Crufts 2026: New Rules for Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs.

From 5 to 8 March 2026, the Crufts dog show will take place at the NEC Exhibition Centre in Birmingham — the largest international canine event that gathers the best representatives of breeds from all over the world. This year, The Kennel Club (UK) introduces new, stricter entry requirements for Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs.

Starting from 2026, dogs of these breeds that receive a Grade 2 or Grade 3 under the Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) Scheme — a respiratory assessment programme developed by the University of Cambridge in collaboration with The Kennel Club — will not be eligible to take part in Crufts. Previously, the restriction applied only to dogs graded as 3, but the criteria have now been tightened as part of ongoing efforts to improve the health of brachycephalic breeds.

The RFG Scheme assesses the risk and severity of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). The evaluation is performed by specially trained assessors who listen to the dog’s breathing both at rest and after a light exercise tolerance test. Each dog is assigned a grade from 0 to 3:
0 – no clinical signs of BOAS;
1 – mild respiratory noise with no clinical impact;
2 – moderate signs requiring monitoring;
3 – severe respiratory issues requiring veterinary attention and exclusion from breeding.

Dogs can be assessed from the age of 12 months, and the test should be repeated every two years throughout their lifetime or until they are no longer used for breeding. All Crufts exhibitors showing Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs over 14 months of age must upload a valid RFG certificate to their Fosse Data account. The certificate must be valid on the day of the show. Once uploaded, it will be verified by The Kennel Club, and the exhibitor will be notified whether it has been approved or rejected.

The RFG Scheme was launched in 2019 in the UK as a voluntary health programme for these three breeds. In 2023, it became mandatory for Crufts entrants — at that time, dogs with Grades 0, 1 and 2 were accepted, and only those with Grade 3 were excluded.
From 2026, the rules will become stricter: only dogs graded 0 or 1 will be allowed to participate or attend the show, while Grades 2 and 3 will be completely excluded.

This new requirement applies to all exhibitors, including international participants. Owners of dogs from other countries must hold an official RFG certificate issued by a licensed organisation and an approved assessor. If the scheme is not available in their country, they must complete the assessment in one of the countries where the programme operates.
The RFG Scheme is currently licensed in:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.

The full Crufts 2026 schedule and updated entry requirements are available on crufts.org.uk and thekennelclub.org.uk. Exhibitors are encouraged to complete the RFG assessment in advance to allow enough time for validation.

The new regulations emphasise that Crufts now prioritises genuine canine welfare over outward appearance. Health and functional soundness are becoming the true foundation of breed standards, and only dogs free from respiratory issues will set the benchmark for responsible breeding and the sustainable future of brachycephalic breeds.