How to watch Crufts 2026 for FREE — Live Streams, Schedule & Preview | Tech Radar

Overview

How to watch Crufts 2026 for FREE — Live Streams, Schedule & Preview

18,698 dogs are vying to follow in Miuccia the Whippet's footsteps with the Best in Show crown

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Unlock your stream with Nord VPN (save 74% and get a free Amazon gift card)

The world’s greatest celebration of dogs has brought 18,698 perfectly primped and preened pooches to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, where The Kennel Club's judging panel – headed up by Dr Tamas Jakkel – have the impossible task of picking out their favorite, the Best in Show. It's a ruff job, but someone's got to do it.

To bring some structure and logic to the colossal undertaking, the contest is split into stages: Best of Breed, Group Judging, and the Best in Show final. Thursday focuses on Working and Pastoral breeds, Friday on Terrier and Hound breeds, Saturday on Utility and Toy breeds, and Sunday on Gundog breeds.

Topping the entries in each breed group are Labrador Retrievers (547 – Gundog), Whippets (403 – Hound), Staffordshire Bull Terriers (393 – Terrier), Border Collies (310 – Pastoral), Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (282 – Toy), Dalmatians (265 – Utility), and Siberian Huskies (156 – Working). There are also 409 Cocker Spaniels (Gundog), 330 Flat Coated Retrievers (Gundog) and 265 Shetland Sheepdogs (Pastoral).

The program (listed in full at the bottom of this page) also features the Royal Kennel Club Hero Dog Award, and crossbreed competition Scruffts.

Here’s where to watch Crufts live streams online from anywhere – and potentially for FREE.

Crufts 2026 is being live streamed for free in most countries around the world.

What if you're abroad? Dog lovers can use Nord VPN to watch their usual streaming service from anywhere.

Not having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.

Tech Radar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and Nord VPN is our #1 choice.

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Get Nord VPN and stream Crufts 2026 for free from anywhere.

In the UK, Crufts coverage is being provided by free-to-air Channel 4 and More 4, with Claudia Winkleman and Clare Balding on presenting duty, Radzi Chinyanganya and Ellie Simmonds providing analysis, features and interviews, and Dr Paul Manktelow on hand with tips for pet owners.

The channels are showing more than 17 hours of action between them, all of which will be available to stream live and on-demand on the Channel 4 streaming service.

Alternatively, you can tune in via the Crufts You Tube channel.

Traveling away from the UK? Use a VPN to watch Channel 4 from abroad while you're away from home.

How to watch Crufts 2026 in the US, Canada, Australia and the rest of the world

The Crufts You Tube channel is live streaming Crufts 2026 everywhere the video streaming service operates. Coverage typically begins at around 3am ET / 8am GMT / 7pm AEDT.

If, for any reason, you can't get You Tube working, use a VPN to tap into that free Crufts stream.

Thursday, March 5 8.15am – Agility Crufts Novice Cup (Jumping) 9.25am – Agility Championships Small/Medium (Jumping) 10.30am – Heelwork to Music Competition 11.50am – Break 12.30pm – Agility Crufts Novice Cup Final (Agility) 1.25pm – Agility Championships Small/Medium(Agility) 2.15pm – Young Kennel Club - Jumping Cup 3.12pm – Flyball - The Last 16 3.50pm – Heelwork to Music Competition Winner 3.55pm – West Midlands Police Display 4.25pm – Break 5pm – Agility Championships Small/Medium Final (Followed by the Dog Grooming Presentation) 5.40pm – Junior Warrant Competition Final 6pm – Breeders Competition 6.25pm – Group judging (Working) and presentation 7.15pm – Group judging (Pastoral) and presentation 8.05pm – Programme ends

Friday, March 6 8.30am – Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling competition 10.20am – Agility - Crufts Medium ABC/Intermediate ABC/Large ABC Final (Jumping) 11am – Agility - Crufts Singles Heat - S/M/I/L - Jumping 11.55am – Freestyle Heelwork to Music competition 1.10pm – Break 1.30pm – Agility - Crufts Singles Heat - S/M/I/L - Agility 2.25pm – Agility – Crufts Medium ABC and Intermediate/Large Novice ABC Final (Agility) 3pm – Build Flyball 3.12pm – Flyball – Team – The Last 16 3.50pm – Freestyle Heelwork to Music Competition Winner 3.55pm – West Midlands Police Dog Display 4.20pm – Break 4.55pm – Agility – Crufts Singles Final: Small, Medium, Intermediate and Large (Agility) Followed by the Dog Grooming Presentation 5.40pm – Vulnerable Breeds Final 6.05pm – Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling competition Final Judging 6.25pm – Group Judging (Terrier) and Presentation 7.15pm – Group Judging (Hound) and Presentation 8.05pm – Programme ends

Saturday, March 7 8.15am – Crufts – International Invitation – Large (Jumping) 9am – Scruffts Semi Finals 10am – Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Display 10.30am – Hoopers Display 11am – Southern Golden Retriever Display Team 11.20am – West Midlands Police Display 11.50pm – Heelwork to Music – Freestyle International Competition 1.15pm – Medical Detection Dogs 1.40pm – Agility – International Invitation – Large (Agility) 2.20pm – Young Kennel Club Agility Dog of the Year Finals followed by Agility Team GB parade 3.40pm – Flyball – Young Kennel Club Flyball finals 3.50pm – Flyball - Team Quarter Finals 4.25pm – Break 5pm – Agility – International Invitation - Large – Agility Finals Followed by the Dog Grooming Presentation 5.40pm – Scruffts Final 6.05pm – Heelwork to Music – Freestyle International Winner 6.10pm – Obedience Champion (Dog) and Reserve (Dog) Display 6.25pm – Group Judging (Utility) and Presentation 7.15pm – Group Judging (Toy) and Presentation 8.05pm – Programme ends

Sunday, March 8 8.35am – Agility – Championships – Intermediate/Large (Jumping) 9.40am – Rescue Dog Agility 10.10am – Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Display 10.40am – Heelwork to Music Winner 10.45am – Dog Activities Display 11.15am – Southern Golden Retriever Display Team 11.35am – Break 12.05pm – Agility Championships – Intermediate/Large (Agility) 1.10pm – HM Prison Service Dog Display 1.30pm – Programme ends and Arena to be cleared 2.45pm – Arena doors open for Best in Show ticket holders 4.20pm – Sunday Entertainment - Graham Bickley 4.30pm – Flyball – semi finals and final 4.50pm – Graham Bickley: leading West End performer, nominated for four prestigious Best Actor in a Musical awards, and proud owner of Louie the Golden Retriever 5pm – Agility – Championship – Intermediate/Large - Agility Final 5.45pm – RKC Dog Grooming Championships presentation 5.55pm – RKC Hero Dog Award 6.05pm – YRKC Stakes Final and Presentation 6.15pm – Gamekeepers Competition Final 6.30pm – Gundog Display 6.50pm – Group Judging (Gundog) and Presentation 7.40pm – Interval 7.50pm – Graham Bickley: leading West End performer, nominated for four prestigious Best Actor in a Musical awards, and proud owner of Louie the Golden Retriever 8pm – West Midlands Police 8.20pm – Presentation of the Police Dog Team Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year Award 8.27pm – Graham Bickley: leading West End performer, nominated for four prestigious Best Actor in a Musical awards, and proud owner of Louie the Golden Retriever 8.30pm – Best in Show and Presentation 9pm – Programme ends

Yes! As outlined above, free coverage is available on Channel 4 in the UK, and on You Tube pretty much everywhere else.

Fans away from home can use a VPN to watch the free coverage from abroad.

Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser.

You can also stay up-to-date with all things Crufts on the official social media channels on You Tube (@Crufts), Instagram (@Crufts) and Facebook (@Crufts).

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.

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Key Takeaways

How to watch Crufts 2026 for FREE — Live Streams, Schedule & Preview
18,698 dogs are vying to follow in Miuccia the Whippet's footsteps with the Best in Show crown
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission
Unlock your stream with Nord VPN (save 74% and get a free Amazon gift card)
The world’s greatest celebration of dogs has brought 18,698 perfectly primped and preened pooches to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, where The Kennel Club's judging panel – headed up by Dr Tamas Jakkel – have the impossible task of picking out their favorite, the Best in Show