The Westminster dog show is turning 150. Here’s what has — and hasn’t — changed over time
January 30, 2026
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is celebrating a milestone. The 150th annual show opens Saturday and culminates with the best in show prize Tuesday night New York’s Madison Square Garden. What’s now the most famous dog show in the United States began when some 19th-century New York gentleman hunters organized an event to compare their dogs. That first show, in 1877, was no small thing, featuring about 1,200 dogs of dozens of breeds. This year’s show boasts 2,500 dogs, representing as many as 212 breeds and 10 “varieties.” Club President Donald Sturz says the trappings have changed over time, but the love of dogs remains the heart of the show.