OCTOBER 17th, 2026 — THE FOURTH ANNUAL ‍

↓ EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW ↓

2026 Great Pug Grumble

10 • 17 • 26

📍Sherwood Forest Faire
Discounted Early-Bird Tickets Now Available!

What is The Great Pug Grumble?!

WE’RE CALLING IN ALL THE CURLY-TAILED, SNORT MONSTERS…
AND HOSTING OUR 4TH ANNUAL GREAT PUG GRUMBLE THIS FALL, 2026.

In 2025, we blew past previous years with 755 pugs and their humans showing up for one unforgettable day. Attendance has doubled and even tripled year over year, and we’re just getting started. This year, we’re heading into our biggest venue yet — the expansive Sherwood Forest Faire — and we’re ready to take things to a whole new level.

Expect a pug-packed day full of festive activities, upgraded experiences, smoother flow, and more space for your pups to play, roam, and most importantly… grumble! From fan-favorite competitions to brand new activations, everything is designed to make this the best one yet.

Is your pug ready to compete for the PupCup eating crown, strut their stuff in the limbo, or get pampered at the Pug Wellness Spa? Maybe snap a professional photo at the ZilkerBark photobooth, then let them cool off while you kick back with a drink in hand. Best of all? A big focus of this event is raising funds to support the regional Texas Pug Rescues who care for these beloved smush faces! $2 from every ticket sold will go to pug rescues, including Pug Rescue of Austin!

Read on to see what’s new this year, how we’ve improved the experience, and everything you need to know before the big day ↓

👋🏼 Event FAQS 👋🏼

The Venue

☞

The Venue ☞

The 2026 meetup is officially heading to Sherwood Forest Faire, just northeast of Austin! We landed on this location for a few key reasons, and we’re really excited about the long-term potential here. A few highlights:

  • 6,000+ parking spots

  • Room for 15,000+ humans and 4,000+ pugs

  • Tons of shade thanks to 100’ pine trees

  • Multiple dedicated off-leash dog parks (including one with a huge pond)

  • Stroller-friendly paths throughout the venue

  • Ample food vendors, bars, and multiple VIP areas

  • Plenty of seating and “cool down” zones if you and your pug need a break

Even better, Sherwood Forest is centrally located, making it easy to travel from major Texas cities:

  • Austin — 45 min

  • San Antonio — 1 hr 45 min

  • College Station — 2 hours

  • Houston — 2 hr 25 min

  • Dallas–Fort Worth — 3 hours

Sherwood Forest Location

A few BIG updates to this year’s event!

We heard your feedback after last year’s Pug Meetup, and we’re excited to share the big improvements you can expect this October…

🎟️ Bark Credits — Included with Every Dog! 🎟️

We’ve made a big upgrade to this year’s event to make your day smoother, more fun, and packed with value.

*EACH DOG* will receive 8 Bark Credits at check-in — included with your entry ticket.

Bark Credits can be used to participate in many of the event’s most popular activities, so you can choose exactly what you want to do.

🐶 Use Your Bark Credits For:

  • Amateur Pug Races

  • Pup Cup Eating Contest

  • Trick Learning Classes

  • Dog Toy Run

  • Pug Wellness Spa

  • Puglicious Limbo

  • Pug Maze

Some activities require more credits than others based on demand and capacity (for example, races and the Toy Run).

In past years, these activities cost extra ($7–$15 per dog). Now they’re included with your Bark Credits!

🎉 Plus — Tons of Free Activities

Not everything requires credits. You’ll still have access to a full day of free experiences:

  • Pug World Records

  • Official Pug Counter

  • Off-Leash Dog Areas

  • Expert Speaker Panels

  • The Pug Parade

💡 Why Bark Credits?

  • No surprise add-ons at checkout

  • More flexibility — choose the activities you care about

  • Shorter lines for high-demand experiences

  • More value included with your ticket

If you want to do even more, additional Bark Credits will be available for purchase at the event. We’ll release more details about your Bark Credits as we finalize all of our activities!

🌟 VIP Package🌟

Our VIP experience is FULL of perks so you and your pug(s) can have the absolute best time. Here’s what’s included:

  • 🏃‍♀️‍➡️ Fast Entry— Skip the lines with a dedicated VIP entrance and check-in

  • 🌟 Priority Access— Unlimited activations wristbands (no tickets required) + skip-the-line perks + early race signup

  • 🚙 Premium Parking— ABUNDANT, reserved on-site parking just steps from the entrance

  • 🛋️ Private VIP Spaces— Multiple exclusive lounges with shade, seating, private bars, restrooms, and a VIP-only off-leash area

  • 🌳 Comfort & Convenience— More seating, more shade, and easy access to water stations

  • 🪑 Premium Seating— Reserved seating section for the pug races!

  • 🌭 Food & Drinks— Private bar access, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, and shorter food lines

  • 💐 VIP Extras— Upgraded swag and exclusive giveaways

  • 👋🏼 Concierge Support— On-site team to help you navigate and make the most of your day

🚙 Traveling in for The Great Pug Grumble? ✈️

In addition to camping, we’re working with local hotels to reserve rooms for the fest! Sign up for email alerts below and we’ll notify you when accommodations become available.

Accommodation Alerts
A happy pug dog with its tongue out, sitting on a woven wicker basket, under a white fabric backdrop.
A happy small dog, possibly a Pug mix, sitting on a woven wicker ottoman, with a light-colored background, wearing a tan harness, and smiling with its tongue slightly sticking out.
A small beige French Bulldog sitting on woven rattan mats, looking at the camera with a curious expression.

2025 Meetup Highlights

We successfully surpassed our 2024 meetup attendance, with an official count of 755 pugs!!In addition to an adorable afternoon at Lustre Pearl South, this meetup featured:

  • ☕ Off-Leash Pug Zone by CuppaPug

If your business is interested in being a vendor at our next meetup, inquire here!

Interested in being a vendor or sponsor at our meetups?

Info & inquire here

Past Photo Booth Galleries!

📸 all photos here →