Meet the Winners of the 2026 National Agility Championship

From March 20 through March 22, dogs and handlers gathered at Galway Downs in Temecula, California, for the 2026 AKC National Agility Championship. Champions were crowned within the Regular and Preferred Class. Dog-and-handler agility teams competed in the 8″, 12″, 16″, 20″, and 24″ divisions in the Regular Class, and 4″, 8″, 12″, 16″, and 20″ in the Preferred Class.

AKC National Agility Championship Regular Class Winners

Champions were announced in each of the five height divisions: 8″, 12″, 16″, 20″, and 24″.

8″ Agility Champion

Call Name: Welly

Registered Name: MACH Welly MXB MJB XF T2B CGC

Breed: Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Owner/Handler: Peter Wirth

From: Longmont, Colorado

Time: 35.137 seconds

12″ Agility Champion

Call Name: Skye

Registered Name: MACH6 Safranne’s Have No Fear MXS2 PAD MJG2 PJS NF

Breed: Poodle

Owner/Handler: Han Yu

From: Glenville, Illinois

Time: 33.246 seconds

16″ Agility Champion

Call Name: Luke

Registered Name: Five-Gait Luke RA MX MXJ MXF BCAT TKP

Breed: Icelandic Sheepdog

Owner/Handler: Leslie Ems-Walker

From: Salem, Oregon

Time: 41.425 seconds

20″ Agility Champion

Call Name: Brink

Registered Name: On The Brink MX MXJ MXF T2B

Breed: Border Collie

Handler: Kaitlin Rohr

Owner: Russell Rohr

From: Loma, Colorado

Time: 31.998 seconds

24″ Agility Champion

Call Name: Cosmo

Registered Name: Sokoldalu’s Power Of The Sun And Stars RI AX MXJ XF NFP

Breed: Vizsla

Owner/Handler: Sam Chew

From: Edmonds, Washington

Time: 39.387 seconds

AKC National Agility Championship Preferred Class Winners

AKC Preferred Agility is a great program for senior dogs or dogs that have suffered injuries. It allows dogs to jump at one height division lower than the regular course, as well as giving them five extra seconds to complete the course.

Below are this year’s Preferred Champions. The full results can be found at the AKC Companion Events page.

4″ Preferred Agility Champion

Call Name: Kailani

Registered Name: M

Breed: American Eskimo Dog

Owner/Handler: Jennifer Crisman

From: Harpersville, Alabama

Time: 44.414 seconds

8″ Preferred Agility Champion

Call Name: BET

Registered Name: MACH2 Betterlatethannever MXG MJC PJD MXP2 MJP XF T2B

Breed: Shetland Sheepdog

Handler: Marco Giavoni

From: Midland, Michigan

Time: 35.396 seconds

12″ Preferred Agility Champion

Call Name: Dazzle

Registered Name: MACH2 PACH Dazzle Them With Brilliance MXS MJS MXPB MJPB PAX T2B TKI

Breed: Australian Cattle Dog

Owner/Handler: Michele Smith

From: Norco, Califonia

Time: 50.125 seconds

16″ Preferred Agility Champion

Call Name: Ego

Registered Name: PNAC MACH2 PACH On Target’s Narcissist BN RA MXS MJS MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX MXF T2B CGC TKP

Breed: Border Collie

Owner/Handler: Sydney Ryan

From: Troutdale, Oregon

Time: 32.452 seconds

20″ Preferred Agility Champion

Call Name: Howie

Registered Name: GCH CH MACH8 PACH Lazydaze How’D Ewe Like My Darkside MXC2 PAD MJC2 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX BCAT DMA DSA

Breed: Border Collie

Handler: Amber McCune

Owner: Celeste Maurer

From: Bedford, New Hampshire

Time: 35.834 seconds

Want More AKC National Agility Championship?

Relive all the action on AKC.tv or on the AKC.tv app. Stay tuned for the ESPN broadcast!

Read about other dogs that competed this year, like Afghan Hound, “Dazzle,” Labrador Retrievers “Gus” and “Luka,” and All-American Dog “Tully.”

Getting Started in Agility

Any dog that is registered with the AKC can participate, including All-American dogs registered as Canine Partners.

A great first step to getting involved in agility is working toward your Agility Course Test (ACT) title. The ACT is an entry-level agility event designed to introduce beginner dogs and their handlers to the sport. Any dog that is at least 15 months old can participate, and the title can be earned virtually.