2026
ROYAL SHEEP
WED 7 – SAT 10 OCTOBER 2026
ROYAL SHOWGROUNDS AT TWEEDIE • HOWICK
Sheep take centre stage at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, with three days of breed showing, fat stock competition and interbreed honours bringing together outstanding animals and breeders from KwaZulu-Natal and further afield.
The programme features Regional Shows for Suffolk, Dorper, Ile de France and Hampshire Down sheep, together with the 2026 Dormer National Show.
Alongside the breed competitions, the sheep programme includes the Royal Fat Lamb Competition, Interbreed Judging and Gold Cup Awards, and the prestigious Royal Carcass Competition and Auction.
2026 ROYAL SHEEP
PROGRAMME
Wednesday, 7 October
Suffolk Regional Show
Dorper Regional Show
Ile de France Regional Show
Thursday, 8 October
Royal Fat Lamb Competition
Friday, 9 October
Dormer National Show
Hampshire Down Regional Show
Saturday, 10 October
Interbreed Judging & Gold Cup Awards
Royal Carcass Auction & Prizegiving
Entries are invited from breeders wishing to take part in the
2026 Royal Show sheep programme.
RAS Sheep Secretary: Emmie Barnard
082 770 7998
BREED SHOWS
Breed judging begins on Wednesday, 7 October, with the Suffolk, Dorper and Ile de France Regional Shows.
On Friday, 9 October, the spotlight turns to the Dormer National Show, bringing leading Dormer breeders and animals together for one of the major events of the Royal’s livestock programme. The Hampshire Down Regional Show will also take place on Friday.
Across the breed rings, specialist judges will assess animals according to their respective breed standards, recognising the careful selection, breeding and preparation behind quality stud stock.
INTERBREED JUDGING &
GOLD CUP HONOURS
The leading champions from the sheep breed shows come together on Saturday, 10 October for the Royal Show’s Interbreed Judging.
Here, breed champions compete against one another for the Show’s coveted Gold Cup honours – an important recognition of excellence in the show ring and a highlight of the Royal livestock programme.
ROYAL FAT LAMB &
CARCASS COMPETITION
Commercial small-stock excellence comes into focus with the Royal Fat Lamb Competition on Thursday, 8 October.
Competition animals are assessed on the hoof by SAFJA before carcass evaluation on the hook by SAMIC, providing a meaningful benchmark of both live-animal quality and carcass merit.
The competition culminates on Saturday, 10 October with the Royal Carcass Auction and Prizegiving, bringing producers, buyers and agricultural specialists together around some of the Show’s top-performing fat stock.
