Ararat Rural City Council is calling on dog lovers, farming families, and visitors from near and far to mark their calendars for the 2026 Moyston Annual Sheep Dog Trials, returning to the Moyston Recreation Reserve from Thursday 12 March to Saturday 14 March.
In an exciting addition for 2026, crowd favourite Pesto and handler Jack Kennedy, from ABC TV series Muster Dogs, are scheduled to attend, giving fans a rare opportunity to see the pair working in person and to celebrate the profile they have brought to Australian working dogs.
Now in its 98th year, the Moyston Annual Sheep Dog Trials are recognised as Australia's longest-running sheep dog trials, cementing the small township's place on the national working dog calendar and drawing competitors from across the country.
Spectators can watch some of Australia's best sheep dogs and handlers in action across three days of competition, with Novice Trials from 9 am on Thursday 12 March, and Improver and Open classes from 8am on Friday 13 March and Saturday 14 March. The trials will again be held at the picturesque Moyston Oval on Ararat-Halls Gap Road, just 15 minutes from Ararat.
The Moyston community will offer classic country hospitality across the event, including a two-course dinner on Friday evening, lunches, morning and afternoon teas, and a licensed bar on site. Gold coin entry will apply for spectators, making it an affordable day out for families, dog enthusiasts, and visitors exploring the Grampians region.
President of the Moyston Annual Sheep Dog Trials Max McLean said, "Moyston has a very special place in the working dog world, and it is a privilege to help carry on a tradition that local families and volunteers have kept alive for nearly a century. Each year we see top-class dogs and handlers come from across the country to test themselves on our course, but what really makes the trials stand out is the genuine country hospitality people experience when they walk through the gate.
He continued, "This year we will have 2 extra special guests joining us for the Friday Night Community Meal. ABC Series 3 Muster Dog Pesto and Jack Kennedy will join us, and I'd encourage anyone who loves good dogs, good sheep work and a good yarn to come out to Moyston and join us for this special night."
Mayor Cr Bob Sanders said the Moyston trials were a proud showcase of the district's farming heritage and community spirit. "The Moyston Sheep Dog Trials are one of those events that really capture who we are as a rural community, and it's even in my own patch," Cr Sanders said. "For 98 years, locals and visitors have come together at Moyston Oval to watch working dogs doing what they do best, catch up with friends, and welcome new faces to our part of the world. Events like this support our local economy, celebrate the skills of our farming community, and put Ararat Rural City on the national map."
Camping and powered sites are available at the reserve, with meals and bar facilities operating on site throughout the event.
The Council also acknowledges the Burke and Townsend families and the many local sponsors who continue to support the Moyston Annual Sheep Dog Trials.
