How to watch Crufts 2026 for *FREE* — Live Streams, Schedule & Preview

The world’s greatest celebration of dogs has brought 18,698 perfectly primped and preened pooches to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, where The Kennel Club's judging panel – headed up by Dr Tamas Jakkel – have the impossible task of picking out their favorite, the Best in Show. It's a ruff job, but someone's got to do it.

To bring some structure and logic to the colossal undertaking, the contest is split into stages: Best of Breed, Group Judging, and the Best in Show final. Thursday focuses on Working and Pastoral breeds, Friday on Terrier and Hound breeds, Saturday on Utility and Toy breeds, and Sunday on Gundog breeds.

Working breeds include the Alaskan Malamute, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bouvier Des Flandres, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Canadian Eskimo Dog, Dobermann, Dogue de Bordeaux, Entlebucher Mountain Dog (Imp), German Pinscher, Giant Schnauzer, Great Dane, Great ...