Atlanta fly show cancelled as venue revokes contract

One of the most popular events in the US series of fly fishing shows has been cancelled after the venue owner unexpectedly revoked the contract with the organiser.

The cancellation of the 2026 Atlanta Fly Fishing Show has been described as a ‘major blow’ by Fly Fishing Show President & CEO Ben Furimsky. He told Angling International: “I have lost tens of thousands of dollars that I invested in the show.

“I put a lot of work into that location and built it up to be the third largest fly fishing event in the world behind our shows in Denver and Edison. I stuck with the exhibition centre through its renovations, a pandemic and its staffing issues.

Furimsky, who runs the seven show series across the US, said that he mounted an intensive search for alternative venues in the Atlanta area. “Multiple locations were considered and tentative dates secured,” he said.

“However, as plans progressed, we recently learned the new venue would not allow us to have a casting pond – an essential part of the show experience.

“Because of this late stage change and time lost, we cannot confidently produce a show that meets our standard. We are heartbroken to share this news.”

He added that he is working actively to return to Atlanta in 2027 and beyond. “The challenge lies in securing space at venues that prioritise events with larger hotel blocks than we can offer, but we remain committed to finding a solution.”