The Congress took place on Sunday, 11 May, at the NEC in Birmingham, the venue for Europhilex 2025, with 36 of the 45 National Federations represented.
Honoured by the FEPA Board:
The late Franco Rigo, for 73 years as an international exhibitor.
Vice President Giancarlo Morolli, for his service on the FEPA Board since 2009.
Former Director Lars Engelbrecht was elected Vice-President, and Lars Jorgensen was re-elected as Treasurer. The two Director seats were won by Thomas Hoepfner (second term) and Claudio Manzati.
Top photo: Giancarlo Morolli (left) and Bill Hedley. Bottom photo: The FEPA Board 2025–2027; Lars Jorgensen (left), Lars Engelbrecht, Bill Hedley, Thomas Hoepfner, Claudio Manzati, Igor Pirc, and Costas Chazapis. [photos credit: Jack Zhang]
The Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) has upgraded its Boston 2026 World Expo participation status from “Recognition” to its highest level, “Patronage,” now classifying the event as a General World Exhibition. The agreement was finalized between FIP, Boston 2026 and American Philatelic Society officials during EuroPhilEx this past weekend in Birmingham, UK.
The FIP is philately’s version of the United Nations, representing nearly 100 national philatelic organizations from around the world. It standardizes guidelines for international-level competitions of all sizes and provides varying operational structures to assist show organizers.
The FIP offers several levels of involvement with increasing organizational requirements and monetary fees at each step. Preliminary exhibition approval by the FIP came in 2022, resulting in an agreement granting recognition status to Boston 2026. Negotiations since that time have continued between the FIP and Boston 2026 officers to elevate the U.S. international to its highest level under patronage status. That contract has now been endorsed by both organizations.
“Achieving patronage status guarantees all participants full rights, privileges and opportunities through the FIP system of international exhibitions,” said Yamil Kouri, Boston 2026 President. “Judges will be 100% FIP accredited, and all awards will be recognized and recorded by the FIP in its official Awards List. This also means qualified prior FIP large gold winners may take part in our World Stamp Championship Class competition. It brings together the world’s greatest exhibits under one roof to determine Grand Prix National, Grand Prix International and Grand Prix d’Honneur winners.”
Prospective exhibitors are reminded that philatelic exhibit applications are only accepted electronically through the Boston 2026 web site and must be received by September 30. National commissioners will inform accepted exhibitors in November. The deadline for literature applications is January 31, 2026.
Reinaldo Macedo of Brazil, who had earlier been appointed as the FIP Liaison Officer, is now the FIP Consultant. Most current and past FIP officers and officials are expected to be in attendance.
Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.
Photo: Boston 2026 World Expo President Yamil Kouri (left), FIP President Prakob Chirakiti, APS President Cheryl Ganz, and FIP Consultant Reinaldo Macedo.
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https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/boston_fip_contract-800.jpg800800Costas Chazapishttps://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fepanews_logo-107x138-1.pngCostas Chazapis2025-05-12 13:28:342025-05-14 11:06:54Boston 2026 Now a General World Exhibition
FEPA at EuroPhilEx 2025: Congress, Presentations, Seminars, Elections
FEPA Congress 2025:
The Congress took place on Sunday, 11 May, at the NEC in Birmingham, the venue for Europhilex 2025, with 36 of the 45 National Federations represented.
Honoured by the FEPA Board:
Live presentations by Board members:
Elections:
Former Director Lars Engelbrecht was elected Vice-President, and Lars Jorgensen was re-elected as Treasurer. The two Director seats were won by Thomas Hoepfner (second term) and Claudio Manzati.
Earlier FEPA Seminars:
Top photo: Giancarlo Morolli (left) and Bill Hedley.
Bottom photo: The FEPA Board 2025–2027; Lars Jorgensen (left), Lars Engelbrecht, Bill Hedley, Thomas Hoepfner, Claudio Manzati, Igor Pirc, and Costas Chazapis.
[photos credit: Jack Zhang]
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Boston 2026 Now a General World Exhibition
The latest from BOSTON 2026:
The Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) has upgraded its Boston 2026 World Expo participation status from “Recognition” to its highest level, “Patronage,” now classifying the event as a General World Exhibition. The agreement was finalized between FIP, Boston 2026 and American Philatelic Society officials during EuroPhilEx this past weekend in Birmingham, UK.
The FIP is philately’s version of the United Nations, representing nearly 100 national philatelic organizations from around the world. It standardizes guidelines for international-level competitions of all sizes and provides varying operational structures to assist show organizers.
The FIP offers several levels of involvement with increasing organizational requirements and monetary fees at each step. Preliminary exhibition approval by the FIP came in 2022, resulting in an agreement granting recognition status to Boston 2026. Negotiations since that time have continued between the FIP and Boston 2026 officers to elevate the U.S. international to its highest level under patronage status. That contract has now been endorsed by both organizations.
“Achieving patronage status guarantees all participants full rights, privileges and opportunities through the FIP system of international exhibitions,” said Yamil Kouri, Boston 2026 President. “Judges will be 100% FIP accredited, and all awards will be recognized and recorded by the FIP in its official Awards List. This also means qualified prior FIP large gold winners may take part in our World Stamp Championship Class competition. It brings together the world’s greatest exhibits under one roof to determine Grand Prix National, Grand Prix International and Grand Prix d’Honneur winners.”
Prospective exhibitors are reminded that philatelic exhibit applications are only accepted electronically through the Boston 2026 web site and must be received by September 30. National commissioners will inform accepted exhibitors in November. The deadline for literature applications is January 31, 2026.
Reinaldo Macedo of Brazil, who had earlier been appointed as the FIP Liaison Officer, is now the FIP Consultant. Most current and past FIP officers and officials are expected to be in attendance.
Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.
Thomas M. Fortunato
Boston 2026 Public Relations Chair
Tom.Fortunato@Boston2026.org
Read the press release here: https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PR-2025-05-10-Boston-2026-Now-a-General-World-Exhibition.pdf
Photo: Boston 2026 World Expo President Yamil Kouri (left), FIP President Prakob Chirakiti, APS President Cheryl Ganz, and FIP Consultant Reinaldo Macedo.
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EuroPhilEx 2025 Awards
The Palmares reception, dinner, and award ceremony took place on Saturday evening, 10 May, at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hotel, Birmingham.
The complete list of the results is here: https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/EuroPhilEx_birmingham_2025_Palmares.pdf
Photo: Dieter Michelson (Global Philatelic Network, left), Tom Komnaes.
[photo credit: EuroPhilEx FB account]
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