National Dog Show 2026: Date, Time, How to Watch and How Judging Works
The Thanksgiving dog show airs on NBC at noon on November 26, 2026. Here is what is confirmed so far and how the judging really works.
The 2026 National Dog Show airs on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. on NBC, right after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The competition itself takes place earlier, on November 14–15, 2026, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, and the broadcast shows the judging that leads up to Best in Show.
This year marks the show’s 25th anniversary on NBC, which has carried it every Thanksgiving since 2002. Below: how to watch and stream it, what is confirmed for 2026 and what is not yet, and how the judging actually works.
How to watch the 2026 National Dog Show
| What | Details (as of October 25, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Broadcast date | Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day) |
| Time | 12–2 p.m. Eastern, immediately after the Macy’s parade; check your local NBC listing for your time zone |
| TV channel | NBC (local NBC stations) |
| Streaming | Not yet announced for 2026. In 2025 the show streamed on Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app |
| Live event | November 14–15, 2026, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks, PA |
| Hosts | Not yet announced for 2026. In 2025: John O’Hurley, David Frei and Mary Carillo |
The NBC airtime above comes from NBC’s Philadelphia station, which announced the 2026 show in October. NBC had not published full streaming details for 2026 at the time of writing. Based on recent years, a live stream alongside the TV broadcast is likely, but confirm on the official National Dog Show website or in your streaming app closer to the day.
Can you attend in person?
Yes. The show is open to spectators in mid-November in Oaks, northwest of Philadelphia. As of October 2026, tickets were listed at $20 for adults and $10 for children aged 4 to 11, with young children admitted free; check the official site for current prices, parking and rules. Most people at the venue are there to see the breed judging and the benching area, where dogs and handlers wait between rings.
If you go, leave your own dog at home unless it is entered. Big shows are loud, crowded and full of strange smells, and most do not admit spectator dogs.
Who runs the show
The National Dog Show is hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, which together with its predecessor clubs has held dog shows since 1879. It is an all-breed conformation show held under American Kennel Club (AKC) rules, with Purina as the presenting sponsor. Organizers expect about 2,000 dogs from nearly 200 breeds in 2026.
How the judging works
What you see on TV is the final stretch of a single elimination ladder. Every dog in the building starts at the breed level.
- Best of Breed. Dogs of the same breed are judged together. The judge compares each dog with that breed’s official written standard: structure, proportions, coat, movement and temperament. The dogs are not really competing against each other so much as against the ideal described in the standard.
- Group judging. Each Best of Breed winner moves on to one of seven AKC groups. A different judge places the top four dogs in each group.
- Best in Show. The seven group winners meet in the final ring, and one judge picks the Best in Show.
The seven groups
| Group | Original purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Sporting | Finding and retrieving game birds | Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, pointers |
| Hound | Hunting by scent or sight | Beagle, Basset Hound, Greyhound |
| Working | Guarding, pulling, rescue | Boxer, Bernese Mountain Dog, Siberian Husky |
| Terrier | Hunting vermin | Scottish Terrier, Airedale Terrier |
| Toy | Companionship | Pug, Chihuahua, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| Non-Sporting | A varied mix of roles | Dalmatian, Bulldog, Poodle (Standard) |
| Herding | Moving and controlling livestock | Border Collie, German Shepherd Dog, Belgian Sheepdog |
What Best in Show really means
Best in Show means the judge felt that dog, on that day, came closest to the ideal for its own breed compared with how close the other finalists came to theirs. It is not a ranking of the “best breed,” and it says nothing about which dog would make the best family pet. A Best in Show winner is a well-bred, well-conditioned, superbly handled example of its breed.
The 2025 Best in Show went to Soleil, a Belgian Sheepdog, the first win for that breed at this show. Because the competition is held in mid-November and televised later, the result is decided well before Thanksgiving.
Things worth knowing before you watch
- New breeds this year. Three breeds gained full AKC recognition on January 1, 2026: the Basset Fauve de Bretagne (Hound), the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier (Terrier) and the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka (Toy). That makes them eligible to compete for groups at AKC all-breed shows like this one. More on them in our guide to the newest AKC-recognized breeds.
- Only purebreds compete. Conformation shows are for registered purebred dogs of recognized breeds, and under AKC rules spayed or neutered dogs cannot enter the regular conformation classes, because these shows were designed to evaluate breeding stock.
- Handlers matter. Many top dogs are shown by professional handlers who know how to present a dog’s movement and stance in the few minutes a judge has.
- The commentary is half the fun. The broadcast mixes judging with breed history and trivia, which makes it an easy watch for families who are not dog-show regulars.
Thanksgiving with your own dog
If the show is on while dinner is cooking, it is a good moment to think about your own dog’s day. Thanksgiving brings guests, open doors, unattended plates and a trash can full of bones and fat trimmings.
- Plain, boneless, skinless cooked turkey in small amounts is generally fine for most dogs, but skin, gravy, stuffing and bones are not. See can dogs eat turkey for the details.
- Keep onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol out of reach.
- Give nervous dogs a quiet room away from visitors. Our holiday pet safety guide covers decorations, guests and travel.
If your dog eats something it should not, call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435; a consultation fee may apply) right away rather than waiting for symptoms.
Bottom line
Tune in to NBC at noon on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, 2026, straight after the parade. Streaming details and hosts for 2026 had not been announced as of late October, so check the official site or your streaming app nearer the day. When you watch, remember that each dog is judged against its own breed standard, and Best in Show crowns the dog that best matched its breed’s ideal, not the best breed overall.
FAQ
What time is the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving 2026?
It airs from noon to 2 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, November 26, 2026, on NBC, immediately after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Check your local listing if you are in another time zone.
Is the National Dog Show live?
No. The competition takes place on November 14–15, 2026, in Oaks, Pennsylvania, and the Thanksgiving broadcast shows the recorded judging.
Can I stream the National Dog Show?
Streaming options for 2026 had not been announced as of October 25, 2026. In 2025 the show streamed on Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, so a similar setup is likely but not confirmed.
Who won the National Dog Show in 2025?
Soleil, a Belgian Sheepdog from the Herding Group, won Best in Show in 2025.
