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What is the National Dog Show?

The National Dog Show is the Kennel Club of Philadelphia's show, held every November at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest dog shows in America — it began in 1879 and has been held every year since 1933. In 2002, NBC turned the Saturday show into a Thanksgiving Day television tradition, airing right after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 2026 edition marks the 25th anniversary of the televised show.

Longtime hosts John O'Hurley (the Seinfeld actor), expert analyst David Frei, and Mary Carillo have anchored the broadcast since the run began. Nearly 2,000 dogs from around 200 breeds compete across 13 rings, with group judging moving to the stadium show ring each afternoon.

The four days, day by day

All four shows run at the same venue. Saturday is the big one — the televised National Dog Show presented by Purina:

• Thu, Nov 12 — Penn Treaty Kennel Club all-breed show (AKC #2026153803)
• Fri, Nov 13 — Greater Philadelphia Dog Fanciers' Association all-breed show (AKC #2026104501), plus the Delaware Valley Toy Dog Fanciers Association limited-breed Toy show (AKC #2026513002)
• Sat, Nov 14 — The National Dog Show presented by Purina, taped for the NBC Thanksgiving special; Best in Show judged by Mrs. Lorraine W. Bisso
• Sun, Nov 15 — The Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Show; Best in Show judged by Ms. Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine

Eleven AKC-verified specialty events — designated breed specialties and sweepstakes — run alongside the all-breed shows on Saturday and Sunday, with entries closing October 28.

Can you still enter?

Yes. As of mid-October 2026, entries are still open. Entries close Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern, through superintendent MB-F, Inc. at InfoDog. Entry fees are $40 for the first entry and $24 for each additional entry of the same dog; Junior Showmanship entries have no fee; sweepstakes entries are $20. Each day is limited to 2,500 dogs.

See the full show page for the day-by-day schedule, the verified judge list, the premium list, and the breed judge finder.

Watch on TV

The 2026 broadcast is expected on Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day), from noon to 2 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on NBC, simulcast on Peacock, following the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. NBC had not officially announced its 2026 holiday schedule as of mid-October 2026, but the pattern — noon to 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, every year since 2002 — is one of the most reliable in holiday television.

Attending in person

Each day is a benched show: entered dogs stay on assigned benches during show hours instead of leaving after judging, so spectators can walk the benches, meet dogs up close, and talk breeds with owners and handlers all day. The show begins at 8:00 AM both days of the main weekend; Saturday's hours run to 6:00 PM, with Best in Show judging likely starting later than 6:00 PM, and Sunday runs 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Beyond the rings, the weekend includes agility demonstrations, certified therapy dogs, veterinarians from Purina and Penn Vet answering questions, and more than 75 vendors with pet products and samples. Tickets are $20 for adults (12+), $10 for children ages 4–11, and free for ages 3 and under, and the Expo Center's 5,000 parking spaces are free.

Planning your visit

The nearest major airport is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Three host hotels offer special Kennel Club of Philadelphia rates — mention the club when booking: Homewood Suites by Hilton, 681 Shannondell Blvd., Audubon, PA, (610) 539-7300; Hampton Inn & Suites, 100 Cresson Blvd., Phoenixville, PA, (610) 676-0900; TRU by Hilton, 825 Forge Ave., Audubon, PA, (484) 231-8722.

RV and overnight parking is available at the show grounds: $30 per night or $100 for the cluster in advance, $40 per night without an advance reservation. No water or electric hookups.

Why go

This is the dog show most Americans know — the one on TV after the parade. Seeing it in person is a different thing entirely: the benching area, where thousands of dogs wait ringside and owners are happy to talk about their breeds, is the real show. The 25th anniversary of the telecast makes this year's edition a milestone, and the four-day cluster means you can make a whole long weekend of it, from Penn Treaty's Thursday show through the Kennel Club of Philadelphia's Sunday finale.

Last year's Best in Show: Soleil, a 5-year-old Belgian Sheepdog bitch handled by Daniel Martin, with Reserve Best in Show going to George, an American Foxhound. These are 2025 results, for reference only.

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