Mayo puppies eligible for Petmania Puppy Of The Year 2026

Puppies from across Mayo can now be entered for Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026, with free entries open until Sunday next, September 13.

The competition, now in its 11th year, is open to puppies from all 26 counties.

It follows on from the reign of Kevin, an Irish Wolfhound from Galway, who was crowned Petmania Puppy of the Year 2025.

Kevin's owners, John Crowley and Erin Rietz, encouraged other puppy owners to enter this year's competition.

They said winning with Kevin was a special experience, and that people across Galway and the rest of the country connected with his gentle nature and personality.

Since launching in 2015 with 651 entries, the competition has grown steadily, attracting around 1,700 puppies in each of the past three years.

Voting will take place across two rounds following the entry stage. Round One runs from Tuesday, September 15 to Sunday, September 27, with the five most-voted puppies in each county progressing, along with one wildcard puppy chosen by the Petmania team.

Round Two runs from Tuesday, September 29 to Thursday, October 8, when the public will choose one county finalist from each county.

The 26 county finalists will go head-to-head at the Petmania Puppy of the Year 2026 Grand Final at Pet Expo, held at the National Show Centre in Dublin at 12pm on Saturday, October 17.

Judges will select four provincial winners before crowning the overall national winner.

Emily Miller, Marketing Manager at Petmania, said the competition celebrates the puppies, families and communities behind them, adding that the company wants to be a source of expert advice and support for new puppy owners from the beginning of their journey.

Prizes worth €2,500 are on offer throughout the competition. The overall winner will receive a prize package that includes 12 monthly grooming visits at Petmania, a 12-month supply of food from Wellness Core, a two-night stay for the puppy and two humans at an Ireland's Blue Book property, a professional photoshoot, and the chance to become a Petmania Brand Ambassador.

Galway has produced the winning puppy twice, in 2020 and 2025. Previous winners have also come from Westmeath, Laois, Dublin, Sligo, Kerry, Limerick and Carlow, with 18 counties yet to produce an overall winner.

Entries are free and can be made at www.petmania.ie/poty until September 13.