Some of the fastest dogs were invited to jump, weave, and balance against the clock at the 2026 AKC Agility Premier Cup, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 7th annual AKC Agility Premier Cup on Saturday, June 6, is held at the Philadelphia Naval Yard as part of the AKC Celebrates USA 250 event. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the country—plus, it’s a lot of fun to watch, even on TV.
The Premier Cup Rundown
The event will feature individual agility competitions where the top 100 teams and handlers in the nation compete in two preliminary events and then finals. The top 20 agility dog-handler teams will compete in each height class to determine the top team in each class based on times and clean runs. Winners are named in each height class for 8-inch, 12-inch, 16-inch, 20-inch, and 24-inch.
All dogs will compete in the first two preliminary rounds, and then the top 50 (10 in each height class) will move on to finals. The final round will determine the winner of each height class. See last year’s AKC Agility Premier Cup winners here.
“Agility is such a thrilling event, and these dogs did not disappoint,” said AKC President and CEO, Gina DiNardo. “Viewers at home will be able to feel the excitement!”
How to Watch the AKC Agility Dog Premier Cup
You can watch the AKC Agility Premier Cup on ESPN! Sign in on any device and check back for updated broadcast information.
How Does Agility Work?
Agility requires athleticism, concentration, training, and, most of all, teamwork for the dog-human team. The handler directs the dog through a predetermined pattern of obstacles, including jumps, tunnels, and weave poles, while racing against the clock. They must complete the course as perfectly as possible within a specific amount of time—meaning no skips or misses on obstacles.
Agility is a timed and a fault sport, meaning teams gain or lose points based on several criteria. Each team starts out with 100 points. Points are deducted for every penalty: for example taking an obstacle out of sequence, displacing a panel on a jump, or leaving the pause table too soon. Teams also lose points if they exceed the time set for running the course. But you don’t have to memorize all of the rules to enjoy watching the fast-paced sport.
The AKC Agility Premier Cup has crowned its winners. See the top-scoring agility teams in each division for the 2025 competition.