National Specialty · Springfield, Missouri
Alaskan Malamute Club of America National Specialty 2026
October 19–24, 2026 — six days of Alaskan Malamutes: the Midwest regional and national specialties, with sweepstakes, futurity and maturity, Junior Showmanship, obedience, rally, scent work, and weight pull
Weekend at a glance
The Alaskan Malamute Club of America hosts its 2026 National Specialty October 19–24, 2026, at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield, Missouri. The week pairs the Midwest regional specialty (Monday–Tuesday) with the national specialty (Thursday–Saturday), plus puppy and veteran sweepstakes, futurity and maturity stakes, Junior Showmanship, 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, obedience and rally trials, a scent trial, weight pull, the Top 20 gala, and the AMCA annual meeting — with a weight-pull seminar, welcome party, and handling clinic along the way.
Dates
October 19–24, 2026
Monday through Saturday
Venue
University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
333 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65806
Host club
Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc.
AKC member club
Superintendent
Executive Dog Shows, LLC
1492 N. Thayer Rd., Lima, OH 45801
Entries
Registration closed
Closed Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern
Format
National specialty week
Midwest regional + national specialty; sweepstakes, futurity/maturity, Juniors, obedience, rally, scent, weight pull
Premium list
2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
Enter the national
- Superintendent
- Executive Dog Shows, LLC — entries online at executivedogshows.com
- Closing
- Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 12:00 noon Eastern (closed)
- Conformation first entry
- $37.00
- Conformation additional entry
- $28.00
- Puppy (6–9 & 9–12 mos.) & veterans
- $28.00
- Stud Dog / Brood Bitch
- $28.00
- Brace (per unit, first entry)
- $28.00
- Multi-entry class (additional)
- $22.00
- Puppy & veteran sweepstakes
- $28.00
- Futurity / Maturity stakes
- $35.00
- 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy
- $22.00
- Junior Showmanship
- Free
- Obedience / Rally
- $37.00 first entry / $28.00 additional
The days
Six days from the club's national specialty schedule (subject to change — the club posts updates at alaskanmalamute.org/national-specialty). Verified 2026
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Monday, October 19 | Regional puppy & veteran sweepstakes — Vicky Jones; regional dog & bitch classes — Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia; scent work trial (Arkansas rooms) |
| Tuesday, October 20 | Regional 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, non-regular classes, Junior Showmanship, Best of Breed — Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia; regional & national obedience trials — James Comunale |
| Wednesday, October 21 | AMCA annual meeting & luncheon; regional & national rally trials — James Comunale; breeder's education seminar; working dog exhibition in the evening |
| Thursday, October 22 | National weight pull (outdoors); national puppy & veteran sweepstakes — Dennis Collins; futurity & maturity stakes — Paula Honigman & Andrea Sautbine; Top 20 gala & banquet in the evening |
| Friday, October 23 | National dog & bitch classes — Mrs. Sharon K. Weston; CGC, trick dog & scent trial — Mrs. Cathy A. Hawkins; judges education; banquet in the evening |
| Saturday, October 24 | National 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, non-regular classes, Junior Showmanship, Best of Breed, stud dog, brood bitch, brace — Mrs. Sharon K. Weston |
Sunday, October 18 opens the week with a regional seminar & weight pull, grooming setup, the welcome party, and a scent work seminar. Day-by-day ring times arrive with the judging program. Verified 2026
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.
Breed Judge Finder
The verified judging slate for the 2026 national specialty week. Verified 2026
- Regional specialty — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 Puppy
- Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia
- Regional — puppy & veteran sweepstakes
- Vicky Jones
- Regional — obedience & rally
- James Comunale
- National specialty — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 Puppy
- Mrs. Sharon K. Weston
- National — puppy & veteran sweepstakes
- Dennis Collins
- National — obedience & rally
- James Comunale
- National — futurity & maturity
- Paula Honigman · Andrea Sautbine
- Scent trial
- Mrs. Cathy A. Hawkins
Judges announced by the Alaskan Malamute Club of America in the 2026 premium list.
Juniors
Junior Showmanship runs at both the regional and the national specialty. Verified 2026
- Regional Junior Showmanship (Tue)
- Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia
- National Junior Showmanship (Sat)
- Mrs. Sharon K. Weston
Junior Showmanship is free, both as a first entry and as an additional entry. 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy is offered at both specialties — regional judge Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia, national judge Mrs. Sharon K. Weston.
Specialties & supported entries
The specialty spotlight for this event. Verified 2026
- Event
- Alaskan Malamute Club of America National Specialty 2026
- Breed
- Alaskan Malamute (Working Group)
- Type
- National specialty week — two specialties, one location
- Host club
- Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc.
- Dates
- October 19–24, 2026 — Springfield, Missouri
- Midwest regional specialty
- Monday–Tuesday, October 19–20 — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 Puppy: Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia; sweepstakes: Vicky Jones
- National specialty
- Thursday–Saturday, October 22–24 — conformation, Juniors & 4–6 Puppy: Mrs. Sharon K. Weston; sweepstakes: Dennis Collins; futurity/maturity: Paula Honigman & Andrea Sautbine
- Performance
- Obedience & rally: James Comunale · scent trial: Mrs. Cathy A. Hawkins · weight pull (seminar Sunday, national trial Thursday)
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 — (417) 864-7333. Obedience and rally are in the hotel ballroom, the scent trial is in the hotel meeting rooms, weight pull is outdoors, and conformation is in the convention center. Verified 2026
The premium does not state a group rate or room block cutoff. Show hours are 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
Documents
Official documents for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
- 2026 premium list (PDF) Verified 2026
Entries closed Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern, at Executive Dog Shows.
Sources
- Official2026 premium list (PDF) — dates, venue, judges, fees
- OfficialExecutive Dog Shows show inventory — club, dates, city/state (executivedogshows.com)
- OfficialAKC National Specialties inventory (apps.akc.org) — dates and city cross-check