The Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia canceled all bird and poultry exhibitions at the 2026 Royal Adelaide Show, starting September 5, due to rising H5N1 bird flu cases.
This marks the first time in the 187-year history of the event that bird competitions will not be held, following the confirmation of 175 total H5N1 cases across Australia.
South Australia recorded 32 new cases on Friday alone, bringing the state's total to 119, though the Chief Veterinary Officer maintains that the risk to human health remains low.