Frequently asked questions and answers

Buy your tickets from Messukeskus’ web store!

You can also buy tickets from the venue but we recommend to get them in advance to avoid queuing. More information on prices and special ticket groups.

Yes – please buy as many tickets as you need.

For example: If you are coming to see both Circuit Shows on Thu and the World Dog Show 2025 on Fri-Sun, you will need four tickets in total.

More information on tickets sales.

Access is granted to one person per participating dog (1 person per 1 dog). Other members of the same group must have an entry ticket for themselves. More information on tickets sales.

World Dog Show 2025 and Circuit Shows will be held at Messukeskus, Helsinki.
Address: Messuaukio 1, 00520 Helsinki.
 
Messukeskus is Finland’s largest and most versatile event centre and provides easy access. You can get there easily by car, train, local transport or taxi. Please set aside plenty of time for getting to the event, as traffic jams may slow you down your journey. More information on the venue.

You can only get a parking ticket for our event on arrival at the venue. More information about parking facilities will be added to this site soon!

Please note that bringing non-entered dogs to the venue is not allowed!

A pass for a dog entered to Circuit show or World Dog Show but that needs a pass to enter the showgrounds any other day can be purchased with registration. The price of the pass is 20 €. You can buy the pass while entering a dog. The dog must be vaccinated in accordance with the Finnish Kennel Club’s vaccination instructions.

Messukeskus is an accessible event centre. All entrances are accessible, all parts of the building are accessible by elevator and there are accessible toilets on all floors.

Parking with disabled tags is free, and the assistant of a disabled person can enter the events organized by Messukeskus free of charge. Messukeskus is also EU disability card destination.

Read more from Messukeskus’ website.

At its meeting on 6th February 2025, Finnish Kennel Club’s board clarified their decision made earlier on 15th of September 2022 as follows:

Citizens of Russia or Belarus, who live in these countries, cannot enter their dogs in shows, trials and competitions under the Finnish Kennel Club. Dogs registered in the Russian or Belarusian register cannot be entered for shows, trials and competitions under the Finnish Kennel Club.

Judges who are citizens of Russia or Belarus cannot, for the time being, judge in events organized by the Finnish Kennel Club.

The decision is valid from February 6th 2025, and it cancels the previous decision on this matter made on September 15th 2022. You can find more information about the decision from here.

Read the news from Finnish Kennel Club’s website.

We do not yet publish precise statistics when the first entry periods of the shows are still ongoing. However, from below you will find rounded total number of entries for WDS 2025 and Circuit Shows specialty shows from this page.

We have collected a list of other Finnish dog shows and events organised nearby WDS 2025 and Circuit Shows – please take a look at it from this page and join!

Entry to World Dog Show 2025 here. Entries to World Dog Show 2025 are made via Showlink Oy’s Online Entry System.

The Finnish Kennel Club’s Dog Show Regulations and complementary guidelines, vaccination regulations, anti-doping regulations, as well as valid Regulations for FCI Dog Shows are followed at our show. The exhibitor undertakes to follow these when entering his or her dog the show.

Entry fees for World Dog Show 2025 can be found from this page. A service fee (3,50€) is charged in connection with the entry.

Entry is divided into four different deadlines. Entry with the lowest entry fee will end on May 5th. Last possible day to enter is July 9th.

Please see all WDS 2025 judges from this page.

Please see the lists from below:
– Group Finals judges
– BIS judges

Best in Show dog of World Dog Show 2025 will be judged by Harri Lehkonen, Finland.

Competitions at the show are for handlers between 10-18 years. More information on junior handler competitions.

In World Dog Show 2025, a dog can achieve the title of Finnish Junior Show Champion, Finnish Show Champion and Finnish Veteran Show Champion. In addition, the World Hope 2025, Junior World Winner 2025, World Winner 2025 and Veteran World Winner 2025 titles will be awarded.

Breeds that are not recognized by the FCI but are recognized by the Finnish Kennel Club are not eligible for CACIB, are not eligible for World Winner titles and may not compete in group competitions. These breeds compete of their own Helsinki World Cup titles.

More information on WDS 2025 -titles.

You can find official World Dog Show 2025 merchandise from Showlink’s online shop. Showlink also has its own sales stand at the venue.

Please note that ShowlinkShop do not have sales abroad – if you arrive to our event from abroad, you will be able to buy products on site.

Please see Circuit Shows list of breeds by FCI group here. Click a breed name to enter your dog its Circuit Shows specialty show. It leads you to Showlink Oy’s Online Entry System.

The Finnish Kennel Club’s Dog Show Regulations and complementary guidelines, vaccination regulations, anti-doping regulations, as well as valid Regulations for FCI Dog Shows are followed at our show. The exhibitor undertakes to follow these when entering his or her dog the show.

Entry fees for Circuit Shows can be found from this page. A service fee (3,50€) is charged in connection with the entry.

Entry is divided into four different deadlines. Entry with the lowest entry fee will end on May 5th. Last possible day to enter is July 9th.

Please see all Circuit Show judges from this page.

In Circuit Shows, a dog can achieve the title of Helsinki Circuit Hope 2025, Helsinki Circuit Junior Winner 2025, Helsinki Circuit Winner 2025 or Helsinki Circuit Veteran Winner 2025. These titles are granted specifically for Circuit Shows specialty shows.

More information on Circuit Shows-titles.

Yes you can!

Media, journalists and photographers have a free entry to Circuit Shows and World Dog Show 2025. We do not charge any extra fees for media, journalists or photographers at the show.

Accreditation for media and photographers is now open! Please accredit for the event by 30 June using the form on this page.

Helsinki is easy to access by plane, car, train or ferry. While on a ferry, you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Archipelago. More information on arrival to Helsinki.

Yes! Many accommodation providers and restaurants welcome dogs. Dogs are also allowed on public transportation. There are several dog parks in Helsinki and even a whole island for dogs where they also can swim. More information on traveling with a dog in Helsinki.

Please always remember to keep your dog on a leash in public areas. Dog owners must clean up after their dog in maintained areas!

Several accommodation alternatives are available for our visitors in the Helsinki region! There are plenty of hotels within 1.5 kilometres of the city centre and breakfast is usually included in the room rate. Please note that many hotels take an additional fee for pets in the room.

Scandic Hotels don’t have any restrictions on dog rooms in 5-12 August which means that all their rooms are dog rooms. Book your room now!

More information on accommodation.

You can stay overnight comfortably with a very reasonable fee at caravan park in Vermo Areena in Espoo.
Address: Valjakkotie 1, Espoo.

It is only 15 minutes far from the venue of the WDS 2025 (Messukeskus Helsinki) by car. Bookings are now open! More information on caravan park.

While staying in Helsinki, you can take advantage of its functional public transportation system. The venue for World Dog Show 2025, Messukeskus in Pasila, is accessed by a commuter train in five minutes from the Helsinki city centre. As a traffic hub, Pasila is easily accessed even if you are coming from other parts of Finland by car or by train, from the airport or from the harbour.

More information on getting around Helsinki.

Helsinki is a capital of Finland with 660 000 inhabitants and beautiful nature. Find more info about sights and attractions below!

– Top sights in Helsinki
– Seven ways to experience Finnish sauna in Helsinki
– Day Trips from Helsinki

– Top restaurants
– Best cafes
– Dog parks in Helsinki (Open access, please follow Finnish canine etiquette)

Welcome to the happiest country in the world! Finland is a Nordic welfare state with 5.5 million inhabitants and surface around 75% covered with forests. It has the world’s biggest archipelago, as well as Europe’s largest lake district and last untamed wilderness, Lapland. Finland’s capital, Helsinki, is known for design and architecture. Finland is also a safe travel destination.

Finnish winters are long, cold and dark, making them ideal for winter activities like skiing, skating and, in Lapland, spotting the Northern Lights. Long winters also mean Finns enjoy every second of summer and its white nights. Sauna is a major component of Finnish culture and part of everyday life.

What makes Finland special is the way Finns integrate harmony and design into aspects of everyday life. Finland is an intriguing architecture and design destination and home to iconic brands like Marimekko, Iittala and Artek.

Read more: VisitFinland

Please read these Finnish Food Authority’s (Ruokavirasto) conditions carefully before your trip.

1. Identification
The dog must have a valid identification.
2. Vaccinations
Read also more about vaccinations in order for a dog to attend at our dog show.
3. Anti-echinococcus treatment (required when arriving to Finland from most countries)
Echinococcosis treatment is to be administered at least 1 and at most 5 days (120-24 h) before the dog’s arrival in Finland. The time is calculated from crossing the border, not the departure time. Any veterinarian can administer the treatment, and it is recorded on the EU model health certificate.
4. EU model health certificate issued by an official veterinarian
The dog must have an EU model health certificate issued by an official veterinarian in the country of origin. The health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issuance. The certificate must be original and accompany the animal throughout the journey. In some cases, the health certificate can be replaced with an EU pet passport.

Owner’s declaration and possible authorization
If the dog travels within 5 days of the owner’s travel (same departure country and destination country as the dog’s), the owner can authorize another person to accompany the dog on their behalf. The authorization must be given in writing. In such a case, the owner must prove their own travel at the border crossing check, for example, by presenting flight tickets or boarding passes.

Weather in August is usually warm. The average temperature in Helsinki is around +15˚C/60˚F, but it can get much warmer than that. The WDS 2025 show venue, Messukeskus Helsinki, is fully air-conditioned.

Summer days are filled with light! At the time of the WDS 2025, the sun sets around 9.30 p.m.

There are no road tolls in Finland. Traffic is on the right-hand side. Always follow traffic rules and speed limits when driving.