The Royal Kennel Club has announced that the Junior Warrant semi-finals and the National Junior Handler of the Year finals will be taking place on Saturday 3 October 2026 at The Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.
The Royal Kennel Club Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition began in 1998 and sees Junior Warrant winners compete for the coveted title of Royal Kennel Club Junior Warrant Winner of the Year award. The competition is for dogs between the ages of 6 – 18 months who have qualified for a Junior Warrant within 1 June 2025 and 31 May 2026.
Heats for the Junior Warrant Competition
Qualifying heats for the Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition will take place at designated open shows hosted by general canine societies across the UK between June - September 2026. These heats offer young dogs the opportunity to compete for a place in the prestigious semi-finals, with the final being held at Crufts 2027. Exhibitors are encouraged to check the list of upcoming qualifying shows and ensure they meet the eligibility criteria ahead of entry.
Date Society
16.06.26 Cheshire Agricultural Society
01.07.26 Boston & District Canine Society
05.07.26 Falkirk & District Canine Society
11.07.26 Durham County Canine Association
11.07.26 South Yorkshire Hound Society
12.07.26 Evesham & District Canine Society
12.07.26 Bakewell Agricultural & Horticultural Society
15.07.26 Thame & Oxfordshire County Canine Society
19.07.26 York Canine Association
04.08.26 Otley Canine Society
06.08.26 Bournemouth Canine Association
08.08.26 Sedgefield & District Agricultural & Horticultural Society
13.08.26 Scunthorpe Canine Association
26.08.26 Norfolk & Norwich Canine Society
30.08.26 Horley & District Show Society
31.08.26 Leicester City Canine Society
05.09.26 Rhyl Canine Society
12.09.26 Exeter & County Canine Society
12.09.26 Kington Horse Show and Agricultural Society
As introduced last year, a £10 entry fee per dog will be required for participation in the Junior Warrant competition semi-final. This fee has been introduced to help support the continued running and development of the competition.
The National Junior Handler of the Year final, organised by the Junior Handling Association, has been running since the 1970s and is one of the most hotly contested junior handling finals in the country, with the semi-final heats having taken place since December 2025 at group championship shows. The winners of these heats will take part in the final on 3 October, with the overall winner going on to represent the UK at the Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling competition final at Crufts 2026 and at the World Dog Show in Austria from 27-30 May 2027.
For further information on how to take part in Junior Handling, please visit the Junior Handling Association’s Facebook page.
ENDS
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19 March 2026
Notes to editors
If you’d like any further information, please email press.office@royalkennelclub.com
The Royal Kennel Club
The Royal Kennel Club (RKC) is the UK’s leading organisation dedicated to the health, wellbeing, and happiness of all dogs. Granted the Royal prefix by His Majesty King Charles III in 2025, the RKC builds on over 150 years of heritage to champion responsible ownership and ensure every dog leads a healthy, fulfilling life.
As a profit-for-purpose organisation, the Royal Kennel Club reinvests in dog health, research, and education, extending its expertise beyond pedigree breeds to benefit every dog in the UK. It maintains the country’s largest registration database for both pedigree and crossbreed dogs, alongside Petlog, one of the UK’s biggest microchip reunification services, and runs the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training scheme, the nation’s most extensive dog training programme.
The RKC licenses and supports a wide range of dog activities and shows, including the world-famous Crufts, now evolving into a year-round community celebrating dogs and their owners. Through the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, the organisation funds vital research into canine health and wellbeing, supports breed rescue organisations across the UK, and works with partners such as the British Veterinary Association to run national health screening schemes.
With a mission to promote responsible ownership and celebrate every dog, the Royal Kennel Club continues to evolve, combining heritage with innovation to create a healthier, happier future for dogs and the people who love them.