The Strictly Come Dancing and Traitors host will be adding another string to her bow in this exciting new role on Channel 4’s dog show
The world’s most famous dog show returns within a fortnight, with thousands of pooches expected from across the globe.
More than 18,600 canines will strut their paws around the halls of Birmingham’s NEC this March, with owners hoping to win the ultimate title of Best in Show.
What TV channel is Crufts 2026 on?
Crufts 2026 airs on Channel 4 and More4, which have provided comprehensive coverage of the event for over a decade. Fans can expect around twenty hours of live action spread across the four days.
The daily TV schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, March 5: 3pm – 4pm (C4), 6.30pm – 7:30pm (More4), 7.30pm – 9pm (C4)
- Friday, March 6: 3pm – 4pm (C4), 6.30pm – 9pm (More4)
- Saturday, March 7: 2pm – 6pm (C4), 7pm – 9pm (C4)
- Sunday, March 8: 3.30pm – 6pm (C4), 7pm – 9pm (C4, Best in Show live)
- A significant update to the presenting team this year is the addition of Claudia Winkleman, who joins long-standing lead presenter Clare Balding.
Traitors host Claudia said: “I absolutely love dogs and there is literally nowhere else on earth I’d rather be. I can’t wait to join this incredible team and I’m so grateful to Channel 4 for allowing me to be part of it. I have a pocket rammed with treats.”
Clare added: “I’m really looking forward to working with Claudia, who is a fantastic addition to the team. She really loves dogs and will bring an additional element of fun, as well an intelligent curiosity and, of course, style.”
The television schedule typically begins each afternoon on Channel 4 before moving to More4 for early evening highlights and returning to Channel 4 for the prime time finals.
In addition to the broadcast channels, the official Crufts YouTube channel will provide live streaming throughout the 2026.
How to watch Crufts 2026 for free outside the UK?
Crufts 2026 is live on Channel 4 (they also offer on-demand) – meaning you can watch for free right now. Outside UK? Use a VPN to access your UK services from anywhere, terms allowing – we’re watching Crufts 2026 on Channel 4 right now and it works fine.
A word of warning: You’ll need a strong VPN (not a cheap/free one). So We tested the likes of Express VPN – all do the trick. It’s clearly a popular workaround for accessing Crufts 2026 without paying for a fancy cable package.
Who won Crufts in 2025?
We saw a first last year – a dog from Italy won best in show for the first time. Miuccia, a four-year-old whippet from Venice, came out top among more than 18,000 dogs from around the world to take the top award.
“It’s really a dream come true,” said her handler Giovanni Liguori. “I am truly overwhelmed. Miuccia performed her best”.
The runner-up was Viking, a Tibetan mastiff from Romania. The show saw 150,000 visitors come over the course of the event with a peak of nine million viewers on TV and 5.8 million on radio, organisers said.
What breeds are at Crufts?
The number of entries has risen compared to 2025, according to organisers, with 18,698 expected at the NEC from 5-8 March, a rise of 123 from last year. More than 200 pedigree breeds will contest for the prizes with 4,299 from outside the UK – France with the most, 538, followed by Italy with 436 and Germany with 425.
There are 14 countries with only one competitor, including entrants from as far away as New Zealand, Peru and Argentina. Labrador retrievers have the most dogs involved – 586 – closely followed, staff at Crufts said, by golden retrievers with 529 dogs.
Other breeds with large numbers of dogs entered are cocker spaniels (409), whippets (403), Staffordshire bull terriers (393) and border collies (310). The Komondor has the fewest number of dogs, with three entered.
What is the history of Crufts?
Crufts began in 1891 and is named after a real person, Charles Cruft, its founder, who started the show in Islington, London, with more than 2,000 dogs entered. He started life selling “dog cakes” – food filled with meat, wheat and vegetables – and then became a travelling salesman before running dog shows.
He died in 1938 and his wife took over handling the event before selling it to the Kennel Club, which continues to run Crufts. In the 1950s, the show became an obedience championship and moved venues to the Olympia in London. Then, in 1991, Crufts’ centenary show moved again, this time to the NEC in Birmingham – the first time the show moved from London and where it has stayed ever since.
