Crufts 2023 dates: When dog show will start and finish at NEC Birmingham

Crufts 2023 takes place in March, here are the dates of when the world famous dog show is in town
Patrick Hollis
By Patrick Hollis
Published 16th Feb 2023, 16:10 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

It’s the biggest dog show in the UK, some may argue the world, and it is once again coming to Birmingham. Crufts 2023 is just around the corner and many hopefuls will soon descend on the city.

Crufts is renowned for its array of talented dogs and it draws huge crowds of onlookers. 2023 is set to be no different with plenty of events on the schedule.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Like in previous years, the 2023 show will take place in March. The four day showcase of our four legged friends begins on Thursday March 9 and finishes on Sunday March 12.

Throughout the four day event at the NEC right here in Brum, dogs of all shapes and sizes will be competing in various events. One of the significant events on the opening day will be brand new.

This is The Kennel Club 150th Anniversary Celebration Stakes. This will be a one off competition in order to mark The Kennel Club’s century and a half and will see the Best in Show winners from the All Breed Championship Dog shows that took place in 2022 invited to take part.

Vanessa McAlpine, Education and Events Executive, said: “We are very excited to be bringing Crufts back in its entirety this year, something we haven’t been able to do since pre covid. With many of the popular events back on the programme and the new one-off competition celebrating The Kennel Club’s 150th anniversary, we look forward to it being one of the best shows yet, celebrating our dog heroes and what they have meant to us over the last few years.”

Waffle, a Toy Poodle, cocks it’s leg during the Best in Show event on the third day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 13, 2022. - Crufts is one of the largest dog events in the the world, with thousands of dogs competing for the coveted title of ‘Best in Show’. Founded in 1891 by the late Charles Cruft, today the four-day show attracts entrants from around the world. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)Waffle, a Toy Poodle, cocks it’s leg during the Best in Show event on the third day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 13, 2022. - Crufts is one of the largest dog events in the the world, with thousands of dogs competing for the coveted title of ‘Best in Show’. Founded in 1891 by the late Charles Cruft, today the four-day show attracts entrants from around the world. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Waffle, a Toy Poodle, cocks it’s leg during the Best in Show event on the third day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 13, 2022. - Crufts is one of the largest dog events in the the world, with thousands of dogs competing for the coveted title of ‘Best in Show’. Founded in 1891 by the late Charles Cruft, today the four-day show attracts entrants from around the world. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This year the breed competitions are scheduled to take place on the following days:

  • Thursday, March 9 2023 — Gundog
  • Friday, March 10 2023 — Working and Pastoral
  • Saturday, March 11 2023 — Terrier and Hound
  • Sunday,  March 12 2023 — Utility and Toy

For more information about Crufts, visit The Kennel Club’s website.

Related topics:Dogs

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.