the cited page.[3] The organization also maintains pages on nishikigoi genealogy and koi-keeping guidance, the latter marked as “Coming Soon” at the time cited.[11][12]

Entries in this section

Common questions

When is the Koi Club of San Diego show held?
The AKJA's 2026 schedule lists the Koi Club of San Diego show for March 7–8, 2026 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, while a ZNA America announcement referred to it as the 36th edition scheduled for March 6.[1][5]
Are there koi shows outside California and the West Coast?
Yes; the AKJA's schedule lists shows across the country, including events in Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, Georgia, Colorado, Missouri, South Carolina and Idaho.[1]
What rules apply to entering koi in a US show such as ZNA SoCal?
ZNA SoCal's 2026 registration packet required that entries be checked for injuries, parasites and disease, and that koi exposed to koi herpesvirus (KHV) not be transported to the show site at all.[10]
What organizations run koi shows in the United States?
US shows are organized mainly by independent regional clubs, ZNA America chapters such as ZNA SoCal and NMZNA, and Shinkokai USA (the All USA Nishikigoi Promotion Association).[1][2][7][3]

References

  1. ^ US Koi Show – American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/us-koi-show/. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ About. Zen Nippon Airinkai America — znaamerica.com. znaamerica.com/about. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ Koi Shows - Shinkokai USA Official Website. Shinkokai USA (JNPA). shinkokaiusa.com/koi-shows. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ What is Zen Nippon Airinkai? – Zen Nippon Arinkai Southern California. znasocal.org. znasocal.org/a-homepage-section/. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ 2025 ZNA Taiwan District Koi Show. Zen Nippon Airinkai America — znaamerica.com. znaamerica.com/koi-events-shows/2025-zna-taiwan-district-koi-show. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ Koi Club of San Diego - Schedule of Events 2026. koiclubofsandiego.org. koiclubofsandiego.org/Schedule6. Retrieved November 2026.
  7. ^ NMZNA Home. nmzna.net. nmzna.net. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ About Us – Zen Nippon Arinkai Southern California. znasocal.org. znasocal.org/about/. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ 50th Annual Koi Show This Weekend in Gardena - Rafu Shimpo. rafu.com. rafu.com/2026/03/50th-annual-koi-show-this-weekend-in-gardena/. Retrieved November 2026.
  10. ^ ZNA SoCal 50th Annual Koi Show exhibitor registration packet (2026). znasocal.org. znasocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-entrant-registration-1…. Retrieved November 2026.
  11. ^ Nishikigoi Genealogy - Shinkokai USA Official Website. Shinkokai USA (JNPA). shinkokaiusa.com/nishikigoi-genealogy. Retrieved November 2026.
  12. ^ How to keep Nishikigoi - Shinkokai USA Official Website. Shinkokai USA (JNPA). shinkokaiusa.com/how-to-keep-nishikigoi. Retrieved November 2026.