National Specialty · Wilmington, Ohio
French Bull Dog Club of America National Specialty 2026
November 6–7, 2026 — the French Bull Dog Club of America national specialty for French Bulldogs at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio — the breed’s biggest week of the year
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Documents 📄 2026 national week (club) 📋 Judging Program Mon Nov 2 — obedience #2 Mon Nov 2 — rally #1 Mon Nov 2 — rally #2 Mon Nov 2 — Puget Sound specialty Tue Nov 3 — breed specialty Wed Nov 4
Weekend at a glance
Registration closed October 14, 2026
Registration for the national specialty closed Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern — entries are no longer being accepted. Event sign-ups (welcome party, tailgate, Top Twenty, awards dinner) closed October 18.
The French Bull Dog Club of America — the AKC parent club for the breed — holds its national specialty week October 31 through November 7, 2026, at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. The National Specialty itself is Friday and Saturday, November 6–7, with two independent specialty shows earlier in the week, sweepstakes, a Top Twenty competition, and a full lineup of companion events — obedience, rally, scent work, Fast CAT, CGC and Trick Dog testing. It is the biggest French Bulldog week of the year.
- Dates
- November 6–7, 2026 (national week: Oct 31 – Nov 7)
- Venue
- Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Road, Wilmington, OH 45177
- Host club
- French Bull Dog Club of America
- Format
- National specialty — French Bulldogs (Non-Sporting Group)
- Entries
- Registration closed October 14, 2026
Superintendent: MB-F Inc. — entries were via InfoDog - National judge
- Ms. Patty Sosa — announced by the club
📰 Read our guide: French Bulldog National Specialty 2026 — what it is, when to go, and why
More about this show
Listing reviewed · Registration closed · Dates, venue, judges & closing verified via the French Bull Dog Club of America national page, the AKC National Specialties inventory, and the AKC event record (Event 2026189610)
- Dates
- Friday through Saturday (national week: Saturday Oct 31 – Saturday Nov 7)
- Venue
- Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Road, Wilmington, OH 45177
- Host club
- French Bull Dog Club of America — the AKC parent club for French Bulldogs
- Format
- National specialty; independent specialty shows (Nov 3–4); puppy & veteran sweepstakes (Nov 5); Top Twenty (Nov 5); 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy (Nov 4)
- Entries
- Closed Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern
Superintendent: MB-F Inc. — PO Box 22107, Greensboro, NC 27420 · (336) 379-9352 · entries via InfoDog
Registration closed
Entries closed October 14, 2026 — the entry links below are for reference only.
- Superintendent
- MB-F Inc. — PO Box 22107, Greensboro, NC 27420 · (336) 379-9352 · [email protected] — entries via InfoDog
- Event secretary
- Susan Neidlinger — (727) 364-7546
- Show chair
- Susan Misch — [email protected] · 248-568-1751 (co-chairs: Anita Demoski & Valerie Candelaria)
- Closing
- Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern
- Entry fees
- Pending — the conformation entry fee table is not yet verified; the 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy event lists a $25.00 entry fee (AKC event record)
The week
Eight days of French Bulldogs at the Roberts Centre — the club’s tentative schedule, subject to change. Listing reviewed
| Day | What’s on |
|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 31 | Fetch & Farm Dog testing; Fast CAT begins (runs through Tue Nov 3) |
| Sun, Nov 1 | Scent Work; ATT (AKC Temperament Test) |
| Mon, Nov 2 | Obedience, Rally, CGC & Trick Dog; French Bulldog Club of Puget Sound Specialty — 1:00 PM (Judge Richard LeBeau) |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Independent Specialty (Judge Linda Moore); Welcome Party & Rescue Showcase |
| Wed, Nov 4 | Independent Specialty (Judge Linda Moore); 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy (Judge David J. Johnson); Tailgate/Music Bingo |
| Thu, Nov 5 | Puppy & Veteran Sweepstakes (Judge Lorraine Schettino LaVecchia); seminars; Top Twenty |
| Fri, Nov 6 | National Specialty (Judge Patty Sosa); FBDCA annual meeting |
| Sat, Nov 7 | National Specialty (Judge Patty Sosa); Awards Dinner |
Schedule per the French Bull Dog Club of America’s 2026 national page — the club notes the schedule stays tentative until entries close. Listing reviewed
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Combined judging program published
MB-F has published the combined 2026 judging program for national week — obedience and rally trials plus the French Bulldog Club of Puget Sound specialty Monday Nov 2, independent breed specialties Tue–Wed Nov 3–4, sweepstakes Thu Nov 5, and the national specialty Fri–Sat Nov 6–7 (Ms. Patty Sosa) at the Roberts Centre, Wilmington OH. All seven links below open the same combined booklet. We never guess ring times. Listing reviewed
Judges
The announced judging slate for the 2026 national specialty week. Listing reviewed
National Specialty — Friday & Saturday, Nov 6–7Best in Show & group judges
- Ms. Patty Sosa
Independent Specialty — Tuesday & Wednesday, Nov 3–4Best in Show & group judges
- Ms. Linda Moore
Puppy & Veteran Sweepstakes — Thursday, Nov 5Best in Show & group judges
- Ms. Lorraine Schettino LaVecchia
4–6 Month Beginner Puppy — Wednesday, Nov 4Best in Show & group judges
- Mr. David J. Johnson
French Bulldog Club of Puget Sound Specialty — Monday, Nov 2, 1:00 PMBest in Show & group judges
- Judge Richard LeBeau
Judging panel announced by the French Bull Dog Club of America. Listing reviewed
Juniors
Junior Showmanship at the national specialty. Pending
Junior Showmanship details — days, judge, and entry counts — arrive with the official judging program. Juniors coverage is first-class on every guide; this section fills in as soon as the program is published.
Specialties
The specialty spotlight for this event.
- Event
- French Bull Dog Club of America National Specialty 2026
- Breed
- French Bulldog (Non-Sporting Group)
- Type
- National specialty — the parent club’s premier event
- Host club
- French Bull Dog Club of America
- Dates
- November 6–7, 2026 — Wilmington, Ohio
- Also this week
- Independent specialty shows (Nov 3–4, Linda Moore); puppy & veteran sweepstakes (Nov 5); French Bulldog Club of Puget Sound Specialty (Nov 2, Richard LeBeau)
A Fast CAT trial (Speed Dog Coursing) runs Saturday, Oct 31 through Tuesday, Nov 3 alongside the national week — entries closed October 14.
Plan your visit
Venue
The national specialty week is held at the Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Road, Wilmington, OH 45177 — just off I-71 at Exit 50. Listing reviewed
Lodging
The host hotel is the Holiday Inn Roberts Centre — the club’s room block filled quickly and the hotel is full. Call (937) 283-3277 to get on the waitlist; the club notes it usually sees at least 20% cancellations. Listing reviewed
- Overflow hotels
- Hampton Inn and Suites, 201 Holiday Dr, Wilmington, OH 45177 — (937) 382-4400 (about 15 minutes from the host hotel)
- Holiday Inn Express, 155 Holiday Dr, Wilmington, OH — (937) 382-5858 (about 15 minutes from the host hotel)
Social events
- Welcome Party & Rescue Showcase
- Tuesday, November 3
- Tailgate / Music Bingo
- Wednesday, November 4
- Top Twenty
- Thursday, November 5
- FBDCA Annual Meeting
- Friday, November 6
- Awards Dinner
- Saturday, November 7
Event sign-ups closed October 18, 2026. Questions: Susan Misch, show chair — [email protected].
Sources
- OfficialFrench Bull Dog Club of America — 2026 National page — week schedule, judging panel, hotels, deadlines (verified October 15, 2026)
- OfficialAKC National Specialties inventory — dates, venue, superintendent MB-F Inc.
- OfficialAKC Event Search — Event 2026189610: closing Wed Oct 14, 2026; MB-F Inc. superintendent; 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy judge Mr. David J. Johnson; $25.00 entry fee
- OfficialMB-F, Inc. combined 2026 judging program — national week Nov 2–7 (obedience/rally, Puget Sound specialty, independent breed specialties, sweepstakes, national specialty Fri–Sat Nov 6–7), Roberts Centre (verified October 21, 2026)