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Breed profile · Maltese specialty history

Maltese specialty history

The full record of the Maltese’s national and regional specialties, year by year — dates, venues, judges, entries, and winners, with sources. The current year is shown in full on the breed profile; this page is the archive.

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2026

National specialty

The 2026 National Specialty — the 61st — Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk, 1515 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, Florida. Entry: 58 entries / 49 competitors in conformation — 20 dogs and 29 bitches. Entries closed Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Event Chair: Ms. Sandy Bingham-Porter. Superintendent: Onofrio Dog Shows. The national closed a four-day national week at the same hotel: two parent specialties on Tuesday, May 26, and obedience and rally on Wednesday, May 27. (Sources: AKC event search, event 2026016506; Westminster Kennel Club, 2027 Westminster Invitees.)

National specialty judge: C A Herbel — conformation and junior showmanship. Best Junior Handler: Morgan Johnson; Reserve Best Junior Handler: Olivia Moore. (Source: AKC event search, event 2026016506.)

Results (2026 national). Best of Breed: GCHS Ta-Jon’s Made From Scratch. Best of Opposite Sex, Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, and the select awards not confirmed in an official source as of November 2026. (Source: Westminster Kennel Club, 2027 Westminster Invitees.)

Regional specialties

Six regional Maltese specialties verified for 2026 so far, four in the national week in Jacksonville, Florida, plus two in Orlando in December:

  • American Maltese Association parent specialty #1 (morning) — Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Jacksonville, Florida: at the Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk (AKC event 2026016504), two days before the national. Judge: Ms. J M Allen. Entry: 47 entries / 41 competitors — 18 dogs and 23 bitches. Event Chair: Robert Wichert. Best Junior Handler: Olivia Moore.
  • American Maltese Association parent specialty #2 (afternoon) — Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Jacksonville, Florida: at the Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk (AKC event 2026016505), two days before the national. Judge: Mrs. A Pickett. Entry: 50 entries / 46 competitors — 19 dogs and 27 bitches. Event Chair: Pamela Armstrong. Best Junior Handler: Olivia Moore.
  • American Maltese Association obedience — Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Jacksonville, Florida: at the Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk (AKC event 2026016502), the day before the national.
  • American Maltese Association rally — Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Jacksonville, Florida: at the Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk (AKC event 2026016503), the day before the national.
  • American Maltese Association puppy specialty — Friday, December 11, 2026, Orlando, Florida: (AKC event 2026016507), listed as Event Pended as of November 2026.
  • Maltese Club of Greater Miami specialty — Friday, December 11, 2026, Orlando, Florida: (AKC event 2026437901), listed as Event Pended as of November 2026.

2025

National specialty

The 2025 National Specialty — the 60th — Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Alexis Park Hotel, 375 East Harmon, Las Vegas, Nevada. Entry: 67 entries / 52 competitors in conformation — 23 dogs and 30 bitches. Entries opened Wednesday, April 9, 2025; entries closed Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Event Chair: Mr. James Ray. Superintendent: Onofrio Dog Shows. The national closed a four-day national week at the same hotel: two parent specialties on Monday, June 9, and obedience and rally on Tuesday, June 10. (Source: AKC event search, event 2025016505.)

National specialty judge: Mr. R V Filburn JR — conformation. Sweepstakes offered; the sweepstakes judge not confirmed in an official source as of November 2026. Junior showmanship had 1 entry and no competitors. (Source: AKC event search, event 2025016505.)

Results (2025 national). Best of Breed and the other winners not confirmed in an official source as of November 2026.

Regional specialties

Four regional Maltese specialties verified for 2025, all in the national week in Las Vegas, Nevada:

  • American Maltese Association parent specialty #1 (morning) — Monday, June 9, 2025, Las Vegas, Nevada: at the Alexis Park Hotel (AKC event 2025016508), three days before the national. Judge: Mr. L S Reppond. Entry: 56 entries / 44 competitors — 17 dogs and 27 bitches. Event Chair: Robert Wichert.
  • American Maltese Association parent specialty #2 (afternoon) — Monday, June 9, 2025, Las Vegas, Nevada: at the Alexis Park Hotel (AKC event 2025016509), three days before the national. Judge: J P Wade. Entry: 58 entries / 44 competitors — 20 dogs and 24 bitches. Event Chair: Robert Wichert.
  • American Maltese Association obedience — Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Las Vegas, Nevada: at the Alexis Park Hotel (AKC event 2025016501), two days before the national.
  • American Maltese Association rally — Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Las Vegas, Nevada: at the Alexis Park Hotel (AKC event 2025016502), two days before the national.

Two events originally listed for Tulsa on June 4, 2025 (AKC events 2025016503 and 2025016504) were cancelled when the national moved to Las Vegas.

2024

National specialty

The 2024 National Specialty — the 59th — Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center, 6808 S 107th East Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Entry: 71 entries / 53 competitors in conformation — 26 dogs and 27 bitches. Entries closed Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 12:00 noon PDT. Event Chair: Ms. Sandy Bingham-Porter. Event Secretary: Pamela Armstrong. Superintendent: BaRay Event Services. Show photographer: Kathleen Riley Photography. (Sources: AKC event search, event 2024016502; 2024 AMA National Specialty Premium List (BaRay).)

National specialty judge: Mrs. Kathy DiGiacomo — conformation. Junior showmanship judge: Ms. S Bingham-Porter. Best Junior Handler: Alexis Moore. (Sources: AKC event search, event 2024016502; 2024 AMA National Specialty Premium List (BaRay).)

Results (2024 national). Best of Breed and the other winners not confirmed in an official source as of November 2026.

Regional specialties

Five regional Maltese specialties verified for 2024, all in the national week in Tulsa, Oklahoma:

  • American Maltese Association regional specialty #1 — Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Tulsa, Oklahoma: at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center (AKC event 2024016505), two days before the national. Judge: Jane Engemann. Event Chair: Pamela Armstrong.
  • American Maltese Association regional specialty #2 — Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Tulsa, Oklahoma: at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center (AKC event 2024016504), two days before the national. Judge: Paullet DeLong. Event Chair: Robert Wichert.
  • American Maltese Association obedience — Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Tulsa, Oklahoma: at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center (AKC event 2024016501). Judge: Nancy Simmons.
  • American Maltese Association rally — Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Tulsa, Oklahoma: at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center (AKC event 2024016503). Judge: Nancy Simmons.
  • American Maltese Association sweepstakes (puppy, cut-down, veteran) — Thursday, June 6, 2024, Tulsa, Oklahoma: at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center (AKC event 2024016507), the day before the national. Judge: Rachael Sawyer.

2023

National specialty

The 2023 National Specialty — Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the Embassy Suites Norman Hotel and Conf Ctr, 2501 Conference Drive, Norman, Oklahoma. Entry: 49 entries / 45 competitors in conformation — 20 dogs and 25 bitches. Entries closed Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Event Chair: Ms. Sandy Bingham-Porter. Superintendent: Onofrio Dog Shows. (Source: AKC event search, event 2023016504.)

National specialty judge: Mrs. C P Patterson — conformation. Best Junior Handler: Ellie Gibson. Sweepstakes offered; the sweepstakes judge not confirmed in an official source as of November 2026. (Source: AKC event search, event 2023016504.)

Results (2023 national). Best of Breed and the other winners not confirmed in an official source as of November 2026.

Regional specialties

Three regional Maltese specialties verified for 2023, all in the national week in Norman, Oklahoma:

  • American Maltese Association obedience — Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Norman, Oklahoma: at the Embassy Suites Norman Hotel and Conf Ctr (AKC event 2023016503), two days before the national.
  • American Maltese Association rally — Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Norman, Oklahoma: at the Embassy Suites Norman Hotel and Conf Ctr (AKC event 2023016505), two days before the national. Judge: Mrs. N D Simmons.
  • American Maltese Association parent specialty (afternoon) — Friday, May 19, 2023, Norman, Oklahoma: at the Embassy Suites Norman Hotel and Conf Ctr (AKC event 2023016501), the day after the national. Judge: Mr. H Tatro III. Entry: 47 entries / 37 competitors — 18 dogs and 19 bitches. Event Chair: Sandy Bingham-Porter. Sweepstakes offered.