Look, I’ve never been the biggest dog person (don’t even get me started on doggolingo), but not even I can deny the impressiveness of Crufts. The world’s greatest dog show is home to only the world’s greatest dogs—with thousands of dogs and owners entertaining adoring crowds with their abilities and appearance.
Having started in 1891, Crufts is now a fixture of the NEC in Birmingham, where for four days (March 5 to 8, 2026), dogs will be judged among their breeds, each hoping to be picked for the world-famous ‘Best in Show’ competition, an annual highlight since 1928, that takes place at bp pulse LIVE at the end of Crufts.
But that’s far from all there is at Crufts 2026. Check out the brand-new ‘RKC Dog Grooming Championships’—a celebration of grooming creativity and craft—or exciting spectacles, like flyball and heelwork. Attracting over 150,000 attendees, Crufts also hosts over 500 stalls for pooch-related products and expert trainer advice.
What do I need to know about Crufts?
Each day during Crufts will focus mainly on specific dog groups, with the main stage ending in group judging and presentations. This is ‘Working & Pastoral’ Day (Thursday, March 5), ‘Terrier & Hound’ Day (Friday, March 6), ‘Utility & Toy’ Day (Saturday, March 7), and ‘Gundog’ Day (Sunday, March 8).
In total, over 18,000 dogs will compete for the coveted ‘Best in Show’ title, culminating in the ‘Best in Show’ Final on Sunday, March 8 (which is technically its own separate event). Other competitions taking place across the four days include agility, flyball, freestyle heelwork to music, and more.
Think your dog could do better than the professionals? You can also try out the popular Have a Go sessions on Thursday and Friday afternoons, at the Dog Activities Stand in Hall 3. Give your dogs the chance to try a range of exciting activities alongside more experienced display teams and their dogs.
How do I get tickets?
Unfortunately, you can’t just buy tickets to the whole event that easily, and come and go as you please. Each day you plan to attend must be purchased individually, each starting at a different price (£25 – £35). So it’s best to look at the Crufts schedule ahead of time and plan what you want to see before booking. Tickets to the ‘Best in Show’ Final at bp pulse LIVE are also sold separately (starting from £28) for a seated ticket. Although I’ll warn you now, there aren’t many seats left!
How do I get to the NEC?
Located right next to Birmingham Airport, the NEC is helpfully serviced by Birmingham International train station, which is just a 10-minute train ride from Birmingham New Street. From there, it’s a 10 to 15-minute walk to the venue. But if you’d prefer to drive, there’s plenty of onsite parking. Just pop B40 1NT in your sat nav.
To learn more about and purchase your tickets to Crufts 2026, head here.