A 6-year-old pug named Jinny Lu has been named the winner of the 2026 World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, according to UPI Odd News.
Jinny Lu finished second in last year's competition before taking the top spot this year. The annual event celebrated its 50th anniversary and is designed to highlight the unique beauty of dogs while encouraging adoption.
In a news release, Mandy Clendenen, CEO of the Sonoma-Marin Agricultural Association, said the contest has spent 50 years celebrating each dog's individuality and promoting compassion, rescue and acceptance.
Jinny Lu was rescued from the dog meat trade in South Korea and brought to the United States by two California rescue groups. She was later adopted by Ukiah resident Michelle Grady four years ago.
Jinny Lu and Grady received a trophy and a $5,000 prize, and the pug's face will also appear on a limited run of Mug root beer cans. Pinky, an albino Chihuahua and Pomeranian mix, finished second, while a Chihuahua mix named Otto placed third.
