The 32nd FeHoVa attracted significant interest
Satisfied exhibitors and a continuously growing visitor number – the 32nd FeHoVa Fishing, Hunting and Arms International Exhibition has come to an end at the HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Center. Over the four-day event, a wide range of fully booked professional and public programs welcomed visitors.
At FeHoVa, the most significant hunting, angling and forestry exhibition for hunters, anglers, foresters, weapons enthusiasts and nature lovers in the Central and Eastern European region, 200 exhibitors from 13 countries took part this year.
Visitor numbers well exceeded 40,000, which, according to the organizers, was due not only to the rich program offering but also to the newly introduced free parking and a more affordable catering selection than in previous years.
Held concurrently with FeHoVa, the 13th FEHOVA–MEOESZ International Dog Show (CAC, CACIB) welcomed nearly 6,000 dogs, brought by their owners from numerous European countries.
At the opening ceremony of FeHoVa, Dr. Zsolt Semjén, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Országos Magyar Vadászati Védegylet, outlined the key decisions of the past year affecting hunters and wildlife management. He emphasized that prior to any related proposals, legislative amendments or regulatory changes, the opinions of all relevant professional organizations are consulted. He highlighted that the performance of Hungary’s wildlife management sector has increased eighteenfold over the past 16 years, reaching HUF 3 billion annually. Despite stricter requirements for becoming a hunter, the number of registered hunters has risen from 57,000 to 71,000.
In his welcome address, Dr. István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, emphasized that the introduction of the regional wildlife management system, along with the application of the national trophy evaluation system, has made a significant contribution to the effectiveness of quantitative regulation and the preservation of quality.The Minister added that the amendment to the Hunting Act now allows hunting rights holders, as of 1 March, to keep the hunting logbook and game harvest records electronically using a dedicated digital application.
Dr. Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communications at the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, Editor-in-Chief of Nimród Hunting Magazine, and Head of the Hungarian National Delegation of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), stated that consultations have been launched on how the FeHoVa exhibition should continue in the future with new content and innovations. He emphasized that the FeHoVa exhibition has played a significant role in the transmission of hunting culture over the past more than three decades, and this legacy will remain a key consideration in shaping its future development.
Dr. Lajos Szűcs, President of the Hungarian National Angling Federation (MOHOSZ), noted among other points that, in accordance with the angling tourism strategy concluded with the government, the development of association-based angling hubs will continue.
Dr. Philipp Harmer, President of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), praised the organizers of the exhibition and described the cooperation between wildlife management and nature conservation in Hungary as also exemplary in Europe.
Gábor Korózs, President of the Hungarian Federation of Dog Breeders’ Associations (MEOESz), said that they have been participating in the event for 20 years, which has by now developed into a four-day international all-breeds dog show, attracting participants from numerous European countries.
Ganczer Gábor, CEO of HUNGEXPO Ltd., said in his opening address that for more than thirty years FeHoVa has served as a meeting point for nature lovers, hunters and forestry professionals, for whom the heritage they can pass on is important.
At the official opening ceremony, a partnership agreement on cooperation was signed by the National Chamber of Agriculture, the National Hungarian Chamber of Hunters, and the National Hungarian Hunting Association. According to the document, the signatory organizations will work together even more closely in the future in the fields of sustainable agriculture, forestry and wildlife management.
This year as well, the professional programs of FeHoVa were highly successful.
At the “Current Issues in Wildlife Management” conference organized by the National Chamber of Agriculture, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, experts from universities and the research sector, as well as practitioners of forestry and wildlife management, delivered presentations to large audiences. A new feature this year was the professional mini stage, where participants discussed topics such as hunting in urban environments, the future of professional hunters, and preparation for hunting abroad.
Among the public hunting programs, the trophy exhibitions, the trophy evaluation demonstration, as well as book launches and personal talks by well-known hunters combined with book signings, once again stood out.
Under the title “From the Steppe to Sunset – Hunting Without Gunpowder”, visitors could view an exhibition curated from the collection of the Hungarian National Museum, along with works by András Szunyoghy, graphic artist.
Many visitors were also drawn to the off-road driving course and took part in the night-vision demonstration. (heated animal figures placed on the rooftops of two separate pavilions, observed from one pavilion rooftop to the other)
Traditionally, the Vadászati Kulturális Egyesület (Hunting Cultural Association) organizes the youth hunting horn competition and the troat championship at the exhibition. At this year’s 12th hunting horn competition, Ádám Schnell won the children’s category, while Szabolcs Fehér triumphed in the youth category. The FeHoVa Cup International Troat Championship, held with the participation of Slovak competitors, was won this year by Balázs Tardosi, while the youth category was won by Dániel Pap.
The angling section of FeHoVa focused this year on presenting professional innovations in angling, fish farming and nature conservation, as well as the achievements of competitive angling. The MOHOSZ Agora, held for the second time, proved to be a major success, welcoming even more companies and brands than last year (the list of companies and brands represented in the Agora is available here).
On the Angling Stage, Hungarian European and World Champion anglers of recent years delivered presentations, signed autographs, and shared their experiences and insights gained at international competitions. The spinning and bait boat pools, as well as the fish-fighting simulator, were extremely popular, with visitors finding it difficult to access them during the demonstrations. At the Hungarian National Angling Federation (MOHOSZ) stand, many visitors once again purchased their annual angling licences and took part in the angling examination.
Concurrent Events
The 2026 FeHoVa also offered visitors two concurrent events. These included the traditional Archery Championship organized by the Hungarian Archery Association, as well as the 13th FeHoVa–MEOESZ International Dog Show, which this year welcomed nearly 6,000 dogs brought by their owners from Hungary and numerous European countries.
Charity at the FeHoVa Exhibition
Several charitable initiatives were organized in connection with FeHoVa again this year.
In cooperation with HUNGEXPO, the Vadászati Kulturális Egyesület (Hunting Cultural Association) also made it possible for disadvantaged children to visit the exhibition. Thanks to the support of the Győr-Moson-Sopron County Government Office, a minibus of children arrived from Rábacsécsény.
As part of the long-standing cooperation between the Hungarian National Angling Federation (MOHOSZ), Energofish Ltd., and FeHoVa, MOHOSZ once again announced a call for schools to visit the exhibition. MOHOSZ financed the bus transportation, Energofish Ltd. provided on-site gifts for the children, while FeHoVa covered the admission tickets for more than 1,000 students and their accompanying teachers.
