Watch Crufts on TV – the largest show of its kind in the world – as it returns to Birmingham’s NEC this week (5–8 March 2026).
Organised and hosted by The Kennel Club, Crufts celebrates all types of dogs from the largest dog breeds to the smartest dog breeds, and toy dogs to hound breeds across four days of competition. Hundreds of dogs make the pilgrimage to the NEC for their chance to earn the title of Crufts Best In Show this evening.
At a glance
- Crufts dates: 5–8 March 2026
- TV coverage: Channel 4 (UK, FREE), More4 and YouTube
- Watch Crufts from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal
How to watch Crufts
Live, uninterrupted coverage of the main arena is streamed for free on the Official Crufts YouTube channel, but you can also catch up every evening with Channel 4’s curated coverage, which will include highlights of the day, live judging, features and a look at the serious side of dog breeding and ownership.
Free Channel 4 coverage
There is more than 20 hours of free coverage across Channel 4 and More4. You can watch live on TV or stream it all online – and catch up on previous years – via Channel 4.
When is Crufts 2026 on TV?
- Thursday, 5 March: 3–4pm and 7.30–9.30pm
- Friday, 6 March: 3–4pm
- Saturday, 7 March: 2–6pm and 7–9pm
- Sunday, 8 March: 3.30–6.30pm and 7–9pm
More4 Coverage
- Thursday, 5 March: 6.30–7.30pm
- Friday, 6 March: 6.30–9pm
What time is Best In Show?
The Best In Show competition will begin today (Sunday, 8 March) at 8.30pm, and will be shown live on Channel 4.
Who is presenting Crufts on Channel 4?
The coverage will be led by Clare Balding and new addition Claudia Winkleman. They will be joined by returning co-presenters Ellie Simmonds and Radzi Chinyanganya.
Jim Rosenthal and Frank Kane will be commentating on events, while vet Dr Paul Manktelow will return to offer viewers dog care advice throughout the coverage.
What is on at Crufts today?
Today (Sunday, 8 March) sees the gundog competitions and concludes with Best In Show. The schedule in the main arena is as follows:
- 08:35 | Agility – Championships – Small/Medium (Jumping)
- 09:40 | Rescue Dog Agility
- 10:10 | Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Display
- 10:40 | Heelwork to Music Winner
- 10:45 | Dog Activities Display
- 11:15 | Southern Golden Retriever Display Team
- 11:35 | Break
- 12:00 | Agility Championships – Small/Medium (Agility)
- 13:05 | Medical Detection Dogs Display
- 13:35 | Arena cleared
- 15:00 | Doors open for Best in Show ticket holders
- 16:15 | Special Musical Performance
- 16:30 | Flyball – Semi-Finals and Final
- 16:50 | Special Musical Performance
- 17:00 | Agility – Championship – Small/Medium – Agility Final
- 17:40 | The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award
- 17:50 | Young Kennel Club Stakes Final and Presentation
- 18:00 | Group Judging (Gundog) and Presentation
- 19:50 | Special Musical Performance
- 20:00 | West Midlands Police Dog Display
- 20:20 | Presentation of the Police Dog Team Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year Award
- 20:30 | Best in Show and Presentation
How to watch Crufts live from anywhere
Coverage on Channel 4 is geo-blocked outside the UK. A VPN, though, will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.
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Crufts 2026 full schedule
Here’s what’s happening in the main arena across the remaining show days.
Today – Sunday, March 8: Gundog and Best in Show
- 08:35 | Agility – Championships – Small/Medium (Jumping)
- 09:40 | Rescue Dog Agility
- 10:10 | Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Display
- 10:40 | Heelwork to Music Winner
- 10:45 | Dog Activities Display
- 11:15 | Southern Golden Retriever Display Team
- 11:35 | Break
- 12:00 | Agility Championships – Small/Medium (Agility)
- 13:05 | Medical Detection Dogs Display
- 13:35 | Arena cleared
- 15:00 | Doors open for Best in Show ticket holders
- 16:15 | Special Musical Performance
- 16:30 | Flyball – Semi-Finals and Final
- 16:50 | Special Musical Performance
- 17:00 | Agility – Championship – Small/Medium – Agility Final
- 17:40 | The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award
- 17:50 | Young Kennel Club Stakes Final and Presentation
- 18:00 | Group Judging (Gundog) and Presentation
- 19:50 | Special Musical Performance
- 20:00 | West Midlands Police Dog Display
- 20:20 | Presentation of the Police Dog Team Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year Award
- 20:30 | Best in Show and Presentation
What have I missed at Crufts so far?
Head to Channel 4 or YouTube to catch up on yesterday’s action.
Thursday, 5 March: Working and Pastoral
- 08:15 | Agility – Crufts Novice Cup (Jumping)
- 09:25 | Agility Championships – Large/Intermediate (Jumping)
- 10:30 | Heelwork to Music Competition
- 11:50 | Break
- 12:30 | Agility – Crufts Novice Cup Final (Agility)
- 13:25 | Agility Championships – Large/Intermediate (Agility)
- 14:15 | Young Kennel Club – Jumping Cup
- 15:10 | Flyball – Team – The Last 16
- 15:50 | Heelwork to Music Competition Winner
- 15:55 | West Midlands Police Dog Display
- 16:25 | Break
- 17:00 | Agility Championships – Large/Intermediate Final
- 17:40 | Junior Warrant Competition Final
- 18:00 | Breeders Competition Final
- 18:25 | Group Judging (Working) and Presentation
- 19:15 | Group Judging (Pastoral) and Presentation
Friday, 6 March: Terrier and Hound
- 08:30 | Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling competition
- 10:20 | Agility – Crufts Medium ABC & Intermediate/Large Novice ABC Final (Jumping)
- 11:00 | Agility – Crufts Singles Heat – S/M/I/L – Jumping
- 11:55 | Freestyle Heelwork to Music competition
- 13:30 | Agility – Crufts Singles Heat – S/M/I/L – Agility
- 14:25 | Agility – Crufts Medium ABC and Intermediate/Large Novice ABC Final (Agility)
- 15:10 | Flyball – Team – The Last 16
- 15:50 | Freestyle Heelwork to Music Competition Winner
- 15:55 | West Midlands Police Dog Display
- 16:20 | Break
- 17:05 | Agility – Crufts Singles Final: Small, Medium, Intermediate and Large (Agility)
- 17:50 | Vulnerable Breeds Competition Final
- 18:15 | Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling competition Final Judging
- 18:35 | Group Judging (Terrier) and Presentation
- 19:25 | Group Judging (Hound) and Presentation
Saturday, March 7: Utility and Toy
- 08:15 | Crufts – International Invitation – Large (Jumping)
- 09:00 | Scruffts Semi-Final
- 10:00 | Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Display
- 10:30 | Hoopers Display
- 11:00 | Southern Golden Retriever Display Team
- 11:20 | West Midlands Police Display
- 11:50 | Heelwork to Music – Freestyle International Competition
- 13:40 | Agility – International Invitation – Large (Agility)
- 14:20 | Young Kennel Club – Agility Dog of the Year Finals
- 15:40 | Flyball – YKC Flyball finals followed by Team Quarter Finals
- 16:25 | Break
- 16:50 | Show Opening and Parade
- 17:00 | Agility – International Invitation – Large – Agility Finals
- 17:40 | Scruffts Final
- 18:05 | Heelwork to Music – Freestyle International Winner
- 18:10 | Obedience Champion (Bitch) and Reserve (Bitch) Display
- 18:25 | Gamekeepers Competition Final
- 19:00 | Group Judging (Utility) and Presentation
- 19:50 | Group Judging (Toy) and Presentation
Most common breeds at Crufts
Breeds at Crufts are split by the Kennel Club into seven groups. The most common breed in each group are:
- Gundog – Labrador Retrievers, 547
- Hound – Whippets, 403
- Terrier – Staffordshire Bull Terriers, 393
- Pastoral – Border Collies, 310
- Toy – Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, 282
- Utility – Dalmatians, 265
- Working – Siberian Huskies, 156
Other common breeds that are not most frequent in their group include Cocker Spaniels (409), Flat Coated Retrievers (330) and Shetland Sheepdogs (265).
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