Exhibitor Information & Registration
Atlanta Koi and Goldfish Show
June 12-14, 2026
The Mill on Etowah
225 Reformation Parkway
Canton, GA. 30114
Show Schedule
Setup
6/11/2026 Thursday 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Benching
6/12/2026 Friday 12:00 PM - 6:00PM
12/13/2026 Saturday 7:00AM - 9:00PM (Overflow Only)
Show Hours
6/12/2026 Friday 2:00PM - 5:00PM
6/13/2026 Saturday 9:00AM -5:00PM
6/14/2026 Sunday 9:00AM - 2:00PM
Judges' Critique
6/14/2026 Sunday 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Vendor Appreciation
6/12/2026 Friday 6:00PM - 10:00PM
Awards Banquet
6/13/2026 Saturday 6:30PM - 7:00PM (Cocktails)
6/13/2026 Saturday 7:00PM - 10:00PM (Dinner/Awards)
Auction
6/14/2026 Sunday 12:00PM
Tear Down
6/14/2026 Sunday 12:00PM - Finished
We are pleased to announce that the following individuals have accepted our invitations to judge this year:
Koi/Long fins
➢ Ray & Teri Alexander ➢ Mary Andrews
Goldfish
➢ Luanne Porter
Rules - This is a hobbyist-only show; all fish entered must be owned by and accompanied by the registered entrant.
Entries are open to all members and non-members of Atlanta Koi Club. Koi or Goldfish dealers or their employees, even part-time or informal fish dealers, are not allowed to show fish.
Past Grand Champions—WE HAVE CHANGED THE RULES! - a fish that has won Grand Champion at an Atlanta Koi Club (AKC) Show, it is now eligible to participate in subsequent AKC shows. This includes koi, long fins and goldfish.
The AKC will take a color digital photo of each fish for benching and judging purposes.
Entry fees For koi and long fins the fee will be $60 for each 7’ show tank. Pre-registration is required to guarantee a tank and there is a maximum of 2 tanks per exhibitor. Use the point calculator to determine how many fish can go in each tank. Tank loads will be strictly enforced and exceeding the load will make fish subject to disqualification. Point Calculator is on the last page For goldfish the fee is $20.00 per 20 gal tank. ➢ Fish can be checked in on Friday, June 12, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Saturday morning check-in is only by permission of the show chairs.
The Atlanta Koi Club provides one net and one show bowl to each exhibitor tank. All nets and bowls are disinfected after each use. You are welcome to bring your own.
All water quality is monitored by our Water Quality Chairperson.
The owner or a representative of the owner of the fish must be present at the tank during benching.
The benching team will check all entries for injuries. If a fish is found to be ill or injured, the fish will not be judged. The owner may elect to remove the fish from the tank or leave it until the end of the show.
Benching standards have been established to place a koi into the judging class where it will be the most competitive against other varieties within that judging class. Varying from these benchmarks will "typically" put the koi at a disadvantage. Of course, the competition on the day may cause some variances, but that again is the exception. The benching team may discuss class assignment with the owner/representative during benching, but the judges will make the final determination of which class a fish is assigned to.
All Gin Rin are considered B class, but for variety awards
• Gin Rin A will include GR Kohaku, GR Sanke, GR Showa and GR Shiro
Utsuri.
• All other GR varieties are Gin Rin B
Doitsu is defined as all Doitsu that are not metallic (Hikari), Shusui (Asagi/Shusui), nor Kumonryu Kawarigoi)
Bekkos must be in the Bekko class
Tanchos include only Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa
All metallics (scaled or Doitsu) are placed into the Hikari classes
▪ Hikari Muji (single colored, including Matsuba) ▪ Hikari Moyo (patterned) ▪ Hikari Utsuri (metallic Utsuri and metallic Showa)
Long fins will be shown in their respective classes.
Community Tanks for Vendor Purchases -The Atlanta Koi Club provides show tanks for dealers who sell fish to be entered into the show. Entrants not showing other fish in the show must register their own fish. Fish must be in the community tanks by 9 A.M. Saturday. No fish are to be placed in a tank until registration is completed. This includes the digital photo. The actual owner of the fish must be present at the time of benching.
The judges shall not view the tanks until the show chairman has removed the list of owners and indicates that the tanks are ready to be judged.
No one other than the judges, club president, show chairs, water quality and registration committee shall be in the display area while the fish are being judged. Observers and entrants are to refrain from communications with the judges during judging.
All entries will be left on exhibit for the duration of the show unless permission is obtained from the show chairs. If you feel you will need to remove your fish early, please make arrangements as far in advance as possible so that we can have water and oxygen available for you. You should plan to remove your fish starting at 2 PM on Sunday. All fish must be removed by 4 PM on Sunday.
The Atlanta Koi Club will take all necessary and reasonable precautions to safeguard entered fish, but the owner will assume all risk and responsibilities of said fish.
➢ The decisions of the judges and show chairs are final.
Ineligible Fish - Fish fitting any of the following criteria are NOT eligible for this show and should NOT be transported to the show site.
➢ Fish that have visible signs of injury or illness will not be allowed to compete in the show and should NOT be transported to the show site. The decision of the Benching Team will be final.
➢ Koi that have been exposed in any way to Koi Herpes Virus (KHV): Examples include, but are not limited to, surviving a KHV infection, sharing the same water system with a koi with KHV, sharing the same water system with a KHV survivor, receiving a vaccination of a live virus KHV serum. AKC will enforce this rule to the best of our ability, but we must ultimately rely on the honesty and integrity of the exhibitor.
Auctions and raffles – Donations of auction/raffle items are welcomed. Raffles will be held throughout the weekend, with the proceeds benefitting the Atlanta Koi Club to assist in deferring the cost of the show. We will have some items for auction at the banquet. To donate items for auction/raffle contact: atlantakoishow@gmail.com.
Trophy Sponsorship - Sponsorships range from $50 to $200. The names of all sponsors will be listed on the AKC website, unless you request anonymity. One complimentary ticket to the Banquet will be given for each $100 in sponsorship costs (this can be a single award or a combination), so that you can present your sponsored trophies at the Awards Ceremony.
To sponsor a trophy please visit The Koi Show Trophy Sponsorship | Atlanta Koi Club
Pre-Show Preparation of Fish – remember to follow a few simple steps to make your journey to and from the show as stress free as possible.
Do not feed fish 4–7 days before the show. This is important because it helps to reduce ammonia buildup in the show tanks.
Inspect your fish thoroughly for signs of illness or injury prior to bringing them to the show. Fish that show signs of either will be disqualified.
Double bag the fish before transporting them to the show and fill the bag with oxygen.
Remember to quarantine your fish once you return home.
Notes:
AKC will provide oxygen and water for the return trip home.
Fish Point Calculation - This is an English style Koi, Long fin, and Goldfish Show meaning each exhibitor must have their own tank or tanks. Entrants are encouraged to reserve their tanks early as there are a limited number of tanks. Since the Atlanta Koi Show volunteers will maintain water quality for the exhibitors, AKC requires that tanks not be overcrowded. Each exhibitor can reserve a maximum of 2 tanks. Tank loads will be strictly enforced and exceeding the load will make fish subject to disqualification. To calculate the number of fish for a tank see table below.
Koi and long fins are measured from tip of the nose to the end of the tail (caudal fin) to determine the fish points below.
The Atlanta Koi Show uses only 7 foot tanks filled to a 18-inch depth,
Koi and long fins are measured from tip of the nose to the end of the tail (caudal fin) to determine the fish points below.
Goldfish - Aquariums (20 gal) and air will be provided for goldfish entries. Tank stocking limits are:
1 Jumbo > 6” or 2 Adults >3” or 4 young.
Water Quality - water quality is monitored by our Water Quality Chairperson.
Cancellations - No refund for tank reservation cancellations will be given after May 30, 2026.
Benching – The owner(s) or their representative MUST be present at time of benching. No Koi will be benched until the owner has been identified and verified to be in attendance. We strongly encourage all exhibitors to get their Koi and Long fins benched on Friday, if possible. Benching is between Noon and 6 PM Friday, June 12, 2026, and, if necessary, resumes on Saturday morning, June 13, 2026, from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Saturday morning benching is reserved for overflow or by prior arrangement with the show chairs.
Judging - Judging for Koi, Long fins, and Goldfish will begin on Saturday, June 13, 2026, as close to 10:00 A.M. as possible. English style show judging is a long process and often lasts well into the late afternoon. Printed show results will be distributed at the banquet.
Accommodations – Show Hotel
The Atlanta Koi Club has negotiated a room rate of $159.00 per night with the Hampton Inn Atlanta-Canton for this year’s Atlanta Koi and Goldfish Show. The address of the hotel is 710 Transit Avenue Canton, Georgia 30114. The hotel is 3.7 miles from The Mill on Etowah and provides free parking, wi-fi, and breakfast. Rooms must be booked by May 21, 2026 to obtain the negotiated rate.
The link to reservations is:
Banquet – The Mill on Etowah, Reformation Brewery, 225 Reformation Pkwy, Canton, Ga. 30114
Saturday, June 13, 2026 – 6:30 PM cocktail time, 7:00 PM dinner
Prices: $50.00 per ticket: or 1 free banquet ticket for each $100 in trophy sponsorship
Tanks will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. You can use the website to reserve
The following MUST be filled out and signed to confirm your reservation
And emailed to atlantakoishow@gmail.com
INDEMNIFICATION
1)I declare that I own the Koi or Goldfish I am entering.
2)I declare that I am a hobbyist and not a Koi or Goldfish dealer or employee of a Koi or Goldfish dealer.
3)I declare the Koi being entered have not been exposed in any way to Koi Herpes Virus (KHV).
4)Registrant agrees to indemnify the Atlanta Koi Show and Atlanta Koi Club from all legal harm. Registrant agrees to pay all legal fees, court cost, and damages that may arise from registrant taking any civil action against the club, its members & officers, due to or caused as a result of any action or negligence of any party.
5)Payment of legal fees, court costs and damages by registrants shall be directly to The Atlanta Koi Show and the Atlanta Koi Club. The club shall have the exclusive right to purchase, consign, or enter into any contract for the purpose of establishing a defense, to include hiring consultants, experts, and co-council.
6)BY SIGNING BELOW, I AGREE TO ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS INDEMNIFICATION AND THE SHOW RULES AS STATED.
SIGNED: ______________________________
DATE: ________________________________
PHONE # ______________________________