Dogstival is within touching distance and honestly, we can’t wait.
On the 30th and 31st May, Burley Park in the New Forest once again turns into what is probably the UK’s most chaotic, brilliant and genuinely fun festival for dogs and their humans. And this year’s line-up looks bigger and better than ever.
We’ll be there all weekend in partnership with Naturo and Petgevty at The Muddy Paws Tavern, hosting games, meet-ups and general dog-loving chaos alongside the Dogstival team. And if you’ve been thinking about coming, this is your sign to book it.
First Things First… What Actually Is Dogstival?
If you’ve never been before, Dogstival is basically a huge celebration of dogs in the heart of the New Forest. Across the weekend you’ll find everything from have-a-go activities to live music, shopping, food stalls, demonstrations and so much more. There are dogs diving into pools, racing across arenas, attempting obstacle courses and generally causing complete chaos in the best possible way.
Part of what makes Dogstival so memorable is the bonkers mix of experiences on offer – from foam parties and giant splash pools to puppuccino stations.New for this year is the Shorefield Beach Club, bringing full holiday vibes to the festival with sand, deckchairs, beach bars and three different dog pools.
Another festival favourite returning for 2026 is the Naturo Healthy Hound Kitchen, where dogs can take part in cooking classes including pizza making, popsicles, dog cocktails and the legendary “build your own sausage” sessions.
Honestly, half the fun is simply wandering around and discovering something completely mad around the next corner.
This year there are more than 135 stallholders attending, alongside multiple activity areas, show rings and entertainment arenas running throughout the weekend.
Come and Find Us at The Muddy Paws Tavern
This year you’ll find us at the Muddy Paws Tavern for plenty of fun, freebies, competitions and a full timetable of activities running across the weekend.
Across both Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be hosting a full programme of events including:
- 10.30am – 11.30am
Strike a Pose: Pawtrait Hour with Dog Owners Guide - 12pm – 12.30pm
Yappy Hour - 1pm – 1.30pm
Paws Down for Barking Bingo - 2.30pm – 3pm
The Big Pup Quiz with Mark Collins
Plus the brand new Pup Art Café, running at 11am, 1pm and 3pm each day.
The whole tavern area also hosts breed meet-ups throughout the day, from pugs and dachshunds to spaniels, rescues and bully breeds. So if your dog enjoys meeting “their people”, this is definitely worth checking out.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
Dogstival is one of the best organised dog events we’ve been to, but with thousands of dogs, lots of excitement and a full day of activities ahead, it’s definitely worth going prepared.
Whether it’s your first time visiting or you’re a seasoned Dogstival regular, here are a few tips and things worth knowing before you arrive.
Parking & Arrival at Dogstival
One of the good things about Dogstival is that it’s actually pretty easy to navigate once you arrive. There’s plenty of on-site parking available (£5 per car for the whole day) and the site is spread out really well, so it rarely feels too cramped despite how many dogs attend.
If your dog can find busy environments a bit overwhelming, don’t panic if things feel lively when you first arrive. There are quieter pockets around the festival where dogs can take a breather away from the busiest areas.
And trust us on this one – wear sensible shoes. You’ll easily spend the entire day on your feet.
Keeping Dogs Cool & Comfortable
Dogstival is really well set up for dogs, especially if we get warmer weather. There are water stations dotted around the site, plenty of shaded areas and lots of places to stop and take breaks throughout the day.
The giant splash pools and dive pool are brilliant for dogs that love water and there are actually three pools this year as part of the new Shorefield Beach Club area.
That said, not every dog enjoys swimming, so it’s still worth planning ahead if your dog tends to get particularly hot. Also bear in mind that there may be a queue for the pools. We’d recommend bringing a cooling vest or mat, packing a travel water bottle and making sure you take regular shade breaks.
There’s also so much going on that you really don’t need to do absolutely everything. Sometimes it’s nicer to slow down and let your dog decompress for a bit between activities.
A family friendly day out in the New Forest
Dogstival definitely isn’t just for dog people. It genuinely works as a proper family day out too.
One of our favourite areas is always Dan the Hat’s Barking Mad Family Area, which is packed with circus acts, comedy shows, juggling, acrobatics and interactive workshops throughout the weekend. There’s hula hooping, slacklining and performances running all day, so even if your dog has had enough excitement, there’s still loads going on for everyone else too.
The atmosphere overall is very relaxed and welcoming. It never feels overly formal or serious, which is probably why both dogs and humans enjoy it so much.
Make a weekend of it
If you’re travelling from further away, it’s well worth turning Dogstival into a full New Forest weekend.
For a luxury countryside escape, The Montagu Arms is hard to beat. If you’re travelling with family or multiple dogs, Shorefield Country Park offers a more relaxed holiday park feel with plenty of space. Or if you’d prefer boutique hotel vibes with cafés and shops on your doorstep, Stanwell House is a brilliant base for exploring the coast too.
After a full day at Dogstival, there’s also a very high chance your dog will sleep the entire journey home.
Don’t forget the practical stuff
Dogstival is very much designed with dogs in mind, so there are loads of bins, water stations and helpful facilities across the site. That said, it’s still a full-on day out, so a little preparation goes a long way.
A few small things that genuinely make the day easier:
- Bring plenty of poo bags
- Pack treats if your dog needs a bit of bribing in busy environments
- Save the festival map on your phone
- Bring a long lead if your dog enjoys activities but doesn’t have perfect recall (Dogstival asks that dogs stay on leads unless they’re taking part in organised activities or arena sessions)
- Pack a towel if your dog plans on tackling the pools or foam parties
I also wouldn’t recommend wearing your best clothes if your dog loves to get stuck in.
Whether you’re heading there for the shopping, activities, food or to spend a day surrounded by people who are just as obsessed with their dogs as you are, Dogstival really is a fabulous day out. The whole event is centred around dogs having the best day ever – which is probably why we love it so much… And dog spotting. Honestly just seeing so many dogs in one place is a highlight!
If you’re coming along on the 30th or 31st May, make sure you come and find us at the Muddy Paws Tavern for freebies, fun and competitions throughout the weekend.
See you there 🐾
Comments