Westminster Dog Show 2026: Shocking Underdog Win Stuns Crowd!

2026 WKC Dog Show: Everything To Know About This Year's Competition

Westminster Dog Show 2026: Shocking Underdog Win S...

Curious about the 2026 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? Well, you've come to the right place. Here's a primer on everything you need to know about this year's competition.

To the casual observer, competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show might seem straightforward: Acquire a dog, groom it, pose it, and lead it around a ring. Easy peasy, right? But, reaching the pinnacle of U.S. canine events, especially one now celebrating its milestone 150th year, involves considerably more dedication, not to mention a whole lot of skill and, frankly, luck.

Let's take a peek at the ins and outs of Westminster, which kicked off this past Saturday with the 13th Annual Masters Agility Championship Finals at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center here in New York. I actually swung by to catch some of the agility trials, and let me tell you, those dogs were impressive! The focus and athleticism were just incredible to watch.

The 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show continues Monday and Tuesday in New York City, with competitions held at both the Javits Center and, of course, the legendary Madison Square Garden. The seven breed group winners will vie for the coveted Best in Show title on Tuesday evening at MSG. If you can't make it in person, the full streaming schedule is readily available online.

"This is a full circle moment for The Westminster Kennel Club and Madison Square Garden," said Dr. Donald Sturz, President of The Westminster Kennel Club, in a statement. "An idea that sprung from the historic Westminster Hotel in 1876 came to life at Gilmore’s Garden, marking the very first Westminster Dog Show – 150 years later, here we are in The World’s Most Famous Arena celebrating the love of dogs with unforgettable moments made only in New York." A truly special anniversary!

Over 3,000 champion dogs, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and even 17 additional countries, are competing in this year's highly anticipated event. Talk about a global affair!

And get this: all 202 American Kennel Club-recognized breeds are represented at this year’s show. The breeds with the largest entries are Golden Retrievers (52), French Bulldogs (48), and Labrador Retrievers (35). Rounding out the top slots are Rhodesian Ridgebacks (34), Australian Shepherds (33), Pomeranians (33), Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (32), Vizslas (32), and Pugs (31). The newest eligible breed as of 2025, the Danish-Swedish Farmdog, is represented with 12 entries. Fun fact: Last year, in 2025, Chihuahuas led the pack with 49 entries. Goes to show you, trends change in the dog show world too!

California boasts the most dogs in this year's competition with 220, followed by Florida (212), New York (154), Texas (140), and Pennsylvania (139). A couple of states are only sending one dog, like Hawaii and North Dakota. On top of that, there are also 76 entries from Canada and 32 international entries representing 16 additional countries, led by Japan, Italy and the Philippines. It's a truly international competition.