Royal Norfolk Show prepares for heatwave as falconry team pulls out
A falconry team pulled out as the Royal Norfolk Show opened under an amber heat warning, with temperatures forecast to hit 38C and a red alert over the East of England.
The Royal Norfolk Show opened at the Norfolk Showground in Costessey near Norwich under an amber extreme-heat warning, and one falconry team stayed away rather than put birds through the conditions. The two-day show runs on Wednesday 24 June and Thursday 25 June 2026, with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association expecting around 80,000 visitors, more than 700 trade stands and over 3,000 animals.
The weather backdrop was severe enough to force practical changes across the site. The Met Office extended its amber warning as temperatures were forecast to reach 38C in some places, while the UK Health Security Agency’s heat-health dashboard showed a red alert for the East of England from 1am on Wednesday 24 June until 11pm on Thursday 25 June. Organizers put out free drinking water at standpipes and toilet blocks, handed out free suncream at the main gates and moved fans into cattle sheds, with some riders also not expected to bring their horses.
Hawk Board guidance requires birds to always have access to clean, fresh water, and the British Falconers’ Club requires keepers to stay current with animal-welfare requirements under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In practice, that means a team has to think about whether a bird can be transported safely, how long it would sit in the heat before a public display, and whether a free-flight slot is worth the risk when temperatures are climbing.
Mark Nicholas is the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association’s chief executive, and the show would not issue refunds because it is a charity event, while most exhibitors were still expected to attend. The Royal Norfolk Show is its primary fundraising event, supporting food production, farming and the countryside in Norfolk, and its history goes back to 1847. The association also expects some activities may be rescheduled if the heat becomes too intense.
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