- The ultimate celebration of all things dog celebrated its fifth anniversary this weekend.
- Hundreds of rescue dogs took centre stage as the event supported Battersea.
- Appearances from Bill Bailey, Clare Balding, DJ Fat Tony, Gemma Collins, Jack Dee, Kevin McCloud MBE, Martin Clunes, Sir Michael Morpurgo, Michelle Ogundehin, Pandora Christie, Russell Kane, Seann Walsh, Tim Peake CMG, and many more.
- Star Paws Sleeping Module by HPW Architecture Ltd won the Barkitecture kennel design competition.
- Barkitecture auction raised £21,080 for Battersea.
- Goodwoof 2027 will take place on Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 May and celebrate the golden retriever.
- Tickets for the 2027 event now available at com.
Goodwoof returned to The Kennels at the Goodwood Estate this weekend (16 & 17 May) for its fifth anniversary, welcoming thousands of dogs and their humans for two unforgettable days celebrating canine brilliance. With sunshine, wagging tails and a programme packed with activities, demonstrations and entertainment, Goodwoof 2026 delivered the ultimate dog’s day out.
Celebrating the rescue dog
This year, Goodwoof shone a spotlight on rescue dogs and the remarkable bond they share with their owners. Each morning, hundreds of rescue dogs of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds descended on the turning circle of Goodwood House before making their way down to the Goodwoof event site in a joyful celebration of resilience, second chances and the love that defines the rescue community.
Barkitecture
At the heart of the event, Barkitecture showcased an extraordinary collection of kennels created by some of the world’s most admired architects, designers and artists. Responding to the 2026 theme, ‘Dogs in Space’, competitors were invited to imagine how a dog might travel or live beyond Earth.
This year’s competition welcomed 16 architects and artists from around the world, including first-time entrant LEGO Group, whose kennel the U-Woof-O, created by Fairy Bricks, captured the imagination of visitors and their four-legged companions alike.
HPW Architecture Ltd won this year’s competition with Star Paws Sleeping Module as judged by Kevin McCloud MBE, astronaut Tim Peake CMG, interiors writer and presenter Michelle Ogundehin, comedian Bill Bailey and Seamus, Regimental Mascot of the Irish Guards. The People & Paws Award went to George + James for their ArchinautX, while Priyanka Parodys took home the Student Award. The unique kennels were auctioned on Sunday afternoon by Bonhams, with £21,080 raised for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
A good cause: Battersea
Goodwoof was proud to support Battersea as the event’s official charity partner, sharing the charity’s mission to give every animal expert care and support. Across the weekend, visitors could listen to inspiring talks and advice, and enjoy biscuit icing workshops with Great British Bake Off finalist, Dave Friday.
Literary Corner: a series of dog-inspired tales
Providing a shady spot for visitors to listen to unique stories and watch inspiring illustration demonstrations, Literary Corner welcomed an exceptional line-up of guests, including Anita Mangan, Clare Balding, Hugh Bonneville, James Middleton, Kevin McCloud, Lauren Child, Martin Clunes - reading from his latest novel, Training John and Murray - Sir Michael Morpurgo, Russell Kane and Tim Peake. Hugh Bonneville and Kevin McCloud also delighted audiences with a reading of Jellycat’s Munro in the Middle.
Jellycat to the rescue
A fan favourite, Jellycat returned with an irresistible array of plush pups as part of their rescue themed pop-up. Visitors could choose from a delightful collection of canine characters - including corgis, dachshunds, Labradors and terriers - and were the very first to meet two new exclusives, rescue dogs Fluff and Scruffles.
Health, wellbeing and R&R
Hosted by Countryfile presenter, Naomi Wilkinson, the Wellness Stage presented by Mars offered a variety of fascinating demonstrations and educational talks including, Dr Bolu Eso’s advice on rehoming a rescue dog, the Stem Cell Vet, Dr Stewart Halperin, on spotting the signs of arthritis in dogs, and Rory the Vet on how to keep your dog safe this summer.
Alongside the programme of talks and panel of experts, and building on the spirit of connection between human and hound, Mars invited guests to visit the Wellness Centre to share the quirky, heartfelt things they do for their four-legged companions.
The Randox Health Studio welcomed dogs and their owners to unwind amid the excitement of the event with complimentary sessions in reiki, pilates, dog massage, freedom techniques, meditation and DOGA.
Elsewhere around the event
Goodwoof’s celebration of the human–hound connection continued with Chien Charmant, the event’s elegant take on “best in show”. Owners and dogs embraced their most stylish selves, with judges rewarding individuality, flair and unmistakable charisma. Judges over the weekend included Flavia Cacace-Mistry, Jodie Kidd, Lydia Slater, Nicolas Rouzaud, Pattie Boyd and Paula Sutton, with Scott Wimsett hosting proceedings.
For those looking to let loose, Ministry of Hound offered the ultimate dog disco, co-hosted by the home of dance music, Ministry of Sound London. DJs Pandora Christie (Saturday) and Fat Tony (Sunday) took to the decks, with Strictly Come Dancing and Love Island stars AJ and Curtis Pritchard on hand to show visitors how to dance with their dogs.
The Art Café was a haven of creativity, with creative workshops for all ages. Visitors could take part in one of the LEGO Group’s workshops led by master builder, Kev Gascoigne, enjoy block printing with artist Lydia Finney and join David Mackintosh for a drawing masterclass.
The event’s new Zen Den provided a calm space for dogs and their humans to unwind, an area to take a breather before heading into the hustle and bustle. Bringing together holistic, spiritual and healing activities, visitors could take a moment to enjoy tarot card reading, crystal healing, forest bathing, sound bathing and much more.
Images
Image highlights from across the weekend can be found at the following links:
Please credit all images as captioned.
Goodwoof 2027
Goodwoof is delighted to announce that in 2027, the event will celebrate the golden retriever. golden retrievers - and their owners - can secure their place in the opening parade by registering here.
Tickets for Goodwoof 2027 (Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 May) are now on sale and can be purchased at goodwood.com. Customers can secure their tickets now before the early access window closes on Monday 1 June and reopens later in the year.
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