Fungal diseases are increasingly threatening animal, plant, and ecosystem health. Over the past two decades, fungal and fungal-like diseases have caused severe die-offs and extinctions in wild species, jeopardizing food security. Human activities are intensifying fungal disease dispersal by modifying natural environments, creating new opportunities for evolution. Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) caused by fungi are a global threat to food security. Fungi have long been known to threaten plant species, with historical epidemics altering human history. However, pathogenic fungi have not been widely recognized as major threats to animal health. Recent high-profile declines in wildlife due to previously unknown fungi have changed this perception. For example, white nose syndrome (WNS) caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans has led to significant bat population declines. Similarly, the amphibian fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has caused widespread amphibian declines, with some areas losing over 40% of their amphibian species. Fungal infections are emerging as pathogens across diverse taxa, including soft corals, bees, and humans. Oomycetes, which have life histories similar to fungi, are also emerging as aggressive pathogens. Fungal diseases are not limited to crops, bats, and frogs; they are emerging in many other species. The probability of extinction is increasing for some species of North American bats, and B. dendrobatidis has caused the greatest disease-driven loss of biodiversity ever documented. Fungal disease alerts have increased in proportion over time, indicating a growing threat. Fungi are the highest threat for both animal and plant hosts. The presence of a tolerant host species can lead to the extinction of a susceptible host species. High virulence and long-lived environmental stages contribute to the emergence of pathogenic fungi. Human activities, such as trade and transport, have facilitated the globalization of fungi. Climate change is also a factor in the emergence of fungal diseases. Fungal EIDs impact food security and ecosystem services, with significant economic and ecological consequences. Mitigating fungal EIDs requires improved biosecurity, monitoring, and understanding of host-pathogen interactions. Integrated approaches encompassing theoretical and practical epidemiology, climate forecasting, genomic surveillance, and monitoring molecular evolution are needed to address the growing threat of fungal diseases.Fungal diseases are increasingly threatening animal, plant, and ecosystem health. Over the past two decades, fungal and fungal-like diseases have caused severe die-offs and extinctions in wild species, jeopardizing food security. Human activities are intensifying fungal disease dispersal by modifying natural environments, creating new opportunities for evolution. Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) caused by fungi are a global threat to food security. Fungi have long been known to threaten plant species, with historical epidemics altering human history. However, pathogenic fungi have not been widely recognized as major threats to animal health. Recent high-profile declines in wildlife due to previously unknown fungi have changed this perception. For example, white nose syndrome (WNS) caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans has led to significant bat population declines. Similarly, the amphibian fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has caused widespread amphibian declines, with some areas losing over 40% of their amphibian species. Fungal infections are emerging as pathogens across diverse taxa, including soft corals, bees, and humans. Oomycetes, which have life histories similar to fungi, are also emerging as aggressive pathogens. Fungal diseases are not limited to crops, bats, and frogs; they are emerging in many other species. The probability of extinction is increasing for some species of North American bats, and B. dendrobatidis has caused the greatest disease-driven loss of biodiversity ever documented. Fungal disease alerts have increased in proportion over time, indicating a growing threat. Fungi are the highest threat for both animal and plant hosts. The presence of a tolerant host species can lead to the extinction of a susceptible host species. High virulence and long-lived environmental stages contribute to the emergence of pathogenic fungi. Human activities, such as trade and transport, have facilitated the globalization of fungi. Climate change is also a factor in the emergence of fungal diseases. Fungal EIDs impact food security and ecosystem services, with significant economic and ecological consequences. Mitigating fungal EIDs requires improved biosecurity, monitoring, and understanding of host-pathogen interactions. Integrated approaches encompassing theoretical and practical epidemiology, climate forecasting, genomic surveillance, and monitoring molecular evolution are needed to address the growing threat of fungal diseases.