Crufts dog show enjoys increased overseas entries
The latest edition of the Crufts dog show has experienced wider interest from around the world. Britain’s best-loved dog show is always a hit with people with a passion for canine breeds, but the 2026 event has seen a larger number of entrants from abroad.
Held at Birmingham’s famous venue, the NEC, and broadcast on the More4 and Channel 4 TV channels, the multi-day event features over 20,000 dogs of varying shapes, sizes and personalities. However, the big news for 2026 was the record number of international entries seeking a slice of Crufts glory, including the coveted crown of “Best in Show”.
While this year, most foreign competitors are sources from the UK’s European neighbours, other entrants have travelled much further from far-flung destinations like Argentina, Peru and New Zealand.
When interviewed, overseas dog breeders and trainers cited that the charm of Crufts was its quintessential Britishness, with one likening the canine contest to the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Originally organised by Charles Cruft back in 1891, the showcase is operated today by Britain’s Royal Kennel Club. In 2025, a dog from Italy claimed the top award for the first time, encouraging other European owners to enter for a chance to achieve the same result.
This year, the event received 4,299 entries from abroad, the highest number in Crufts history. Out of the global competitors, France had the most with 538 dogs entered, followed by Italy with 436, Germany with 425 and 353 from the Netherlands.
Breeds shown this year included Border Collies, Swedish Vallhunds, Pomeranians and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, among many others.
