Westminster Dog Show Moves to Netflix in 2027
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- Netflix signed a deal to become the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show's new telecast partner, taking over from Fox Sports after its 10-year exclusive rights deal expired; Netflix will stream the 151st edition live from New York City starting in February 2027.
- Fox Sports held the exclusive broadcast rights from 2017 through this year, following USA Network's 32-year run airing the event — a 42-year span of traditional TV carriage now giving way to streaming.
- The three-day, three-night event features 3,000+ champion dogs representing 200 breeds, with daytime breed competitions streaming on Tudum.com and westminsterkennelclub.org from the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and evening group judging airing live on Netflix at Madison Square Garden on Feb 1–2, culminating in Best in Show on Feb 2.
- Espen Engh, a third-generation Greyhound fancier, veterinarian, and judge with four decades of experience spanning 100+ countries, was named Best in Show judge — noted as the only active judge to receive invitations to award Best in Show at both Westminster and Crufts 2028.
- Westminster's Canine Celebration, including the Masters Agility Championship, returns for its fifth consecutive year on January 30 at the Javits Center, though it will be taped and shown at a later date rather than streaming live.
- The 93rd Annual Junior Showmanship competition will be held on Feb 2 at Madison Square Garden and live on Netflix, with Lisa Gallizzo of Branchburg, N.Y., serving as Best Junior Handler judge.
- Netflix VP Brandon Riegg and Westminster president Dr. Donald Sturz both framed the partnership around global reach, with Sturz saying it "expands the reach of this iconic event" and "introduces the sport of dogs to new audiences around the world."
Why it matters: The Westminster Kennel Club gains Netflix's global streaming infrastructure in place of a traditional cable deal that had aired the event continuously for 42 years. For Netflix, the agreement adds a 150-year-old American institution — 3,000 dogs across 200 breeds — to its live-event portfolio at a moment when streamers are racing to anchor sports rights. The shift also sidelines Fox Sports, whose 10-year Westminster run just ended without renewal.
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