The trail ends, the show begins. The Greatest Dog Show on Earth returns this weekend

The paw-some adventure of Gromit Unleashed 3 may have ended on 31 August, but fans are in for one last treat as The Greatest Dog Show on Earth® opens at Cribbs Mall this weekend (Saturday 13 September). 

For two weeks only, from 13 to 28 September, every single sculpture from this summer’s hit trail will be reunited under one roof for the very first, and only time before going under the hammer to raise funds for The Grand Appeal, supporting Bristol Children’s Hospital and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s.

Alongside the full line-up of 53 Gromit Unleashed 3 sculptures, the exhibition, in partnership with Cribbs Mall, will showcase the four special art pieces that were hidden inside Bristol Museum & Art Gallery over the summer, while trail pup Spot will make a special appearance. 

The exhibition will also shine a spotlight on the next generation of artists, with nearly 100 Norbots designed and decorated by schools across the country going on public display for the very first time. From Sir Sparkle Bot to FoxBot, the Norbots have captured children’s creativity and imagination, with many schools raising money for Bristol Children’s Hospital as part of the project.

The Gromit Unleashed 3 Schools Programme is proudly sponsored by The John James Bristol Foundation. Alongside sponsoring the programme, the Foundation has also generously provided funding for 10 city centre schools to design their own Norbot sculptures. 

Image - The Greatest Dog Show on Earth

Nicola Masters, Director of The Grand Appeal, said: “After the buzz of the trail, it feels magical to bring every sculpture together in one place. This is the only opportunity to see the entire collection before the auction, and with so many special extras, from the school’s programme Norbots to Love Actually’s behind-the-scenes footage, it’s going to be an unforgettable celebration.”

Lizzie Taylor, Acting Centre Director, Cribbs Mall, added: “As a proud supporter and partner of The Grand Appeal since our opening in 1998, we are delighted to once again host The Gromit Unleashed exhibition at Cribbs Mall. Throughout the summer, visitors have flocked to Cribbs Mall to check out our Gromit Unleashed 3 sculptures and visit the Gromit Unleashed store. We look forward to welcoming fans from across the country to The Greatest Dog Show on Earth this September, and we’re proud to help raise vital funds for such a special charity.” 

Tickets are on sale now, priced at £6 for adults, £5 for seniors and £4 for children, with under-twos going free. Sessions run every hour from 10am daily. Tickets are available from: https://www.grandappeal.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/events/the-greatest-dog-show-on-earth-3/  

Gromit Unleashed 3 is the fourth sculpture trail created by The Grand Appeal and Aardman to raise money for the charity to support Bristol Children’s Hospital. 

Gromit Unleashed is now an iconic and much-loved brand, spanning collectable giftware, a major online and in-store retail outlet at Cribbs Mall, and multiple unmissable trails, exhibitions, events, auctions, and activities worldwide. 

This year, The Grand Appeal and Aardman celebrate a 30-year partnership of Wallace & Gromit spearheading the charity’s fundraising. The partnership was first conceived in 1995 to help raise money to build the Bristol Children’s Hospital on Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol. Since then, The Grand Appeal has generated £90 million for Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity and the Neonatal Intensive Care Ward at St Michael’s Hospital.  

To keep up to date with the latest news from The Grand Appeal and Gromit Unleashed 3, visit www.gromitunleashed.org.uk and follow @TheGrandAppeal across Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.