National Specialty · Springfield, Missouri
Akita Club of America National Specialty 2026
October 26–31, 2026 — six days of Akitas: two regional specialties, a pre-national specialty, and the national specialty, with sweepstakes
Week at a glance
The Akita Club of America hosts its 2026 National Specialty week October 26–31, 2026, at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Missouri — the same hotel that hosts the Alaskan Malamute Club of America national the week before. The week pairs two regional specialties and a pre-national specialty with the national specialty, plus sweepstakes. The club has also announced the 2027 national: October 18–23, 2027, back at the University Plaza Hotel.
Dates
October 26–31, 2026
Monday through Saturday
Venue
University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
333 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65806
Host club
Akita Club of America, Inc.
AKC parent club for the Akita
Superintendent
MB-F, Inc.
Entries via InfoDog's online entry system
Entries
Closing date not yet verified
Pending — the club has not yet published the 2026 premium
Format
National specialty week
Two regional specialties + pre-national specialty + national specialty; sweepstakes
Premium list
Not yet published Pending
Enter the national
- Superintendent
- MB-F, Inc. — entries via InfoDog's online entry system
- Closing
- Not yet verified Pending
- Premium list
- Not yet published — check InfoDog's premium list index for the Akita Club of America listing
The week
Six days built around the breed: regional specialties, a pre-national specialty, and the national specialty with sweepstakes.
Day-by-day assignments for the regional specialties, pre-national specialty, sweepstakes, and national specialty have not been verified yet — the club's published schedule page is out of date. This page will be updated when the 2026 premium publishes. Pending
Today’s Ring Card
Your show-day schedule, saved by date.
Judging program not yet published
No ring times or ring assignments have been verified yet. Ring cards will be built from the official program as soon as it’s out.
Judges
The judging panel announced by the Akita Club of America for the 2026 national specialty week. Announced by the club
- National specialty — dogs/bitches
- M. Shaw
- National specialty — Best of Breed
- Kim Holmes
- National sweepstakes
- R. Shaw
- Regional specialty #1
- Vickie Gifford
- Regional specialty #2
- Susan Schoeneman
- Pre-national specialty
- The Vics
Judges announced by the Akita Club of America for the 2026 national specialty week.
Juniors
Junior Showmanship details for the national specialty week have not been verified yet.
The club has not yet announced Junior Showmanship judges or which days Juniors will be offered. This section will be updated when the 2026 premium publishes. Pending
Regional specialties
Two regional specialties and a pre-national specialty run alongside the national during the week.
- Regional specialty #1
- Vickie Gifford
- Regional specialty #2
- Susan Schoeneman
- Pre-national specialty
- The Vics
Judges announced by the Akita Club of America. Day assignments pending the 2026 premium. Pending
Plan your visit
Host hotel
The national specialty host hotel is the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, 333 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65806 — the show's home base for the week, and the same hotel hosting the Alaskan Malamute Club of America national the week before. Announced by the club
Room block, group rate, and pet policy details have not been announced yet. This section will be updated when the 2026 premium publishes. Pending
2027 national
The Akita Club of America has announced its 2027 National Specialty: October 18–23, 2027, back at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Missouri. Announced by the club
Documents
Official documents for the national specialty week.
- 2026 National Specialty page — Akita Club of America Announced by the club
- 2026 premium list — not yet published Pending
Sources
- OfficialAkita Club of America — National Specialty page — 2026 dates (October 26–31), venue (University Plaza Hotel, Springfield MO), 2027 dates (October 18–23, 2027)
- OfficialAkita Club of America — National Specialty judges — 2026 judging panel (regionals: Vickie Gifford, Susan Schoeneman; pre-national: the Vics; sweepstakes: R. Shaw; dogs/bitches: M. Shaw; Best of Breed: Kim Holmes)
- OfficialAKC Event Search — Akita Club of America national specialty, October 28, 2026; superintendent MB-F, Inc.