Alicante and Elche to co-host European Dog Show 2027

Alicante is preparing to become one of the major meeting points for the international canine world. The European Dog Show 2027, considered one of Europe’s main canine beauty competitions, will be held from December 2nd to 5th, 2027, with the Institución Ferial Alicantina (IFA), located in Elche, serving as one of its main venues.

The Royal Canine Society of Spain (RSCE) has launched the official website for the event, kicking off preparations for a gathering that expects to exceed 10,000 dog entries and attract thousands of breeders, owners, exhibitors, and enthusiasts from different countries.

The championship will be held jointly between Alicante and Murcia, featuring two main venues: IFA in Elche and the Trade Fair and Exhibition Centre of the Region of Murcia (IFEPA) in Torre Pacheco. Spain will take over from Sweden, which hosted this year’s edition in Stockholm during September, gathering 8,831 dogs from 366 breeds and participants from around 60 countries. Furthermore, the two major exhibitions organised over that weekend attracted nearly 16,000 entries, reflecting the international scale of the event coming to Alicante in December 2027.

The schedule will run over four days, featuring various exhibitions and contests allowing participants to compete for some of the sector’s most significant awards. Activity at IFA will start on Thursday, December 2nd, with the Alicante International Dog Show. Subsequently, from December 3rd to 5th, the European Dog Show 2027 will take place, where the new European champions for various canine breeds will be proclaimed.

The venue in Elche will also host the RSCE Winner competition, whilst IFEPA will organise other events, including the Latin Winner ‘European Edition’ International Dog Show and various specialised breed exhibitions. The organisation will distribute the different breed groups between both venues to help participants compete in multiple events across the four days. The expectation is to gather more than 10,000 canine entries, though this figure does not necessarily equal the same number of individual dogs, as a single dog can participate in multiple competitions.

One of the main attractions of the championship will be its international scope. The organisation has confirmed a panel of 135 judges from 48 countries to evaluate the participating dogs. Countries represented include Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Spain. Specialists will assess the entries following official standards established for each breed, considering morphology, physical characteristics, and alignment with competition criteria to determine which dogs earn the titles and European championship honours.

Beyond the competition, hosting the European Dog Show 2027 presents an opportunity for the province’s tourism sector. Forecasts released by the organisation indicate the event could mobilise over 9,000 people directly linked to the gathering, including breeders, owners, exhibitors, professionals, and companions. Added to this figure will be visitors, judges, sponsors, and organising team members.

The arrival of international participants will benefit hotels, restaurants, shops, transport companies, and other services in Alicante and its surroundings, particularly given the duration of the championship and the potential for attendees to extend their stays. The organisation highlights that the event will showcase the tourism and gastronomy of the Spanish Mediterranean to an international community of dog enthusiasts.

The launch of the official website enables interested parties to check information related to the championship. Registration is scheduled to open on November 1st, 2026. The portal includes sections for exhibitors, visitors, regulations, schedules, and judges, though some content remains to be completed. Ticket prices for the general public and final competition schedules have not yet been specified.

Spain’s selection as host was formalised during the closing of the European Dog Show in Stockholm, when Sweden handed the International Cynological Federation (FCI) flag to the Spanish delegation. José Miguel Doval, president of the Royal Canine Society of Spain, emphasized that hosting the championship represents recognition of Spain’s role in international dog breeding and exhibitions. The event will be sponsored by Royal Canin, with collaboration from venue centres and institutions in Alicante and Murcia.