Time left to cast your vote in Round 3:

Is your pet Virginia's cutest?

Find out now!

Final Round: The Grand Finals

April 10 – April 17, 2026

The competition cream-of-the-cute have now risen to the top! With tails wagging and whiskers twitching, our Finalists are now at the final step to the ultimate title—Virginia Living’s Cutest Pet 2026.

One more week of Momentum!

One free vote per day—because every paw, hoof, and feather deserves a chance.
Want to give your favorite an extra boost? Extra votes are available to purchase, and a portion of proceeds benefits the Virginia Beach SPCA.

Who Will become our Crown Winners? Only the best in show will win!

There can only be one winner for our top voted entry for the GRAND FINAL ROUND Top Dog, Coolest Cat, Farm Friend & Adorable Other. And don’t forget—a percentage of their votes carry over to the Final Round! So, which pets will rise to the occasion? Keep voting, keep cheering, and let’s see who paws their way to the top!

Browse the Voting groups!

Grand final voting is open from April 10 to April 17.
Winner decided in this round!

About the Contest

Ready to make your pet famous?

Virginia Living’s Cutest Pet Photo Contest is back—and it’s bigger, cuter, and more brag-worthy than ever. We’re celebrating Virginia’s most lovable companions across four equally adorable categories:

Top Dog
Coolest Cat
Farm Friend
Adorable Other

From couch-loving pups to barnyard besties and everything in between, if your pet steals hearts, this is their moment.

NEW PRIZE: Custom Hand-Painted Pet Portrait by David Cochran

Each category winner will receive a custom, hand-painted 16″ x 20″ acrylic portrait of their pet by Virginia artist David Cochran — an artist with a gift for turning your most loved moments into something you can hold onto forever.

This isn’t a photo with a filter on it. It’s an original painting, on canvas, created from your favorite photo. David will work personally with each winner to make sure the portrait captures everything that makes their pet theirs — their personality, their favorite spot, the little details only you would know.

Hang it above the fireplace. Point to it for the rest of your life. We would.

What Do the Winners Get? Oh… Just Everything.

This year, the stakes—and the prizes—are bigger than ever.

Each Cutest Pet 2026 category winner—Top Dog, Coolest Cat, Farm Friend, and Adorable Other—will receive premium recognition, including a featured spotlight in the May/June issue of Virginia Living and a custom faux magazine cover. Winners will also receive an experience-forward prize package that takes the celebration well beyond the page.

Each Cutest Pet 2026 category winner takes home an unforgettable prize package, including:

A featured spotlight in Virginia Living magazine (May/June issue)
Shout-outs on VirginiaLiving.com & across social media
A custom faux Virginia Living magazine cover starring your pet
Official Cutest Pet 2026 Winner Badges for bragging rights

A Virginia Beach SPCA & Virginia Living merch bundle with pet goodies

A professional pet portrait session with Beloved Pet & Equine Photography

A pet-friendly Charlottesville getaway at Kimpton The Forum Hotel
– One-night stay
– Food & beverage credit for two
– Complimentary parking
– Special pet amenities

A handcrafted, Virginia-made ceramic pet bowl from Emerson Creek Pottery

Big prizes. Big bragging rights. Big-time pet fame.

Important Dates

Submissions: February 2 – March 15
Voting: March 16 – April 17

Read the full rules

Questions? Email us at Editors@CapeFear.com.

How It Works

Submitting is free
Everyone gets one free vote per day
Want to boost your favorite? Additional votes can be purchased

A portion of proceeds from paid votes benefits the Virginia Beach SPCA, supporting lifesaving care, adoption programs, and community outreach across the region.

In Partnership With: