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2026 Media Credentials

If you are a member of the media interested in applying for credentials for the 2026 dog show, please complete the application using the button below. Please note that the deadline for applications to be received is January 9, 2026. Applications are not reviewed on a rolling basis, so you may not hear back from us about your application status until mid-January.


While we do our best to review applications and confirm coverage plans on a rolling basis, we may not be able to confirm final details and access for you/your crew until mid-January. If you have impending travel plans that we should be aware of, please make a note in your application. Credentials without a confirmed editorial assignment will not be considered.

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Westminster Kennel Club Spokesperson
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Dr. Donald Sturz
President, The Westminster Kennel Club & Show Chairman
Press Releases
Access and download press releases spanning different periods to unveil the special announcements, accomplishments, and key moments that have shaped the journey of The Westminster Kennel Club.
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WKC In the News

View and read media coverage highlights of our Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog shows.

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Digital Show Programs

In 2021 Westminster launched a digital version of its annual show program. This library holds a collection of programs packed full of video, audio, and photo content with links to additional material throughout the program. 

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Westminster Logo & Sensation

In 1876, the members of the Westminster Club, then primarily a shooting organization, commissioned one of its early officials, George deForest Grant, to send to England for a Pointer which the members could use for breeding purposes.

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Dr. Donald Sturz began participating in the sport of dogs as a child. As a highly successful Junior Handler, he was selected as a Junior Showmanship finalist three years at Westminster, beginning with his first time entering at the age of 10. During his Junior Showmanship career, he was ranked as the number one Junior Handler in the U.S. for three consecutive years.

While growing up in the sport, Don trained and exhibited dogs in various American Kennel Club events, including conformation, obedience, and field trials, earning numerous awards and titles. A long-time preservation breeder and handler, he has bred, owned, and handled All-Breed and Specialty Best in Show winners and nationally ranked dogs in Golden Retrievers, Miniature Poodles, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. He currently owns a French Bulldog, Bull Terrier, and a Pekingese.

Since 1990, Don has adjudicated at major dog shows worldwide, including Best in Show at Westminster in 2022. In 2020, he was voted Judge of the Year at the Purina Pro Plan® Show Dogs of the Year award ceremony.

In addition to his role as President of The Westminster Kenel Club, Don is also a member of the Westchester Kennel Club and the Bull Terrier Club of America, and recently assisted in the revival of the Knickerbocker Bull Terrier Club.

A graduate of Hofstra University with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, he has 30 years of experience in upper-level management in both public and private education and mental health settings. His passion for dogs in general and The Westminster Kennel Club specifically, paired with his extensive experience in leadership roles professionally, serve him well in his new capacity as President of The Westminster Kennel Club.