National Dog Show 2026: Date, How to Watch & Past Winners

The short answer: the 2026 National Dog Show's live competition runs November 14–15 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, and the televised broadcast airs Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, noon–2 p.m. on NBC. In 2025, Soleil the Belgian Sheepdog won Best in Show, with George the American Foxhound taking Reserve Best in Show. The other five 2025 finalists were Neal (Bichon Frisé, Non-Sporting), Dino (Giant Schnauzer, Working), Baby Joe (Miniature Schnauzer, Terrier), Tyler (English Setter, Sporting), and Comet (Shih Tzu, Toy).

When Is the National Dog Show 2026?

The 2026 National Dog Show takes place November 14–15 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, taped for telecast nationwide on Thanksgiving Day by NBC. The broadcast itself airs Thursday, November 26, 2026, Thanksgiving Day.

The competition (judging, breed and group rounds) happens two weeks before the show ever hits TV. If you want to watch it with your pet, the televised broadcast airs on Thanksgiving from noon to 2 p.m. on NBC, with Best in Show typically announced at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the live event itself.

Quick facts:

• Live competition: November 14–15, 2026, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (Oaks, PA)
• TV broadcast: Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, 12:00–2:00 p.m. (all time zones), NBC
• Streaming: Peacock carries past airings; check Peacock and the NBC app for live availability closer to the date

What "Finalist" Means at the National Dog Show

A "finalist" is more than a dog that showed up. Best in Breed is determined first, followed by First in Group, and the winner of each group then competes against each other for the coveted title of Best in Show. The seven groups include sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. So when people say "finalists," they mean those seven group winners, the dogs that made it into the final Best in Show ring.

Being a finalist means being judged the best representative of your breed's standard, then the best in your group, out of a field that's grown to nearly 2,000 competitors most years.

2025 National Dog Show Finalists by Group

Best in Show went to the Herding Group winner, Soleil the Belgian Sheepdog, with Reserve Best in Show going to the Hound Group winner, George the American Foxhound. Non-Sporting Group winner was Neal the Bichon Frise, Working Group winner was Dino the Giant Schnauzer, and Terrier Group winner was Baby Joe the Miniature Schnauzer. Rounding out the seven, Tyler the English Setter won Sporting and Comet the Shih Tzu won Toy.

There were 1,994 competitors across 201 breeds, the largest entry list at the National Dog Show since 2019 and the second time with more than 200 breeds judged across 13 rings, with the Golden Retriever the most-entered breed at 46 dogs.

A few of these dogs came in with serious résumés. Comet the Shih Tzu has totaled 143 Best in Show ribbons and won the Toy group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show earlier in the year. Neal, the Bichon Frisé, has 42 Best in Show awards and a Westminster group win. Baby Joe, the Miniature Schnauzer, is the top-ranked all-breed dog in the United States.

If Working Group dogs interest you, our guide to the Giant Schnauzer covers the breed's temperament and history for anyone curious what earned Dino his group win.

2025 Best in Show Winner: Soleil the Belgian Sheepdog

A 5½-year-old female Belgian Sheepdog named Soleil won Best in Show at the 24th annual National Dog Show, handled by Daniel Martin of Princeton, North Carolina. Soleil outperformed nearly 2,000 dogs to win, capturing her seventh Best in Show and setting a record for her breed. She became the 15th consecutive Best in Show winner of the Thanksgiving Day televised show.

Martin and Soleil won the $20,000 grand prize, beating more than 2,000 dogs in the competition. The result was treated as a mild upset on the broadcast, given the strength of the field, since every dog who advanced to the Round of Seven was ranked No. 1 in their breed nationally, a lineup co-host David Frei called exceptional even by the event's own high standards.

Judge Charlie Olvis explained the call plainly on air: "Not that the other dogs weren't on, but she, in particular, was on."

George the American Foxhound had unfinished business: he returned to the National Dog Show and this time earned reserve Best in Show behind Soleil, capping a career that includes an 11th Best in Show win.