Newark, Ohio • October 26–31, 2026
Six days of Huskies in central Ohio: the Siberian Husky Club of America national specialty takes over the Cherry Valley Hotel October 26–31 — agility, Fast CAT, rally, obedience, sweepstakes, and 270 dogs of national conformation judging.
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What is the Siberian Husky National Specialty 2026?
The Siberian Husky Club of America hosts its national specialty October 26–31, 2026, at the Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Ohio — the hotel is the show's home base, with judging indoors and unbenched, 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Six days cover everything the breed does: two agility trials and all-breed Fast CAT on Monday, two rally and two obedience trials mid-week, puppy, veteran, sled-dog, and dry-land sweepstakes, the SHCA specialty and the pre-national specialty, and the national conformation judging Thursday through Saturday — 270 dogs and 287 conformation entries, plus 128 rally and 53 obedience entries.
At a glance
- Where: Cherry Valley Hotel, 2299 Cherry Valley Rd SE, Newark, OH 43055
- When: Monday, October 26 – Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Entries: Closed Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon ET
- Superintendent: Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd.
- Host club: Siberian Husky Club of America
- Host hotel: Cherry Valley Hotel — the show venue itself
- Scale: 270 dogs / 287 conformation entries, plus 128 rally and 53 obedience entries
The week, day by day
The schedule builds through the week toward the final judging:
- Mon, Oct 26 — Two agility trials and all-breed Fast CAT
- Tue, Oct 27 — SHCA specialty, two rally trials, puppy sweepstakes, and the Top 20 gala
- Wed, Oct 28 — Pre-national specialty, two obedience trials, veteran and sled-dog sweepstakes, and the Top 20 & juniors gala
- Thu, Oct 29 — National day one — beginner puppy, the dog classes, rescue parade, and the annual meeting
- Fri, Oct 30 — National day two — the bitch classes, Winners at 4:00 PM, Halloween costume class and banquet
- Sat, Oct 31 — Junior Showmanship, Pee-Wee, and Best of Breed — 115 Huskies
Who’s judging
The verified judging panel for 2026:
- Thursday, Oct 29 (dog classes): Jessica Breinholt
- Friday, Oct 30 (bitch classes): Kim Ramey-LeBlanc
- Saturday, Oct 31 (intersex & special awards): Donna Beckman
- Saturday, Oct 31 (juniors): Joe Caton
- Tuesday SHCA specialty: Vicki Allenbrand
- Wednesday pre-national specialty: Cindy Stansell
- Sweepstakes: Karen Mammano (puppy & veteran), Dominic DiBalsi (sled-dog & dry-land)
Can you still enter?
Entries are closed. They closed Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon ET through superintendent Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. (agility entries closed October 12), so the entered dogs are set.
Spectators are welcome at the Cherry Valley Hotel — and if you were planning to enter, a free ThePetAdvisor account keeps next year's closing date on your radar so you never miss one again.
Planning your visit
The host hotel is the show venue itself: the Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Ohio. On-site RV parking is very limited with no hookups — nearby alternatives include Buckeye Lake KOA and Lazy River at Granville.
Can't make it to Newark? Watch the live stream on the SHCA YouTube channel (@SHCA-US).
See the full show page for the day-by-day schedule, the verified judge list, and the official premium list and judging program.
Why go
The national specialty is the one week of the year when the Husky world gathers in one place — and this breed does everything: agility, Fast CAT, rally, obedience, and the sled-dog sweepstakes that honor its working roots all share the week with the conformation judging.
Saturday's Best of Breed — 115 Huskies, plus Best Working Dog (an honor only this breed offers), Best Veteran, Best Puppy, and Best Bred-By-Exhibitor — is the most electric moment of the week. The national also offers the AKC National Owner-Handled Series and points for Reserve (a 3-point major). If you love Siberian Huskies, there is no better week on the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the Siberian Husky National Specialty 2026?
October 26–31, 2026, at the Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Ohio (2299 Cherry Valley Rd SE, Newark, OH 43055), hosted by the Siberian Husky Club of America. The hotel is the show venue.
Can I still enter the 2026 Siberian Husky National Specialty?
No — entries closed Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon ET through superintendent Jim Rau Dog Shows, Ltd. The entered dogs are already set; the week is open to Husky fans who want to watch.
Who is judging Best of Breed at the 2026 Siberian Husky National Specialty?
Donna Beckman judges the intersex (Best of Breed) competition on Saturday, October 31 (9:30 AM, 115 dogs), along with Best Bred-By-Exhibitor, Best Veteran, Best Puppy, and Best Working Dog. Jessica Breinholt judges the dog classes Thursday; Kim Ramey-LeBlanc judges the bitch classes Friday.
What happens each day at the Siberian Husky National Specialty?
Monday, October 26: agility trials and all-breed Fast CAT. Tuesday, October 27: the SHCA specialty, rally trials, puppy sweepstakes, and the Top 20 gala. Wednesday, October 28: the pre-national specialty, obedience trials, veteran and sled-dog sweepstakes. Thursday, October 29: the national dog classes. Friday, October 30: the national bitch classes and the Halloween banquet. Saturday, October 31: juniors and Best of Breed.
Where should I stay for the Siberian Husky National Specialty in Newark?
The host hotel is the show venue itself, the Cherry Valley Hotel. On-site RV parking is very limited with no hookups; Buckeye Lake KOA and Lazy River at Granville are nearby alternatives.
What are the sled-dog sweepstakes?
A Husky-only tradition honoring the breed's working roots: sled-dog and dry-land sweepstakes judged Wednesday, October 28 by Dominic DiBalsi, alongside the regular puppy and veteran sweepstakes.
Planning your show season?
Create your free ThePetAdvisor account — track your dogs, plan your weekends, and never miss a closing date.