DogFest 2026: Dates, Locations, Tickets and What to Expect at the UK’s Favourite Dog Festival

Whether you’re planning your first DogFest or you’ve been going for years, this is your complete guide to DogFest 2026 covering all the confirmed dates, locations, what to expect on the day, and what to look for if your dog’s welfare matters to you.

What is DogFest?

DogFest is one of the UK’s biggest and best-loved dog festivals, bringing together thousands of dog guardians every year for a weekend of activities, training, shopping, and celebration of everything canine.

Unlike formal dog shows, DogFest is designed for every dog, no pedigree required, no qualifications needed. Whether you have a seasoned agility dog or a nervous rescue who’s never been to an event before, the activities are built around participation, fun, and the joy of a full day out with your dog.

Each year, DogFest takes place across multiple stunning UK venues, running from early summer through to autumn, so there’s usually an event within a reasonable distance, wherever you are in England.

At Yappily, we think DogFest is one of the best days out you can give your dog, particularly because the emphasis is firmly on enjoyment and choice. With welfare-led activities and canine behaviourists on site, it reflects a growing understanding that a good day out should work for the dog not just the human.

DogFest 2026: All Dates and Locations

DogFest 2026 is running across four events this year, spread from May to October:

Event	Date	Venue
DogFest at FarmFest	May 22 – 24 2026	NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
DogFest at Tatton Park	June 20 – 21 2026	Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
DogFest on the Farm	September 12 – 13 2026	Harewood House, Yorkshire
DogFest at the Palace	3 – 4 October 2026	Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

That’s something of a milestone year for DogFest four events, four exceptional venues, and a real spread across the country. If you’re in the South East, the North, or the Midlands, there’s now an event within reach.

How to Get Tickets for DogFest 2026

Tickets are available through the official DogFest website at dogfest.co.uk. Booking in advance is strongly recommended, as events do sell out, and advance pricing is always cheaper than the gate price.

What to know before you book:

• Tickets are per person – dogs attend free of charge
• Family tickets are usually available
• Some have-a-go activities may have a small additional fee on the day
• All dogs attending receive a free commemorative photo courtesy of Agria (the event sponsor)

Always book directly through the official DogFest website or authorised ticketing partners to make sure you’re getting genuine tickets at the right price.

What Happens at DogFest?

DogFest events are typically open from around 9.30am to 5pm, which gives you a full day to explore. Here’s what to expect across all four events:

Have-a-Go Activities

This is the heart of DogFest. Dogs of all breeds, sizes, and abilities can try their paw at a wide range of activities and crucially, there’s no pressure to perform. The have-a-go format means dogs and their guardians move at their own pace, dip in and out as they like, and leave if they’ve had enough.

Activities typically include:

• Agility – weaving poles, jumps, tunnels and contact equipment
• Flyball – high-speed relay racing that most dogs find highly rewarding
• Hoopers – a lower-impact agility alternative, ideal for older or less mobile dogs
• Hay Bale Racing – a DogFest favourite, fast and fun
• Catch the Flag – tests speed and the bond between dog and handler
• Gundog Scurries – for dogs with a nose and a drive to retrieve
• The Big Dog Walk – a group walk through the venue grounds

From a welfare perspective, the opt-in nature of the activities matters enormously. A dog who trots through an agility tunnel because they choose to is having a very different experience from one who is pushed through. DogFest gets this right.

The Fun Dog Show

DogFest’s Fun Dog Show is informal, inclusive, and genuinely good fun. This isn’t about breed standards or conformation it’s a celebration of dogs being dogs. Classes typically include:

• Waggiest Tail
• Best Trick
• Dog the Judge Would Most Like to Take Home
• Best Rescue
• Best Veteran

Every dog that enters receives a rosette. It’s the kind of dog show we think more events should run.

Training and Behaviour Zone

One of the aspects of DogFest that Yappily particularly values is the presence of qualified trainers and canine behaviourists throughout the day. Expert-led demonstrations, talks, and drop-in advice sessions cover everything from basic training foundations to managing reactivity and understanding your dog’s body language.

DogFest also has welfare monitors on site their behaviourist team is present throughout to ensure dogs are happy and comfortable. That’s a meaningful commitment and one that sets DogFest apart from many large-scale events.

If you come away with a better understanding of what your dog has been trying to tell you, that’s a day extremely well spent.

Shopping and Trade Stands

DogFest attracts a wide range of dog-related businesses, including artisan treats, specialist nutrition, equipment, accessories, and services. It’s a good opportunity to discover independent brands and meet the people behind them face-to-face.

If you’re looking for ethical, welfare-led products and services for your dog, DogFest’s trade stands are worth exploring with that lens in mind. Ask vendors questions. Find out where ingredients come from, how products are tested, what their values are. The right brands will welcome the conversation.

DogFest 2026: Which Event is Right for You?

Four events means four different experiences. Here’s how to choose:

DogFest at FarmFest. NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, 22–24 May

The most unique event on the 2026 DogFest calendar, and the one that offers something genuinely different. DogFest is joining forces with The Great British Farm-Fest – the UK’s biggest country fair and music festival – at NAEC Stoneleigh over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. All the DogFest favourites are there: the Agria Fun Dog Show, Breed Meet Ups, Dog Diving, the ball pit and more. But when your dog has played their heart out, there are three days of food, farming, animals and countryside to explore alongside them. You can come for a single day or make a full weekend of it, which makes this the only DogFest event where camping is part of the picture.

Best for: Dogs who love wide open spaces; guardians who want a full weekend away rather than a day trip; Midlands attendees; working breed enthusiasts; those who want the biggest, most festival-like atmosphere of the four events.

DogFest at Tatton Park. Cheshire, 20–21 June

Set in the beautiful National Trust parkland of Tatton Park in Knutsford, this is the more relaxed and spacious of the summer events. Open walking routes and a countryside setting give dogs room to breathe, and the National Trust context means the grounds are well maintained and accessible.

This year also brings two highlights worth knowing about: the Paws & Peace Meadow, which is a dedicated space for calmer moments and wellbeing-focused activities, and Matt Baker MBE, who is joining for the entire weekend. He’ll be hosting at The Baker’s Arms, a relaxed hub with expert chats, interactive games and daily pub quizzes.

Best for: Dogs who prefer more space; families with young children; North West attendees; those who want a gentler pace.

DogFest on the Farm. Harewood House, Yorkshire, 12–13 September

High-energy and activity-focused, with sheepdog trials and working dog displays adding an extra dimension you won’t find at the other events. Watching dogs do the work they were bred to do is something special and for working breed enthusiasts in particular, this is the one to see.

James Martin is the special guest for the entire DogFest on the Farm weekend, with a Kitchen Theatre featuring live cooking demonstrations and dog nutrition advice.

Best for: Active dogs and working breeds; guardians who want to see dogs in their element; Yorkshire and North of England attendees.

DogFest at the Palace. Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, 3–4 October

The flagship event and, for many people, the highlight of the DogFest year. Blenheim Palace provides one of the most spectacular settings of any dog event in the UK — and the autumn timing means cooler temperatures, which is genuinely better for most dogs.

• Palace Parade a daily celebratory moment where dogs step into the spotlight
• Agria Fun Dog Show with royal-themed titles: Little Lord or Lady, Noble Rescue, culminating in Best in Palace
• DogFest Dash a timed lure sprint with a live leaderboard
• Haybale Hurdles a relaxed hurdle course for all sizes
• Dogstacle Course a teamwork obstacle course for dog and guardian together
• Agria Big Dog Walk around the Palace grounds
• Giant Ball Pit
• Free commemorative photo for every visitor courtesy of Agria
• The Palace Lawn a garden party-style live stage with expert chats and daily quizzes

Best for: First-timers who want the full DogFest experience; Midlands and South of England guardians; those who want the most complete programme of activities.

Going to DogFest: Tips for a good day

A few things that will make the day better for both you and your dog:

Arrive with a plan, but hold it loosely. Know what your dog’s limits are before you go, and be prepared to change your plans based on how they’re finding the day. A dog that’s had two things they genuinely enjoyed is having a better day than one dragged through twelve activities.

Come prepared for warmth. The June and September events in particular can be warm. Always bring fresh water for your dog, know where shaded areas are, and keep an eye out for signs of overheating — especially in flat-faced breeds.

Watch your dog’s body language throughout the day. Yawning, lip licking, lowered ears, a tucked tail, turning away, or freezing are all signals that your dog may be finding things difficult. If you see them, move away from the source of stress, give your dog space, and don’t push them into activities they’re not comfortable with. DogFest has behaviourists on site if you’re unsure what your dog is telling you, find one and ask.

Keep your dog on a lead unless in a designated off-lead area. Events like DogFest bring together dogs of every temperament. Not every dog wants to say hello, and a lead keeps everyone safer including your own dog.

Let your dog sniff. It sounds simple, but it’s genuinely one of the best things you can offer a dog at a new event. Sniffing is how dogs process the world, and giving them time and freedom to do it makes the whole day less overwhelming.

What DogFest Says About Where Dog Events Are Heading

At Yappily, we pay attention to how events talk about and treat dogs because it tells us something about where attitudes are in the wider dog care world.

DogFest has evolved considerably over the years, and what we see in 2026 is encouraging. The shift towards welfare-led activities, the explicit dog-first language, the presence of qualified behaviourists, and the opt-in format for activities all reflect something broader: a growing recognition that dogs are sentient beings who deserve care, choice, and respect not just entertainment and photo opportunities.

The language DogFest itself uses, “welfare-led have-a-go activities built for dogs”, would have been unusual a decade ago. The fact that it’s now standard speaks to real progress in how the UK dog community thinks about what a good day out actually means for a dog.

That doesn’t mean every aspect of every event is perfect, but the direction of travel is one we support.

Find a Qualified Dog Professional Near You

Planning a visit to DogFest and realising there’s more to learn about your dog’s behaviour, training, or care? That’s one of the best things these events can spark curiosity and the drive to do better by your dog.

At Yappily, we connect dog guardians with trusted, vetted, welfare-first professionals across the UK. Every professional listed on Yappily has been verified for qualifications, insurance, and a commitment to positive, force-free methods.

Whether you’re looking for a trainer, a behaviourist, a dog walker, or a boarding provider who shares your values, you’ll find them on Yappily.

Search the Yappily directory →

Frequently asked questions