Who Will Be Ireland’s Puppy of the Year 2026? Petmania Launches Nationwide Search
Puppies from across Ireland are officially invited to put their best paw forward as free entries open for Petmania’s Puppy of the Year 2026, launching the nationwide search for the pup who will follow in the pawprints of reigning champion Kevin.
Now in its 11th year, Petmania Puppy of the Year has become a much-loved celebration of puppies, their personalities and the families and communities who make them such an important part of everyday life. It also reflects Petmania’s commitment to supporting new puppy owners with the expert advice, products and professional services they need from the very beginning of their pet ownership journey.
Last year, Kevin, an Irish Wolfhound from Galway, captured hearts across the country on his journey through the competition before ultimately being crowned Petmania Puppy of the Year 2025.
Now, as Kevin’s reign as Puppy of the Year comes to an end, Petmania is calling on puppy owners from all 26 counties to enter their four-legged companions and find out whether their pup could be Ireland’s next Puppy of the Year.
Kevin’s owners, John Crowley and Erin Rietz, said: “Winning Petmania Puppy of the Year with Kevin was an incredibly special experience for both of us, and a memory we’ll treasure for years to come. We never imagined how many people across Galway, and right across Ireland, would connect with his gentle nature and larger-than-life personality. Despite all the excitement and attention that came with being crowned Puppy of the Year, he’s still the same Kevin at home – affectionate, playful and always ready for a bit of divilment! If anything, he seems to have thoroughly enjoyed his newfound celebrity status. We’d wholeheartedly encourage other puppy owners to enter this year. It’s a brilliant opportunity to celebrate what makes your puppy unique, have some fun and share their personality with people across Ireland. We’re incredibly proud of Kevin and excited to see which special puppy follows in his pawprints in 2026.”
Entries are completely free and will remain open until 13th September, with puppies from all 26 counties eligible to take part.
The competition has become a firm favourite among puppy owners nationwide. Since launching in 2015 with 651 entries, Petmania Puppy of the Year has grown significantly, attracting around 1,700 puppies in each of the past three years.
Following the entry stage, the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite puppies across two rounds, with prizes up for grabs for those progressing through the competition.
Round One will take place from 15th to 27th September, with the five most-voted puppies from each county progressing alongside one wildcard puppy selected by the Petmania team.
Round Two will then run from 29th September to 8th October, when the public will choose one puppy from each county to become their county finalist.
The 26 county finalists will then compete at the Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026 Grand Final at Pet Expo, taking place at the National Show Centre in Dublin at 12pm on Saturday, 17th October, where judges will first select four provincial winners before one puppy is crowned Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026.
Speaking about the launch of Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026, Emily Miller, Marketing Manager, Petmania, said:“Every year, Puppy of the Year reminds us just how much personality can come with four paws. Kevin was a brilliant example of that in 2025 – a gentle giant with a lovely nature and character that people really connected with throughout the competition. Bringing home a new puppy is incredibly exciting, but we know it can also come with plenty of questions, particularly for first-time owners. As a leader in all things puppy, we want Petmania to be the destination new puppy owners can turn to for expert advice, the right products and professional support from the very beginning. What makes Puppy of the Year so special is that it celebrates the puppies, families and communities behind them. We love seeing owners share what makes their puppy unique and watching people across the country get behind their local pups. We can’t wait to meet this year’s contenders, cheer on our 26 county finalists and see who will be crowned Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026.”
Prizes worth €2,500 are up for grabs throughout the competition, with puppy food, grooming, Pet Expo tickets and more on offer for participating pups.
The overall winner will take home an extensive prize package including 12 monthly grooming visits at Petmania, a 12-month supply of food from WELLNESS CORE, a two-night Ireland’s Blue Book stay for the winning puppy and their two favourite humans, a professional photoshoot and the opportunity to become a Petmania Brand Ambassador.
As well as celebrating Ireland’s puppies, the competition shines a light on the families and communities behind them, with puppy owners nationwide encouraged to get involved. From the excitement of welcoming a new puppy home to navigating those all-important first stages, Petmania is committed to helping owners feel informed and confident throughout their puppy’s journey.
Petmania Puppy of the Year has seen champions emerge from across Ireland over the years, with Galway taking the title twice, in 2020 and again with Kevin in 2025. Previous winners have also hailed from Westmeath, Laois, Dublin, Sligo, Kerry, Limerick and Carlow.
But with 18 counties yet to produce an overall Petmania Puppy of the Year winner, the question remains: could 2026 be the year a new county makes Puppy of the Year history?
Entries for Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026 are free and open now until 13th September at www.petmania.ie/poty
Slán go fóill.
