The UK government has classified the golden oyster mushroom (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) as a high-risk invasive species following confirmed sightings in English woodland. The fungus, linked to home-growing kits and hobbyist cultivation, is feared to outcompete native fungi and disrupt forest ecosystems wherever it establishes itself.

From grassroots community gatherings in Pennsylvania woods to academic conferences in Portuguese castles, the summer 2026 mushroom festival season spans continents and disciplines. Each event is rooted in the same underlying science: fungi season is triggered by seasonal rains and shifting temperatures, prompting the fruiting bodies of vast underground mycelial networks to emerge worldwide. With scientists estimating as many as five million fungal species on Earth, only a fra