There are sporting events, there are cultural institutions, and then there’s the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an elite athletic competition built around peak performance, razor-thin margins, and exceptionally well-conditioned dogs with better haircuts than most people.

For nearly 150 years, Westminster has brought the world’s top dogs (literally) to New York City, where handlers sprint across green carpet, judges inspect impossibly coiffed coats with precision, and one dog leaves with the sport’s most coveted title: Best in Show.

Penny, the Doberman Pinscher, winner of Best in Show, during the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

PHOTO BY ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY IMAGES

Now, Westminster is entering a new era. For the first time ever, Netflix will stream the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show live from New York City in February 2027, with Best in Breed competitions streaming live on Tudum and the Masters Agility Championship taped for a later broadcast. The 151st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show takes place Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, 2027, with daytime breed and agility events held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and evening group judging and Best in Show hosted at Madison Square Garden.

“Following the momentum of Westminster’s historic 150th event earlier this year, we are thrilled to begin an exciting new chapter with Netflix as our media partner,” said Dr. Donald Sturz, president of the Westminster Kennel Club. “Bringing the Westminster Dog Show to Netflix not only expands the reach of this iconic event, but also introduces the sport of dogs to new audiences around the world.”

What exactly is Westminster?

At its core, Westminster is a conformation competition, meaning dogs are judged against the official breed standard. Every detail matters: movement, structure, temperament, coat, posture, gait — even the way a dog carries itself around the ring. This is not simply “a dog show.” This is the Super Bowl, Met Gala, Olympics, and Broadway opening night of the dog world, all rolled into one.

Neal the Bichon Frisé, winner of the Non-Sporting Group, during the 149th  Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

PHOTO BY SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES

Founded in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs, and the Westminster Dog Show is the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the United States, after the Kentucky Derby.

Over time, Westminster has evolved beyond traditional breed judging into a larger celebration of canine athleticism and companionship, including agility competitions and Junior Showmanship events that spotlight the next generation of handlers.

Westminster is returning to Madison Square Garden

There’s something fitting about Westminster unfolding in the middle of Manhattan — one of the world’s most hectic cities, temporarily overtaken by thousands of exquisitely groomed dogs.

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden on February 3, 2026 in New York City

PHOTO BY MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO/GETTY IMAGES

Madison Square Garden will once again host evening group judging and the Best in Show competition across Feb. 1 and 2. The Javits Center will host daytime breed judging and agility events beginning Jan. 30.

The Best in Show champion will be crowned live on Feb. 2.

The partnership also marks another major live-event play for Netflix, which continues expanding into sports and appointment-viewing programming.

Salukis stand in the judging area during day one of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

PHOTO BY TIMOTHY A. CLARY/GETTY IMAGES

“As a proud dog owner myself, it's a real pleasure and honor to partner with the Westminster Kennel Club to air its 151st show live around the world on Netflix next year,” said Brandon Riegg, vice president of nonfiction series and sports at Netflix. “We’re thrilled to showcase this prestigious and beloved event to an even broader global audience, celebrating the dogs, their handlers, and the fans who love them."

In truth, Westminster has all the mechanics of elite live competition: precision, pressure, legacy, rivalries, unpredictability — plus the added thrill of seeing a Bichon Frisé treated with the seriousness of a franchise quarterback.

How the competition works

The road to Best in Show starts with breed judging. Dogs first compete against others within their own breed, with winners advancing into one of seven groups:

The winner of each group advances to the final Best in Show competition.

For the 2027 event, famed Norwegian judge and breeder Espen Engh will serve as Best in Show judge.

Judge Espen Engh examines Quincy the Newfoundland

PHOTO BY GABE SOUZA/GETTY IMAGES

Engh is essentially royalty in the dog world: a third-generation Greyhound fancier, globally respected judge, and one of the only active judges invited to award Best in Show at both Westminster and Crufts, the legendary UK dog show. Additionally, seven highly respected group judges will make their selections over two nights at Madison Square Garden, with their winning dogs advancing to the Best in Show competition.

2027 Group Judges

Night 1

Hound Group

Toy Group

Non-Sporting Group

Herding Group

—

Night 2

Sporting Group

Working Group

Terrier Group

—

The event will also feature the 93rd Annual Junior Showmanship Finals, where young handlers compete at the sport’s highest level.

It’s not just about purebred prestige anymore.

While Westminster remains synonymous with elite purebred competition, the event has also expanded in recent years to embrace a broader vision of dog sports.

A dog runs the course during the 13th Annual Masters Agility Championship Preliminaries during the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

PHOTO BY TIMOTHY A. CLARY/GETTY IMAGES

Westminster’s agility competitions welcome dogs of all backgrounds, including mixed breeds, to compete in fast-paced obstacle courses that test speed, focus, and teamwork.

That blend of tradition and evolution is part of why Westminster has endured for nearly a century and a half. Yes, it’s steeped in ritual and history. But it’s also unexpectedly joyful, weirdly suspenseful, and full of the kind of specificity that turns casual viewers into obsessive fans.

Because once you’ve watched a perfectly groomed Pekingese glide across Madison Square Garden while a crowd collectively loses its mind, you kind of get it.

Rummie, the Pekingese, Winner of the Toy Group, wins 2023 Reserve Best in Show at the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

PHOTO BY SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES