Puppy Bowl 2026 first look: Meet 123 adorable doggy players, all available for adoption

Jason Sargent Friday, January 9, 2026

Plus, get all the details on how to watch the pawsitively precious event.

Puppy Bowl 2026 first look: Meet 123 adorable doggy players, all available for adoption

Plus, get all the details on how to watch the pawsitively precious event.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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on January 8, 2026 12:54 p.m. ET

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puppy bowl 2026

Puppy Bowl 2026. Credit:

warner bros./discovery

- The adorable Puppy Bowl 2026 lineup is here with players from Team Fluff and Team Ruff.

- This year's event will also spotlight 15 special needs dogs and showcase senior dogs in a special halftime exhibition.

- The Puppy Bowl takes place on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8.

The cutest showdown in sports — Puppy Bowl 2026 — is almost here.

In what is surely the most pawsome news of the day, this means there's an entirely new, adorable, and totally adoptable lineup of furry players to root for. This year’s three-hour sports spectacular includes a record-breaking 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands, and will — as always! — feature heartwarming adoption stories and show-stopping matchups.

Fan-favorite referee Dan Schachner returns for his 15th year to oversee the action, which also includes new and returning segments, as well as celebrity cameos from the Buffalo Bills’ Khalil Shakir, and more.

Reigning champions Team Fluff will send players including Benito (Siberian Husky-Chihuahua) and Showgirl (Chow Chow-Rottweiler) to defend their title. Meanwhile, Lobster Roll (Bulldog-Border Collie), Brûlée (Boston Terrier-French Bulldog), and Miso (American Cattle Dog-Beagle) will compete to bring the coveted “Lombarky” trophy to Team Ruff. Awards for the MVP (that's Most Valuable Puppy, of course) and the Underdog title will be given out as well.

And be sure to have tissues on hand: This year's event will also spotlight 15 special needs dogs, including Wynonna, a determined pup with only three-legs, and Eleanor, who is both deaf and vision-impaired. Additionally, for the first time ever, the Puppy Bowl will also showcase senior dogs in a special exhibition game, as Team Oldies and Team Goldies go head-to-head in the all-new Pro-Dog Halftime Showdown. (We're not crying, you're crying!)**

Puppy Bowl, the original and longest running call-to-adoption television event, returns for its 22nd year on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET and will simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, TruTV, HBO Max, and Discovery+. Before the big game, the Puppy Bowl XXII Kickoff Show will also air at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET.

Meet 123 of the players below:

A small dog wearing a blue bandana labeled Team Fluff standing on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Oklahoma Humane Society (Oklahoma City, Okla.)

A puppy wearing a bandana associated with the Puppy Bowl

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (Ridgefield, Conn.)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana with text standing and looking curious

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Underdog Pet Rescue (Madison, Wis.)

Special Needs: Deaf

Fun Fact: Brother to Avro

A small fluffy puppy wearing a blue bandana with a design

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Florida Little Dog Rescue (St. Cloud, Fla.)

Fun Fact: Sister to Sabrina

A puppy wearing a Puppy Bowl bandana standing against a plain background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (De Soto, Iowa)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana with the text Bowl XXII sitting on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (De Soto, Iowa)

Small fluffy dog wearing a blue bandana sitting on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Animal Rescue League of Greater Portland (Westbrook, Maine)

Small dog wearing a red bandana standing and looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Underdog Pet Rescue (Madison, Wis.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Anson

A puppy wearing a blue bandana standing in a neutral setting looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Seattle Humane Society (Seattle, Wash.)

Barker Playfield

A small dog with a red bandana around its neck walking and looking forward a white background

Barker Playfield.

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Florida Little Dog Rescue (St. Cloud, Fla.)

A puppy wearing an orange bandana sitting on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Helping Hounds Rescue (North Syracuse, N.Y.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Cinnamon

A young dog wearing a red bandana standing on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Compassion Kind (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Cash

A small dog wearing a red bandana standing against a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: NAGI Foundation (Phoenix, Ariz.)

A puppy wearing a red bandana standing and looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Renee's Rescue (Hockessin, Del.)

A dog wearing a blue bandana standing against a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: SATO Project (New York and Puerto Rico)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana and standing on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Five Acres Animal Shelter (St. Charles, Mo.)

Dog wearing a bandana standing on a white background looking up

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Best Friends Animal Society (New York, N.Y.)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana sits on a plain background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Missouri (St. Louis, Mo.)

A puppy wearing a red bandana standing and looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (De Soto, Iowa)

Puppy wearing an orange bandana from Hearts Bones Rescue standing on white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Hearts & Bones Rescue (Dallas, Tex.)

French Bulldog puppy wearing a red bandana standing on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, Va.)

Special Needs: Deaf

A puppy wearing a bandana looking forward sitting against a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Nickel City Canine Rescue (Lancaster, N.Y.)

A puppy wearing a bandana with the Puppy Bowl logo sitting and looking toward the camera

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: SATO Project (New York and Puerto Rico)

Carrie Pawshaw

A dog wearing a Puppy Bowl bandana looking forward with pointed ears

Carrie Pawshaw.

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Paws Across Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana sitting on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Compassion Kind (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Baxter

Small dog wearing an orange bandana standing and facing forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Arizona Humane Society (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Chappell Bone

A small dog with a blue bandana looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Florida Little Dog Rescue (St. Cloud, Fla.)

Puppy wearing a red bandana standing on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Hope Animal Rescue (Durham, N.C.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Lewis

A puppy wearing a bandana stands facing forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Missouri (St. Louis, Mo.)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Helping Hounds Rescue (North Syracuse, N.Y.)

Fun Fact: Sister to Basil

A Pomeranian puppy wearing a red bandana labeled Puppy Bowl standing on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Florida Little Dog Rescue (St. Cloud, Fla.)

A small dog wearing a bandana standing against a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Muddy Paws (New York, N.Y.)

Fun Fact: Sister to Miso

A puppy wearing a blue bandana standing and looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Harley's Haven (Perkasie, Pa.)

Special Needs: Heart problem

Fun fact: Brother to Grasshopper

A puppy wearing an orange bandana standing against a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: SPCA of Southwest Michigan (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

A fluffy puppy wearing a bow lying down

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: AHeinz57 Pet Rescue (De Soto, Iowa)

A puppy wearing a red bandana with text Ruff 2026

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Greater Dayton (Dayton, Ohio)

Fun Fact: Sister to Summer

DeVon-tails Smith

A young dog wearing a bandana standing and facing forward

DeVon-tails Smith.

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Providence Animal Center (Media, Pa.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Teddy

Dalmatian puppy wearing a red bandana standing

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, Va.)

Special Needs: Deaf

Duke Snugglebug

A puppy wearing a red bandana with the text Ruff sits facing forward

Duke Snugglebug.

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Great Dog Rescue New England (Andover, Mass.)

Small dog with a blue bandana featuring a Puppy Bowl logo

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Nevada SPCA (Las Vegas, Nev.)

A dog wearing a bandana standing on a neutral background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Double J Dog Ranch (Hauser, Idaho)

Special Needs: Deaf and vision impaired

A puppy wearing a bandana sitting and looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue (New York, N.Y.)

a young dog wearing a blue bandana standing and facing forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Homeward Bound (Mishawaka, Ind.)

Small dog wearing a blue bandana with a logo

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, Va.)

Small fluffy dog wearing a red bandana standing on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Homeward Bound (Mishawaka, Ind.)

A dog wearing a blue bandana standing against a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Animal Welfare Association (Vorhees, N.J.)

A small dog wearing a red bandana with pointed ears standing on a plain background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: San Francisco SPCA (San Francisco, Calif.)

A puppy wearing a bandana standing on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Double J Dog Ranch (Hauser, Idaho)

Special Needs: Deaf

A small puppy wearing a blue bandana with Fluff written on it

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: spcaLA (Los Angeles, Calif.)

A small puppy wearing a bandana with the word PUPPY BOWL on it standing on a plain background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Sacramento SPCA (Sacramento, Calif.)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana with BOWL XIX text on it standing and looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Harley's Haven (Perkasie, Pa.)

Special Needs: Diabetes

Fun Fact: Brother to Cricket

A puppy wearing a small bandana standing and looking toward the camera

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: SATO Project (New York and Puerto Rico)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana standing and facing the camera white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Phoenix Animal Rescue (Chester Springs, Pa.)

Josh Howlin’

A dog wearing a blue bandana stands on a white background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue (Buffalo, N.Y.)**

A puppy wearing a blue bandana standing and looking forward

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: SATO Project (New York and Puerto Rico)

A puppy wearing a blue bandana standing and facing the camera

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Greater Kansas City (Kansas City, Kan.)

A dog wearing an orange bandana standing on a plain background

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, Va.)

Special Needs: Hearing and vision impaired

A puppy wearing a red bandana sitting against a plain background looking up slightly

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Animal Friends (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Niklaus

Lander

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Ninna's Road to Rescue (Haughton, La.)

Fun Fact: Sister to Teton

Leo

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Helen Woodward Animal Center (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.)

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society Silicon Valley (Milpitas, Calif.)

Lewis

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Hope Animal Rescue (Durham, N.C.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Charlie

Lilah

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Ziva Dog Rescue (Chatham, N.J.)

Lin

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Brandywine Valley SPCA (West Chester, Pa.)

Litchi

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Angel City Pit Bulls (Los Angeles, Calif.)

(SPECIAL NEEDS – Missing Ear)

Lobster Roll

Lobster Roll

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Animal Rescue League of Greater Portland (Westbrook, Maine)

Luna

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: SPCA Westchester (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.)

Macadamia

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Danbury Animal Welfare Society (Bethel, Conn.)

Margot

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Homeward Bound (Mishawaka, Ind.)

Maverick

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Connecticut Humane Society (Newington, Conn.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Nova

Meeko

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Paws Across Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Mia Muffin

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Big Lake Humane Society (Muskegon, Mich.)

Miso

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Muddy Paws (New York, N.Y.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Cookie

Miss Coco

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of the British Virgin Islands / BARRK LI (Tortola, BVI)

Misty

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Almost There Rescue (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Monica

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Nickel City Canine Rescue (Lancaster, N.Y.)

Mutt Snifford

Mutt Snifford

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Angel City Pit Bulls (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Niklaus

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Animal Friends (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Kol

Nix

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Pikes Peak Region (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Nova

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Connecticut Humane Society (Newington, Conn.)

Fun Fact: Sister to Maverick

Oscar

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Phoenix Animal Rescue (Chester Springs, Pa.)

Ozzy

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Operation Paws for Homes (Alexandria, Va.)

Paddy

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Pets with Disabilities (Prince Frederick, Md.)

Special Needs: Missing both eyes

Paris

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Missouri (St. Louis, Mo.)

Patch

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Southside SPCA (Meherrin, Va.)

Fun Fact: Sister to Strawberry

Pickles

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue (Buffalo, N.Y.)

Polly

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, Conn.)

Special Needs: Vision impaired

Poppy

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Operation Paws for Homes (Alexandria, Va.)

Princess Hattie

Princess Hattie

Princess Hattie.

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Dallas Dog (Dallas, Tex.)

Queso

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Florida Little Dog Rescue (St. Cloud, Fla.)

Raquel

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Ziva Dog Rescue (Chatham, N.J.)

Remy

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Helen Woodward Animal Center (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.)

Rhett

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Homeward Bound (Mishawaka, Ind.)

Riley

warner bros./discovery

Shelter:Rescue Dogs Rock NYC (New York, N.Y.)

Special Needs: Missing both eyes**

Roly

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, Conn.)

Rosie

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Operation Paws for Homes (Alexandria, Va.)

RuPaw

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Bosley’s Place (Smyrna, Ga.)

Sabrina

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Florida Little Dog Rescue (St. Cloud, Fla.)

Fun Fact: Sister to Apple

Sadie

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Rescue Dogs Rock NYC (New York, N.Y.)

Sandy

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (Harrisburg, Pa.)

Shirley

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Brandywine Valley SPCA (West Chester, Pa.)

ShiShi

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Big Lake Humane Society (Muskegon, Mich.)

Showgirl

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Kentucky Humane Society (Louisville, Ky.)

Silas

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Five Acres Animal Shelter (St. Charles, Mo.)

Slugger

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Dallas Dog (Dallas, Tex.)

Strawberry

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Southside SPCA (Meherrin, Va.)

Fun Fact: Sister to Patch

Sugar

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Danbury Animal Welfare Society (Bethel, Conn.)

Summer

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Greater Dayton (Dayton, Ohio)

Sister to Derby)

Suzy

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: One Tail at a Time (Chicago, Ill.)

Teddy

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Providence Animal Center (Media, Pa.)

Fun Fact: Brother to DeVon-tails

Teigan

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Perfect Imperfections Rescue (Watertown, Conn.)

Special Needs: Wheelchair

Teton

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Ninna's Road to Rescue (Haughton, La.)

Fun Fact: Brother to Lander

Tiny

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Barky Pines Animal Rescue (Loxahatchee, Fla.)

Tostada

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Great Dog Rescue New England (Andover, Mass.)

Travis

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Great Dog Rescue New England (Andover, Mass.)

Truffle

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Florida Little Dog Rescue (St. Cloud, Fla.)

Twiggy

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Operation Paws for Homes (Alexandria, Va.)

Twilight Barkle

Twilight Barkle

Twilight Barkle.

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Hearts & Bones Rescue (Dallas, Tex.)

Special Needs: Protruding forehead

Vanilla Bean

Vanilla Bean

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Renee's Rescue (Hockessin, Del.)

Vernon

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: One Tail at a Time (Chicago, Ill.)

Violet

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (Harrisburg, Pa.)

Winnie

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, Va.)

Wynonna

warner bros./discovery

Shelter: Kentucky Humane Society (Louisville, Ky.)

Special Needs: Tripod

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