The Nose of Tralee is Ireland’s largest pet competition that is open to all types of pets. 2026 is the 13^th year of the competition and each year more and more people from all over Ireland take part in a bid to win the title of Nose of Tralee. 

The competition is open to pet owners in all 32 counties of Ireland and all pets are welcome – dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, horses etc.

The Nose of Tralee is a fun competition to celebrate the love that people have for their animals.

It allows Pet Owners to show off their pet’s unique talents. Maybe they can sing or dance or are just too cute not to show off.

The honour of being Nose of Tralee for the year comes with great prestige!

We allow all pets to enter the Nose of Tralee. It’s not just a competition for cats or dogs, every type of pet is welcome.

In previous years we have had horses, pigs, birds and much more enter.

Yes – you may enter more than one pet into the Nose of Tralee competition.

Each pet must have their own separate entry submitted.

The best entries usually include:

A clear, recent photo that captures your pet’s personality
A fun, heartwarming or unique written entry
A photo where your pet is the main focus

We love seeing pets enjoying everyday life, showing off their personality or doing something quirky and memorable.

If you have any issues submitting your entry please email all your details, written entry and photo to enquiries@petsittersireland.ie and we will add your entry for you.

If your pet was a winner or runner-up in a previous year then you cannot enter them into the Nose of Tralee again.

If your pet was a county finalist, then you can enter them into the competition again.

You and your pet must be resident in one of the 32 Counties of Ireland. We do not accept entries from outside Ireland.

You can only enter the competition for the County that you and your pet reside in.

The Nose of Tralee is an online competition that takes place between the 22nd May and the 18th August 2026.

Open For Entries 22nd May – 14th June 2026

Note – Entrants must submit a current photo of their pet that was taken in the last 6 months and they must enter their pet in the county in which they reside in Ireland.

Public Voting 15th June – 29th June 2026

Note – Vote counts (or position in the competition) will not be made available to the Public or Entrants at any stage of the competition.

Judging Process 30th June – 24th July 2026 – The 3 pets in each County with the most votes will go through to the next round and our team of Independent Judges will then select one finalist for each county.

During this process the 32 finalists will be notified and asked to re-enter their pet wearing their County Nose Sash ready for the final Public Vote.

How Will Entrants Pets Be Judged if they get through to the Judges Stage?

Each pet will be judged on the following and the pet with the most points will go through to the final. Final scores will not be made public and in the event that the winner does not want to participate in the final stages then the runner up will be put through to the final.

• Number of Public Votes (33% of score)
• Quality, cuteness and uniqueness of photo (33% of score)
• Written entry (33% of score)

Public Vote  24th July  – 17th August 2026 – A public vote will decide which of the 32 Finalists is Crowned the 2026 Nose of Tralee.

The 2026 Nose Of Tralee Winner will be announced on the 18th August 2026.

Nose Of Tralee Prizes

Winners Prize

• Title of 2026 Nose of Tralee 
• €250 Pet Sitting Voucher From Pet Sitters Ireland 
• A Photo Shoot with David McAuley Photography
• Pet Friendly Hotel Stay at Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick
• Pastel Drawing from Illustrations by Carole
• €200 cash from Supermacs Tullamore 
• €50 cash from Moresure Life & Pensions Ltd 
• €150 cash from The Plaza Group 
• €100 cash from Courtney Smiths Online Bits
• GAA jersey and GAA raincoat from Doug’s World
• €30 Gift Voucher from Noodles & Chig
• Bow and Bandana from Dave’s Woofly Bandanas
• Personlised Hamper from Dublin Dog Care
• Large Pet Friendly Cake from Barking Mad Dog Treats
• Bow and Bandana from Pawssentails
• 2 tags of choice from Blues Boutique

Runner Up Prize

• 100 Euro Pet Sitting Voucher From Pet Sitters Ireland 
• Dinner for 2 at Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick
• €20 Gift Voucher from Noodles & Chig
• Bow/Bandana from Dave’s Woofly Bandanas
• Small Pet Friendly Cake from Barking Mad Dog Treats
• Bow from Pawssentails
• 1 tag of choice from Blues Boutique

Finalist Prizes

• Treats from Lidl, Enis Road, Limerick
• Treats from Park Life
• GAA county bandana from Doug’s World 

You can vote during the following dates at www.NoseOfTralee.com

Public Voting 15th June – 29th June 2026

Public Vote 24th July – 17th August 2026

The winner will be announced at 5pm on the 18th August 2026 on Social Media.

Vote counts are not displayed at any stage of the competition. We also do not release a list of vote counts at any stage during or after the competition.

The following rules apply to all entrants at whatever stage of the competition. Failure to comply will result in immediate removal from the competition.

• Entrants cannot use paid advertising to promote their entry.
• Entrants are not permitted to buy votes in any form.
• Entrants suspected of cheating in any form will be removed from the competition.
• The Nose of Tralee logo, and the Pet Sitters Ireland logo, can only be used with the written permission of Pet Sitters Ireland. 
• Sponsor logos cannot be used on any promotional material.
• No other companies may claim to sponsor or endorse the Nose of Tralee, unless they are an official sponsor. This includes, but not limited to, adding their name to posters, flyers, tshirts, awards

Code Of Conduct. Any entrant found to be harassing other entrants, organisers, or sponsors in any manner will be removed from the competition (and future competitions) with immediate effect. Organisers decision will be final.