westminster dog show 2026

The Westminster Dog Show 2026 is the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, held in New York City across the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Madison Square Garden on January 31, February 2, and February 3, 2026.
Quick Scoop
What and where is the Westminster Dog Show 2026?
- The 2026 event marks the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, one of the oldest and most prestigious dog shows in the world.
- It takes place in New York City, with daytime events and breed judging at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and evening group judging and Best in Show at Madison Square Garden.
- The venue addresses include Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (429 11th Ave, New York, NY) and Madison Square Garden at 4 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001.
Key dates and schedule (2026)
- January 31, 2026 â âCanine Celebration Dayâ at the Javits Center, featuring Masters Agility Championship prelims and finals, flyball, demo ring, and a human agility course.
- February 2, 2026 â Dog Show Day 1: daytime breed judging for Hound, Toy, NonâSporting, and Herding groups plus Junior Showmanship prelims at Javits; evening group judging for those same groups at Madison Square Garden.
- February 3, 2026 â Dog Show Day 2: daytime breed judging for Sporting, Working, and Terrier groups and more Junior Showmanship prelims at Javits; evening group judging for those groups, Junior Showmanship Finals, and Best in Show at Madison Square Garden.
How Westminster judging works (simple 101)
- Dogs first compete against others of their own breed; the dog that best matches the breed standard wins the breed.
- Breed winners advance into their respective groups (Hound, Toy, NonâSporting, Herding, Sporting, Working, Terrier) for group judging.
- The seven group winners then face off in the final round for the iconic Best in Show title, with a top prize of 50,000 dollars reported for Best in Show.
Watching and following the 2026 show
- Broadcast and streaming coverage is carried on FOX, FS1, and the FOX Sports app, with additional coverage and schedules detailed on FOXSports.com.
- The Westminster Kennel Club website and its social channels (Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok) share news, clips, behindâtheâscenes content, and ticket information.
- Past shows and highlights are also available for viewers who want to catch up on previous Westminster events and get a feel for the competition style.
Fun context and âby the numbersâ
- Westminster is Americaâs secondâoldest continuously run sporting event and has been televised annually since 1948, adding to its historic prestige.
- The 2026 edition features over 3,000 dogs from more than 200 breeds, all vying for champion titles and Best in Show in this anniversary year.
- Entry statistics at Westminster focus on champions; the breakdown format used in dog shows (such as 0â0â(0â0)) is adapted here because only champions compete for the ultimate title.
Mini storytelling-style snapshot
Picture an earlyâFebruary New York morning: handlers wheeling crates into the Javits Center while rows of impeccably groomed dogs wait on benches, fur fluffed and leads coiled neatly in hand.
Up the road, Madison Square Garden readies its lights for primeâtime: by night, the green carpet becomes a stage where seven group champions circle once more, every tail flick and head turn weighed as the judge extends that final pointing hand to crown Best in Show on the 150th anniversary of Westminster.
Simple HTML table of 2026 key facts
| Item | Details (2026 Westminster Dog Show) |
|---|---|
| Official name | 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show | [1][3][5]
| Location | Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (daytime events) & Madison Square Garden (evening groups/Best in Show), New York City | [7][9][1][3][5]
| Main dates | January 31, February 2â3, 2026 | [9][3][5]
| Special day | January 31 â Canine Celebration Day with agility, flyball, and demos at Javits | [3]
| Groups judged | Hound, Toy, NonâSporting, Herding, Sporting, Working, Terrier | [4][5][3]
| Number of dogs | Over 3,000 dogs representing 200+ breeds | [5]
| Best in Show prize | Reported Best in Show prize of 50,000 dollars | [2]
| How to watch | FOX, FS1, FOX Sports app, and FOXSports.com streaming coverage | [9][3][5]
| Official site | Westminster Kennel Club website and social channels for tickets and updates | [6][5]
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.