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What is the Palm Springs New Year Classic?

The Kennel Club of Palm Springs opens the dog-show year with its New Year Classic — four days, January 8–11, 2027, outdoors at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Friday is group and breed specialty day; Saturday through Monday are three all-breed shows hosted by the Kennel Club of Palm Springs.

Note the shift: the 2027 edition runs the second January weekend (January 8–11), not the first weekend as in 2026. And the desert week starts even earlier: the Sand To Sea Non-Sporting group shows run Thursday–Friday at the Riverside County Fairgrounds, overlapping Friday’s group day.

The days, day by day

Four days at the Empire Polo Club:

• Fri, Jan 8 — Group day: Toy Dog Breeders Association of Southern California (Toy), Desert Empire Terrier Club of Southern California (Terrier), Southern California Sporting Dog Fanciers (Sporting) — plus the Sand To Sea Non-Sporting group shows at the Riverside County Fairgrounds
• Sat, Jan 9 — Kennel Club of Palm Springs all-breed show
• Sun, Jan 10 — Kennel Club of Palm Springs all-breed show
• Mon, Jan 11 — Kennel Club of Palm Springs all-breed show

The 2027 judging panel has not been published yet. Reserved grooming for all four days is bookable now through the club ($200 for a 10×10 tented space with power).

Can you still enter?

Yes — for now. Entries close Wednesday, December 23, 2026, at 12:00 noon PT, through superintendent Jack Bradshaw Dog Show Superintendents. The 2027 premium list has not been published yet — entry fees and limits will post with it, so check jbradshaw.com and the club’s show information page before the closing date.

See the full show page for the day-by-day schedule, the verified judge list, entry details, and sources.

Attending in person

The show is open to the public 8 AM to 6 PM daily, with no admission charge; parking is $20 cash at the show-site entrance (51st & Monroe). All four shows are outdoors — January in the Coachella Valley is typically sunny and mild, but bring layers for the morning. Note: the club no longer offers obedience classes as of August 2026 — the New Year Classic is a conformation weekend.

Planning your visit

The Empire Polo Club is in Indio, in the Coachella Valley; the closest major airport is Palm Springs International (PSP), about 25 minutes west. The club has not published a 2027 host-hotel list yet — January is peak desert season, so book refundable rooms early and confirm pet policies directly with the hotel.

Why go

The New Year Classic is the traditional opening weekend of the show year — four days in the desert, outdoors, with the whole fancy shaking off the holidays. Come for the group day, stay for three all-breed shows, and start the year’s campaign where the weather is warm and the entries are deep. For spectators, it’s the most relaxed major weekend on the calendar: free admission, polo fields, mountain views, and dogs everywhere.

Frequently asked questions