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New York, NY (August 27, 2026) – The AKC Museum of the Dog announced today that its fourth annual Paws on Parade will take place at Bryant Park on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Creator and New York Times bestselling author Elias Weiss Friedman, aka The Dogist, will serve as Grand Marshal and lead the dogs and their humans on a march around the park’s lawn.
The celebration of all things canine will kick off at Noon and bring together local dogs and dog lovers of all ages for a fun-filled afternoon. The event will feature a variety of food and drink vendors, art workshops, trick training demonstrations, and more. Bryant Park will once again open its lawn to dogs for the remaining days of summer starting on parade day, allowing them to enjoy the remaining days of summer in one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Bryant Park and celebrate New York City’s incredible dog community,” said Sarah Moshenberg, Director of Visitor Experience and Education for the AKC Museum of the Dog. “Set against one of the city’s most beautiful spaces, the Paws on Parade has something for everyone, whether you attend as a dog owner, or a dog lover. Elias is a natural fit as this year’s Grand Marshal as his images delight and inspire us, and his work in the dog community has created an unparalleled impact. We look forward to another spectacular day of festivities alongside our favorite companions.”
The event is free and open to the public. Those wishing to participate in the parade are required to register, and can do so here. Additional information about Paws of Parade will be announced in the coming weeks.
Instant New York Times bestselling author, photographer, creative director, and entrepreneur Elias Weiss Friedman is the creator of the wildly successful online platform The Dogist, with more than 11 million followers across social platforms. More than a decade and over 50,000 dogs later, Elias has redefined dog portraiture through his singular style of humanizing his subjects and illuminating their true essence. Outside of his work photographing dogs, Elias is a longtime advocate for them. He relaunched The Dogist Fund as a tax-deductible nonprofit organization in partnership with GoFundMe, dedicated to improving the lives of dogs in need and humans in need of dogs. Through the Fund, Elias supports organizations including Paws and Affection, Pets with Disabilities, and The Animal Rescue Consortium.
Elias is the author of This Dog Will Change Your Life, which debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list in June 2025 and became an instant international bestseller. He is also the creator and host of DOGS with Elias Weiss Friedman, a digital-first talk show featuring conversations with celebrity guests as they explore New York City in search of its cutest, friendliest, and most interesting dogs and uncover the human stories behind them. DOGS with Elias Weiss Friedman is available on YouTube (@TheDogist), with its second season beginning production in Fall 2026.
To see photos from last year’s Paws on Parade event, click here.
For more information about the Museum and Bryant Park, please visit museumofthedog.org and bryantpark.org.
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Founded in 1982, The AKC Museum of the Dog is dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of the art, artifacts, and literature of the dog for the purposes of education, historical perspective, aesthetic enjoyment and to enhance the appreciation for and knowledge of the significance of the dog and the human/canine relationship. The museum is home to over 1700 original paintings, drawings, watercolors, prints, sculptures, bronzes, and porcelain figurines, a variety of decorative arts objects and interactive displays depicting man's best friend throughout the ages. The AKC Museum of the Dog is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization funded mainly by private and corporate gift donations.
For more information on the AKC Museum of the Dog visit museumofthedog.org.
Get social! Follow the AKC Museum of the Dog on Facebook at @akcmuseumofthedog, TikTok at @museumofthedog and Instagram at @museumofthedog.
Bryant Park Corporation (BPC), a private not-for-profit company, was founded in 1980 to renovate, finance and operate Bryant Park in New York City. BPC is funded by income from events, concessions and corporate sponsors, as well as an assessment on neighboring properties, and does not accept government or philanthropic monies. In addition to providing security, sanitation, and horticultural services, BPC offers restaurants, food kiosks, world-class restrooms, and a wide range of free events throughout the year. The Midtown Manhattan park is visited by more than 12 million people each year and is one of the busiest public spaces in the world. BPC's website, bryantpark.org, offers more detailed information and a schedule of upcoming events.
Media Contacts:
For AKC Museum of the Dog
APEX Public Relations
For The Dogist
Carleen Donovan / Caneel Burgner
American Kennel Club (AKC)
The AKC Museum of the Dog’s Dog Days of Summer exhibition showcases 20 winning artworks inspired by dogs, on view through September 27.
