Crufts 2026 – Preview of the world’s biggest canine present ON SALE NOW
FOUR days, 18,000 dogs but only one Best in Show – Crufts is back and it’s bigger than ever.
TOPSHOT – A miniature Pinscher from Finland jumps over a Crufts logo during the second day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 7, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
From showing to agility, flyball to obedience and Discover Dogs to Scruffts, the world’s biggest dog show has it all – and the stage is set for another pulsating few days of action. Our 48-page special edition brings you everything you need to know about the world’s greatest dog show.
It is packed with stories of amazing pooches as we talk to owners and trainers from all over the world who are heading to the NEC.
We also run through all the action day-by-day, hear the wonderful stories from the owners of the Royal Kennel Club’s Hero Dog Award finalists and hear from some celebrity dog lovers.
It’s been exactly 135 years since Charles Cruft staged the inaugural instalment of the now world-famous dog show at Islington’s Royal Agricultural Hall – and it’s fair to say it’s only gone in one direction ever since.
From around 2,000 dogs in 1891 to a bumper 18,000 registered for this year’s event, the profile of Crufts has grown exponentially with the show now boasting a truly comprehensive global footprint.
Beloved canine companions will descend on Birmingham from the likes of New Zealand, Argentina and Peru, with a record-breaking number of international contestants – over 4,000 overall – featuring this year.
And they will all be competing for the coveted Best in Show title, bidding to follow in the footsteps of Miuccia, a four-year-old Whippet from Italy, who memorably grabbed glory last year.
But it’s not only showing that dominates the jam-packed NEC agenda, with the likes of flyball, agility, obedience and heelwork to music – plus so much more – making for a hugely diverse experience for all those who travel to the vast venue, which has hosted the event since back in 1991.
It’s estimated around 160,000 people visit Crufts each year and while the battle for Best in Show, plus those other action-packed disciplines, make up much of the main arena activity, there’s so much more that fans can see or do.
Want a dog but can’t decide between a Labrador or a Lhasa Apso?
No problem – with the Discover Dogs area, sponsored by Royal Canin, the obvious place to be.
The Royal Kennel Club Hero Dog Award celebrates the unique relationships people have with their dogs and the important role man’s best friend plays throughout our lives and in society.
For more than 40 years, the Young Kennel Club (YKC) has been inspiring and supporting young people aged six to 24 who share a love of dogs.
And through exclusive Crufts finals – plus expert training opportunities and fun, inclusive activities held throughout the year – the YKC helps young dog owners build confidence, develop skills and reach their full potential alongside their dogs.
Whether it’s serious showing or a fun-fuelled day out you’re after, Crufts truly has something for everyone as the annual NEC showpiece gears up for another exciting year.
There’ll be thrills, spills, viral moments and plenty of tear-jerking tales – so sit back, relax and enjoy the action as the next chapter of the world’s biggest dog show prepares to be written in Birmingham.
Buy your copy today HERE or in participating supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents from Wednesday, February 25. For online orders postage and packaging applies.
