FCI — Fédération Colombophile Internationale
Fédération Colombophile
Internationale
FCI
Fédération Colombophile Internationale
International federation · Since 1948

The world federation for pigeon racing.

Since 1948 the FCI has united {{ memberCount }} national federations: setting the standards, safeguarding the birds and staging the championships where the best compete.

Latest from FCI Draft copy

News & official information

FCI Events Draft copy

Where the world’s best compete

Full calendar & results
A few words about FCI

Since 1948, the FCI has brought the world’s pigeon fanciers under one sky.

Set the standardInternational regulations, ring standards and race rules shared by every member federation.
Stage the championshipsThe FCI Olympiad, World and European Championships, Grand Prix and the World Cup.
Protect the birdsWelfare, veterinary and science guidance, including which vaccinations are mandatory for international events.
{{ memberCount }} Member federations Members of FCI, taking part in its races and programmes and shaping the sport with us.
5million Foot rings Sold for FCI members across the globe. Only pigeons with FCI foot rings can compete internationally.
750,000 Fanciers Members of the Federation worldwide, benefiting from everything membership offers.
7,800 Races a year Take place around the world each year under the name and organisation of FCI.
More about FCI

How does pigeon racing work?

Birds are driven hundreds of kilometres from home and released together. Each one finds its own way back to its loft, with no GPS and no help. The winner is the bird with the highest speed.

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About pigeon racing
ReleaseStarting point
Home loftFinish
Partners

The companies that keep the sport flying

Updates

News, official decisions and announcements from the FCI for member federations and fanciers.

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About the FCI

The international federation of national pigeon racing federations: who leads it, what it does, the rules it sets and the decisions of its board.

One federation, {{ memberCount }} nations

The Fédération Colombophile Internationale (FCI) is a non-profit association made up of the national federations that govern pigeon racing in their countries. Where a country has no national federation, a representative sporting association can join instead.

Founded in Brussels in 1948, the FCI develops the sport in all its forms, studies the challenges fanciers face, and builds friendship between pigeon fanciers of every country.

Founded
9 January 1948, Brussels
Legal status
Non-profit association under Article 60 ff. of the Swiss Civil Code
Members
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Governance
Congress (legislative) · Director Committee (executive) · General Secretariat

What the FCI does

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History · Since 1870
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Full history
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Where the world’s best compete

FCI championships, rankings and conferences. Choose an event for its rules, dates and results.

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News

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Rules

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Results

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Live results

Arrivals and standings update in real time on the official live results service while races are flying.

Open live results

Branch races

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About pigeon racing

A sport you can start in your own back garden. Here is how it works, what it costs and how to begin.

What is pigeon racing?

Racing pigeons are trained to fly home. On race day they are driven far away, sometimes hundreds of kilometres, and released together in one moment, like the thousands of birds below. Each one flies straight back to its own loft, and the fastest wins.

You don’t need a farm or lots of money, just a small loft in the garden and someone to show you how. Experienced fanciers love to share what they know, and the sport is often passed down through families.

Thousands of racing pigeons bursting out of the baskets of a transport truck at the moment of release

Built for the long flight home

Racing pigeons are true athletes, trained and cared for like any top competitor. Every result is measured to the second.

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How a race works

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What does it cost?

Typical starting costs. They vary by country, so ask your local club.

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How to start

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Find your nearest federation

Your national federation can put you in touch with a club near you.

No federation found for that country yet. Ask us and we’ll help.

See all member federations

Useful content

Learn more about the sport with these updates from the FCI.

Questions?

The things parents and new fanciers ask us most.

Ask us a question

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Log in

Sign in to your FCI website member account.

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Contact

Write to the FCI secretariat. We will do our best to reply to you within a few days.

We only use your details to reply. See the privacy policy.

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Official partners

FCI-approved ring producers, electronic timing systems (ETS) and chipring companies, with the official approval documents.

Official ring producers

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Electronic timing systems

FCI-allowed companies with TNO / WSM approved systems.
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Approved chipring companies

Companies approved to produce FCI chiprings.
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Approval documents

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Conferences

General Assemblies, congresses and conferences of the FCI, with their protocols and presentations.

History

Milestones, presidents and championships of the FCI, from the roots of the sport in 1870 to today.

Timeline

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Presidents of the FCI

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FCI Racing Pigeon Olympiad

YearHost cityTop 3 nations
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World Championships

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Details

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Contact

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Details for this federation will be published soon. Prototype: open Malta for a filled example.

 All member federations

Membership

National federations join the FCI to race internationally, apply common rules and grow the sport together.

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Applications must reach the General Secretariat at least two months before Congress to be considered at that Congress.

Why join

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Member federations

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Regulations

Statutes, race rules, competition regulations and standards.

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Board decisions

Decisions of the FCI board, the Director Committee and Congress, published as official documents.

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Leadership

The people who lead the FCI: the Presidency, commission chairmen, board members, officers, ambassadors and honorary members.

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Commissions

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Introduction

The ring regulations for the 2027 racing season are now available. They apply to every FCI foot ring issued for 2027 and are binding on all member federations and FCI-approved ring producers.

Federations are asked to read the regulations in full and share them with their clubs before ordering opens on 1 November 2026.

An FCI foot ring. Image credit goes here.

“Only pigeons wearing a valid FCI foot ring can compete in international races.”

FCI race rules

What has changed

  • Updated technical specification for foot rings and chip rings.
  • Revised ordering deadlines for member federations.
  • Clearer rules for replacement and lost rings.

Key dates

Orders open
1 November 2026
Order deadline
31 January 2027
Rings valid
1 January – 31 December 2027

Who this applies to

All member federations ordering FCI rings for 2027, and all ring producers approved by the FCI for 2027–2030. National rules may add requirements but cannot contradict these regulations.

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Documents

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Questions about this update?Contact the FCI secretariat. The subject will be filled in for you. Contact the secretariat

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