National Specialty · Springfield, Missouri
October 26–31, 2026 — the 40th Akita Club of America national specialty: two regional specialties, a pre-national specialty, and the national at the University Plaza Hotel
Documents 📄 Premium list 📋 Judging program
The Akita Club of America hosts its 40th National Specialty October 26–31, 2026, at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Missouri — six days built around the breed, with the host hotel as the show's home base and all judging indoors. The week opens Monday with two Piedmont Akita Club regional specialties, continues Tuesday with the 18th pre-national specialty plus obedience and rally trials, and runs the national specialty Wednesday through Saturday: obedience and rally, the Top 20, sweepstakes, futurity and maturity, the class judging, and Saturday's Best of Breed (100 dogs / 168 national entries). The national is a Crufts-qualifying show, and the week is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Sterling Milton and Logan Ingemi. Verified 2026
Six days built around the breed. Monday (October 26) hosts two Piedmont Akita Club regional specialties: Regional #1 (Roger Gifford, 8:00 AM, 85 dogs / 87 entries) and Regional #2 (John Schoeneman, 1:00 PM, 89 dogs / 91 entries), each with Junior Showmanship — plus a Halloween door-decorating contest ($20 per door). Tuesday (October 27) brings the 18th pre-national specialty: obedience and rally trials (Sarah Schroeder, 8:00 AM), the pre-national conformation (Beverly Vics, 1:00 PM, 97 dogs / 104 entries), 4–6 beginner puppy (Vics, 5:00 PM, 1), and the welcome party (tailgate theme; cocktails 6:30, buffet 7:00; tickets online only). Wednesday (October 28) is national obedience (#1 at 8:00, #2 at 9:00) and rally (#1 at 10:15, #2 at 12:45), the Top 20 meeting at 3:00, Top 20 cocktails at 5:30 and dinner at 6:00, the rescue parade at 6:30, and the Top 20/International competition (by invitation; spectators welcome). Thursday (October 29) offers sweepstakes and veteran sweepstakes (Richard Shaw, 10:00 AM, 37), futurity and maturity (Christina M. Stanley, 1:00 PM), properties classes at 2:00, senior showmanship at 2:00, breeders' education at 3:00, CGC/Trick Dog testing all day ($15), and the auction (cocktails 6:00, buffet 6:30, auction 7:00 — benefits ACA Rescue). Friday (October 30) judges the dog classes (Mona Shaw, 10:00 AM; 65 dogs across classes, veterans, stud and brood), the bitch classes, 4–6 beginner puppy (Shaw, 12:30 PM, 1), the annual meeting at 2:30, and judges' education at 4:00. Saturday (October 31) closes with Junior Showmanship (Mona Shaw, 10:00 AM, 3), Best of Breed (Kim Holmes, 10:15 AM, 42), Best Owner-Handled, Best Puppy, Best Veteran, Best Bred-By-Exhibitor, and Brace — then the awards banquet (cocktails 5:30, dinner 6:00; tickets online only, none at the door).
Superintendent: MB-F, Inc. (event secretary Patti Dolezal, (336) 379-9352)
♡ Save this show — keep it in your personal show list and get back to the judges, ring times and weekend details from any device.
Save keeps the weekend in your list · Plan adds it to your show schedule · Calendar puts it on your TPA calendar.
Six days built around the breed: regional specialties, a pre-national specialty, and the national specialty with sweepstakes.
01Monday, October 26
University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO
02Tuesday, October 27
University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO
03Wednesday, October 28
University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO
04Thursday, October 29
University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO
05Friday, October 30
University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO
06Saturday, October 31
University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO
2026 judging program (PDF): Full program — verified 2026
Add your dogs, pick this show, and get your ring times in order — class dogs, bitches, and champions factored automatically.
The official judging program is out — every ring time here comes from it, not from memory. Verified 2026
We never guess ring times — every time here comes from the official program.
The verified judging panel for the 2026 national specialty week. Verified 2026
Judges announced by the Akita Club of America; assignments from the official 2026 judging program (MB-F).
Junior Showmanship runs with the regionals, the pre-national, and the national — plus senior showmanship Thursday. Verified 2026
Junior Showmanship — offered with each regional specialty (Roger Gifford / John Schoeneman).
Junior Showmanship — Mona Shaw judges (10:00 AM, 3 entries). $22 as a single entry; free as an additional class.
Senior Showmanship — 2:00 PM, age-based divisions, $4.50 entry.
Beyond the regular classes: the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) is a separate competition for dogs handled by their owners — no professional handlers — offered with each specialty. Verified 2026
Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Selects, Awards of Merit, and Best Bred-By-Exhibitor earn Crufts Qualifying Award Cards.
Wednesday evening — the top 20 Akitas compete by invitation (spectators welcome); International Extravaganza $25 online / $30 at the show.
Special awards Saturday with Best of Breed; Brace also offered.
Puppy & veteran sweepstakes Thursday (Richard Shaw, 37 entries, $25); futurity/maturity Thursday (Christina M. Stanley, $12).
Tuesday pre-national & Friday national ($15).
Wednesday 6:30 PM with the Top 20 festivities.
The ACA returns to the University Plaza Hotel, October 18–23, 2027.
Two Piedmont Akita Club regional specialties open the week on Monday — each a full specialty with Junior Showmanship. Verified 2026
Assignments from the official 2026 judging program (MB-F).
$25/night, no hookups, limit 10 RVs in the hotel lot — contact Francee Hamblet, (530) 859-2589.
Ringside seats $35/week pre-order ($40 show week). Catalog $20 pre-order / $25 at the show / $50 marked.
Emergency Veterinary Clinic of SW MO, 400 S Glenstone Ave, Springfield — 417-890-1600. Nearest medical: Cox Medical Center South, 3801 S National Ave — 417-269-6000.
Per the judging program: Springfield-Branson National, St. Louis Lambert, and Kansas City International.
Teddy Lei is the official show photographer. ShowDogVideoPros holds the exclusive video contract — no Facebook Live during show hours.
Current 2026 documents for the national specialty week. Verified 2026
