Westminster Dog Show 2026: 150th edition narrows to Best in Show field
The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show wrapped its main competition in New York City across Saturday, Jan. 31 and Monday–Tuesday, Feb. 2–3, 2026 (ET), culminating in the familiar late-night sprint from group winners to the sport’s biggest prize. With roughly 2,500 champion dogs spanning 200+ breeds, the milestone year leaned heavily on tradition—while also showcasing how much the event has expanded beyond the conformation ring.
As of Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 (ET), the most complete public results have centered on the group winners that advanced to the final Best in Show round, along with the week’s agility champion.
Two venues, one big stage moment
The 2026 format split the show across two Manhattan sites:
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Jacob K. Javits Convention Center hosted daytime breed judging and much of the week’s fan-facing flow: grooming setups, benches, and back-to-back breed competitions.
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Madison Square Garden hosted the evening group judging, Junior Showmanship finals, and the Best in Show showcase under arena lights.
That split has become the show’s modern rhythm: a sprawling daytime “festival” feel at Javits and a prime-time, high-production finale at the Garden.
The known group winners heading into Best in Show
The Best in Show lineup is built from the winners of the seven traditional groups. Public results from the group judging identify five group winners that advanced to the final round:
| Group | Breed | Winner (registered name) | Call name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hound | Afghan Hound | GCHG CH Zaida Bint Muti Von Haussman | Zaida |
| Toy | Maltese | GCHB CH Ta-Jon’s Made From Scratch | Cookie |
| Non-Sporting | Lhasa Apso | GCHP CH Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice | JJ |
| Herding | Old English Sheepdog | GCHB CH Bugaboo’s Give Me Smore’ | Graham |
| Sporting | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | GCHP CH Next Generation’s Accelerate | Cota |
Two remaining group spots—Working and Terrier—were also set to feed into the final Best in Show field, completing the seven-dog faceoff that defines Westminster’s last act.
What “Best in Show” actually rewards
Westminster is a conformation show, meaning judges aren’t awarding the “best pet” or “smartest dog.” The competition centers on how closely each dog matches the written standard for its breed—structure, movement, coat, proportion, and overall presence.
That’s why the final night can feel both dramatic and subtle: at this level, every finalist is elite. Small differences—cleaner movement on the down-and-back, steadier topline, crisper outline, or a dog that holds itself confidently under noise and lights—can decide the trophy.
The 150th edition’s Best in Show judge was David Fitzpatrick, a longtime figure in the sport and a two-time Westminster Best in Show winner as an exhibitor.
Agility adds a different kind of star
Westminster Week is no longer only about standing stacks and silhouette. The Masters Agility Championship has become a major pillar, highlighting speed, accuracy, teamwork, and training.
This year’s agility champion was “Prove-It,” a Border Collie, handled by Amber McCune, with a best time listed at 29.81 seconds. In a week dominated by breed standards and ring presentation, agility offers a contrasting headline: pure performance under pressure.
Why the 150th feels bigger than a normal year
Anniversary editions tend to amplify everything Westminster already does well: larger crowds, more spotlight on history, and sharper attention to the show’s role in American sporting culture. The milestone also sharpened the stakes for repeat contenders—dogs and handlers who have been on this stage before and understand how thin the margin is between “group winner” and “Best in Show.”
It also highlighted a quieter reality of top-level dog sport: these wins don’t materialize overnight. They’re built on years of breeding decisions, conditioning, travel schedules, grooming, handling, and a dog’s temperament holding steady through it all.
What happens next
For the dogs, the post-Westminster calendar usually looks like a mix of rest, travel home, and—depending on the team—another push into the winter and spring show circuit. For breeds that get deep into prime-time coverage, the ripple effect often includes a surge of public interest, breeder inquiries, and renewed debate inside the sport about what ring trends are being rewarded.
For fans, the simplest next step is tracking the official Best in Show posting once the full results set is published alongside the completed Working and Terrier group outcomes.
Sources consulted: The Westminster Kennel Club; Associated Press; Fox Sports; American Kennel Club
