Speed, Skill and Spirit: Over 450 Dogs Set to Compete at the 2026 AKC Agility League National Championship

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Speed, Skill and Spirit: Over 450 Dogs Set to Compete at the 2026 AKC Agility League National Championship

PRESS RELEASE GlobeNewswire

Oct. 26, 2026, 11:05 AM

Photo credit ©AKC

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is excited to announce the annual AKC Agility League™ Championship, taking place November 6th through November 8th, 2026, at the James Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina. The event is open to the public to attend!

With entries closing on October 15th, the AKC Agility League Championship has 15% more entries than last year, with more than 100 teams competing from around the country, including Alaska, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. The jam-packed weekend will feature competition at every League level: Elementary (pre-Novice), Freshman (Novice), Sophomore (Open), Senior (Masters), and PhD (ISC), and top teams and individual dogs will be crowned in each division.

“With nearly 500 dogs competing at this year’s Agility League Championship, we have more participants than any year previously!” says Penny Leigh, Director of the AKC Agility League. “We are so excited for the opportunity to bring together athletes and teams from across the country for this high-energy weekend.”

This year, the AKC Agility League Championship will be held in conjunction with three days of AKC Fetch Tests, which are open to all eligible dogs. Fetch tests for all levels, from Novice through Retriever, will be offered, giving dogs an opportunity to earn multiple Fetch titles.

The AKC Agility League brings a team-based approach to dog agility, allowing dogs and handlers of all skill levels to compete locally against teams nationwide. Combining speed, precision, and teamwork, the League fosters friendly competition and sportsmanship, culminating in an annual National Championship where top teams compete for national honors. For more information on this year’s championship or on the AKC Agility League, click here.

Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 4,900 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 28,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred and mixed breed dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, scent work, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests.

Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite, the AKC Museum of the Dog, and the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/175a4e9c-4d0e-4c24-a008-6d99c635640c

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