York Dog Show brings Amanda Owen to Museum Gardens

The York Museum Gardens Dog Show will bring competitions, expert talks and canine activities to central York on Sunday, 20 September. The ticketed event runs from 10am to 4pm at York Museum Gardens, with admission priced at £5 for adults and £2 for children.

Dog owners, families and anyone interested in dogs are the intended audience. Tickets are available through the York Museums Trust online booking service, while owners who want their pets to compete will be able to enter the dog show on the day.

York Museums Trust is staging the event with York Dog Park. The organiser describes it as the first dog show held at the Museum Gardens and the biggest event of its kind in York city centre.

Amanda Owen will judge the canine competitions

Author and television personality Amanda Owen, known for Yorkshire Shepherdess, will judge the competition classes. Owen said she was looking forward to meeting the dogs and their owners when they gather in the gardens.

The announced categories range from Handsomest Dog and Fanciest Female to Cutest Puppy and Best Trick. Prizes will be awarded, although the organiser has not published further details about the competition schedule or individual judging times.

Entering on the day gives owners some flexibility, but the announcement does not say whether advance registration will also be offered or whether competition entry carries a separate charge. Visitors planning to take part should distinguish between the admission ticket, which can be bought online, and the on-the-day process for joining the dog show.

Training, agility and veterinary talks fill the programme

The programme extends beyond the judging ring. Dog-training workshops and agility demonstrations will take place during the day, including bale racing, while a Have-a-Go Dog Park will provide another participatory activity.

Visitors looking for practical information about their pets will be able to attend talks by veterinary experts and visit information stalls. Professional dog photographers will also be present, using York Museum Gardens as the setting for their work.

A pop-up shopping village will feature local vendors selling dog treats, toys and accessories. Food and drink will be available for visitors, allowing families to remain at the venue across the six-hour programme rather than attending only the competition classes.

Tickets and arrival details for 20 September

Adult admission costs £5 and child admission costs £2. The event is scheduled for 10am–4pm on Sunday, 20 September 2026, at York Museum Gardens in York.

York Museums Trust’s announcement does not include transport guidance or accessibility arrangements. It also does not provide a detailed timetable for the judging, talks, workshops or demonstrations, so visitors choosing their arrival time currently have only the overall opening hours to work from.

Tickets can be purchased online through the organiser’s booking service. Owners who want to place a dog in one of the competition categories should be prepared to complete the entry process at the event.

Source: York Museums Trust News