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The Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) has announced that the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show will now take place on 8 to 11 October at its new home, Tweedie Hall, a heritage site in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. This decision follows national efforts to manage foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and continued uncertainty surrounding livestock movement. By shifting the dates, the event is positioned as a strong spring showcase after a period of unprecedented disruption in the agricultural sector.
The hundred- and seventy-five-year-old show would have taken place from 29 May to 3 June.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (WOAH) official statistics, KwaZulu-Natal remains the epicentre of the national FMD crises with over two hundred active FMD cases recorded.
Wayne Muller, general manager of the RAS, explained that the decision to move the show was made to protect livestock producers and exhibitors, allow disease-control measures to stabilise, and give all stakeholders greater certainty so the event can be delivered responsibly under ongoing FMD conditions.
As part of this approach, he said, the RAS will launch the Royal Agricultural Exchange at the October Show – a new livestock leadership and engagement platform that will become a permanent feature of the society’s activities. The exchange will serve as a central hub for authoritative information, livestock breeder exposure, agricultural producer marketing, exhibitor visibility, market engagement, and practical support for livestock producers.
Recognising the pressures currently facing farmers and agricultural businesses, the society will also seek opportunities in the months leading up to the October show to bring farmers, exhibitors, policymakers and industry leaders together for structured indabas on disease management, movement policy, market access, and other pertinent FMD-related issues.
In addition, as part of its hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations, the RAS will introduce a commemorative engagement initiative to support all exhibitors during the extended lead-up to the October show.
“These initiatives are designed to bridge the period between now and October in order to support the livestock community and all our exhibitors, and to ensure that the October Royal Agricultural Show offers enhanced relevance and resilience,” said Tim Nixon, president of the RAS.
This year, from April to June, the RAS will continue to host other standalone events, including the Fred Kean Poultry Show, the Natal and Coast Poultry Club Show, the Natal Rabbit Club Show, the Pietermaritzburg Canary and Cage Bird Club Show, and a Honey and Crafts Festival.
Muller called attention to the first point of the RAS Constitution, which dictates supporting of agriculture. “We feel that by making this responsible decision, we are indeed acting in the interest of agriculture. We hope that the FMD situation have stabilised to such an extent by October that we can move back to our traditional timeslot at the end of May.” – Press release by the Royal Agricultural Society, reworked by Plaas Media
