TIME(@TIME):The World’s Ugliest Dog contest has crowned its 2026 winner: Jinny Lu, a 6-year-old rescue pug. Despite its name, the contest isn’t simply about finding the “ugliest” dog, but rather promoting pet adoption while celebrating the unique qualities that make each dog special. The annual competition is held in Santa Rosa, California. This past Friday marked its 50th year of celebrating dogs’ quirks and imperfections. Jinny Lu’s win comes after she placed second last year, in her fourth appearance in the competition. She and her owner went home with a trophy and a $5,000 first-place prize. Other contestants, hopefully, got enough pets as a participation prize.

2026.08.17 21:30

The World’s Ugliest Dog contest has crowned its 2026 winner: Jinny Lu, a 6-year-old rescue pug. Despite its name, the contest isn’t simply about finding the “ugliest” dog, but rather promoting pet adoption while celebrating the unique qualities that make each dog special. The annual competition is held in Santa Rosa, California. This past Friday marked its 50th year of celebrating dogs’ quirks and imperfections. Jinny Lu’s win comes after she placed second last year, in her fourth appearance in the competition. She and her owner went home with a trophy and a $5,000 first-place prize. Other contestants, hopefully, got enough pets as a participation prize.