AKC sets 2026 agility league championship for Raleigh in November

The American Kennel Club has set the fourth annual AKC Agility League Championship for Nov. 6-8 at the James Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina, giving teams a fixed target for fall planning and the final stretch of qualification. AKC says the event will run on a dirt surface with two to three rings, a setup built to keep entries moving while still giving dogs and handlers enough space to work.

That timeline matters because AKC has already said the Spring/Summer 2026 season was the last chance to qualify for the championship. Fall 2026 enrollment will open in mid-August, so clubs that want a shot at Raleigh need to sort out their roster, confirm which dogs are eligible, and decide which League level fits each run before the season opens.

The League’s structure gives handlers several places to plug in. AKC lists five competitive levels, from PhD, or ISC, down through Senior, Sophomore, Freshman and Elementary, with Elementary keeping things at the pre-Novice stage and without weaves or a teeter. The League also includes three field-size divisions, including Limited for smaller spaces, which makes roster planning more flexible for clubs that do not train on full-size grass or turf setups.

Eligibility rules stay strict. Dogs must be at least 15 months old and must be AKC registered, FSS recorded, or listed with AKC Canine Partners or the AKC PAL program before they can compete. AKC also reports scores to the club and releases team and dog rankings every two weeks, so season management has a direct effect on where teams sit heading into the championship.

Raleigh is not a random pick. The James Hunt Horse Complex has ample RV sites with full hook-ups, and AKC says it is near hotels, restaurants and other amenities, all useful for handlers hauling crates, coolers and gear for a multi-day championship trip. The site also already hosted the 2024 AKC International Sweepstakes Championship on Oct. 12-13, 2024, which gives it a recent track record for advanced agility logistics.

The championship also marks a shift from recent years. AKC held the 2025 championship Sept. 26-28 at T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton, South Carolina, and reported record Spring/Summer 2025 participation with 1,840 dogs and 335 teams. It also said the season launched with nearly 340 teams and more than 1,850 dogs across 10 classes, a sign that the championship path has become a real national draw.

That is the backdrop for Raleigh: a fourth championship, a firm November date and a qualification clock that is already running out for teams trying to make the next stop on the League circuit.