Cat & Dog Lovers Festivals Bound for Melbourne Showgrounds
Melbourne Showgrounds will explode with wagging tails, paws and whiskers, when the Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival return on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October 2025.
This year's Melbourne Festivals promise to be the biggest yet, with exciting new attractions, inspiring talks, expert advice, and hundreds of exhibitors offering the very best products and festival specials for our four-legged family members.
At the heart of the Dog Lovers Festival will be the high-energy debut of The Dog Bowl. Combining the VitaPet Arena and Kurgo® DockDogs into one epic outdoor spectacle, this brand-new feature brings Super Bowl style thrills to Melbourne. Hosted by MC Brodie Young and crowd favourite Dave Graham, the arena will deliver jaw dropping stunts and awe inspiring athleticism. From K9 Freestyle and high-flying dives to sprint and mini-dog racing, the energy will be electric and the dogs unstoppable.
"Melbourne is renowned worldwide as Australia's sporting capital, and there's no better stage for us to unveil The Dog Bowl. It's fast, fun and full of energy, exactly what dog lovers want from a live experience. Alongside all the returning favourites, we know these will be our biggest Melbourne festivals yet," said Festival Director Paul Mathers.
Backing it up, the ADVANCE™ Stage will be buzzing with training tips, dancing dogs, live demos, and educational talks, all hosted be the charismatic Shelly Horton. Fans can also meet Jack Kennedy and Pesto, stars of ABC's Muster Dogs, and enjoy dazzling performances by Dances With Dogs alongside expert sessions from Jamie the Dog Trainer, Lara Shannon and animal advocate Vanessa Morfea, who will present her moving series Story of a Lonely Dog.
The Cat Lovers Festival will pounce into action with a packed program of feline favourites.
The WHISKAS® Stage, Kitty Cosplay, Pat-A-Cat by Feline Natural, the Championship Cat Show, and the Adoption Zone return bigger than ever, now joined by the Melbourne debut of CatKwiz, a quirky, live trivia game designed especially for cat fanatics.
Visitors will also meet an inspiring line-up of experts including Sonia Hank and her adventure cat Kepler Copernicus, radio journalist and presenter Madelaine Burke, behaviour specialists Dr Channy McGowan and Kate Cochrane, and RSPCA cat trainers Naomi Thomson and Dr Sarah Irwin, who will share compassionate, evidence-based insights into feline well-being.
In an Australian-first, the Festival will also spotlight Pause for Paws, a groundbreaking program founded by Dr. Monica. Featured on the WHISKAS® Stage, this uplifting and compassionate session will give visitors practical tools, mindfulness strategies, and guidance to help them navigate the often overlooked grief of losing a beloved companion.
Beyond the stages, the Festivals will deliver the largest retail showcase for cat and dog lovers, with more than 250 exhibitors and thousands of products to discover, many that aren't available anywhere else.
The official Festival App, available to download now, unlocks exclusive shopping experiences, festival specials, competitions, and featured products. The expanded Expo will feature a boutique Marketplace, a Dog Friendly Travel Hub to help families plan pet-inclusive holidays, and a Grooming Stage presenting expert demonstrations on essential care tips like nail trimming and coat maintenance.
This year, getting to the Festivals will be easier than ever before, with dedicated train services running directly to Showgrounds Station across the weekend, offering the most convenient way to travel.
Each ticket provides entry to both the Cat Lovers Festival and the Dog Lovers Festival – that's two great Festivals for the price of one.
Tickets for the Melbourne Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival are on sale now. For more information and to secure tickets, visit: www.catloversfestival.com.au/melbourne and www.dogloversfestival.com.au/melbourne
This year's Melbourne Festivals promise to be the biggest yet, with exciting new attractions, inspiring talks, expert advice, and hundreds of exhibitors offering the very best products and festival specials for our four-legged family members.
At the heart of the Dog Lovers Festival will be the high-energy debut of The Dog Bowl. Combining the VitaPet Arena and Kurgo® DockDogs into one epic outdoor spectacle, this brand-new feature brings Super Bowl style thrills to Melbourne. Hosted by MC Brodie Young and crowd favourite Dave Graham, the arena will deliver jaw dropping stunts and awe inspiring athleticism. From K9 Freestyle and high-flying dives to sprint and mini-dog racing, the energy will be electric and the dogs unstoppable.
"Melbourne is renowned worldwide as Australia's sporting capital, and there's no better stage for us to unveil The Dog Bowl. It's fast, fun and full of energy, exactly what dog lovers want from a live experience. Alongside all the returning favourites, we know these will be our biggest Melbourne festivals yet," said Festival Director Paul Mathers.
Backing it up, the ADVANCE™ Stage will be buzzing with training tips, dancing dogs, live demos, and educational talks, all hosted be the charismatic Shelly Horton. Fans can also meet Jack Kennedy and Pesto, stars of ABC's Muster Dogs, and enjoy dazzling performances by Dances With Dogs alongside expert sessions from Jamie the Dog Trainer, Lara Shannon and animal advocate Vanessa Morfea, who will present her moving series Story of a Lonely Dog.
The Cat Lovers Festival will pounce into action with a packed program of feline favourites.
The WHISKAS® Stage, Kitty Cosplay, Pat-A-Cat by Feline Natural, the Championship Cat Show, and the Adoption Zone return bigger than ever, now joined by the Melbourne debut of CatKwiz, a quirky, live trivia game designed especially for cat fanatics.
Visitors will also meet an inspiring line-up of experts including Sonia Hank and her adventure cat Kepler Copernicus, radio journalist and presenter Madelaine Burke, behaviour specialists Dr Channy McGowan and Kate Cochrane, and RSPCA cat trainers Naomi Thomson and Dr Sarah Irwin, who will share compassionate, evidence-based insights into feline well-being.
In an Australian-first, the Festival will also spotlight Pause for Paws, a groundbreaking program founded by Dr. Monica. Featured on the WHISKAS® Stage, this uplifting and compassionate session will give visitors practical tools, mindfulness strategies, and guidance to help them navigate the often overlooked grief of losing a beloved companion.
Beyond the stages, the Festivals will deliver the largest retail showcase for cat and dog lovers, with more than 250 exhibitors and thousands of products to discover, many that aren't available anywhere else.
The official Festival App, available to download now, unlocks exclusive shopping experiences, festival specials, competitions, and featured products. The expanded Expo will feature a boutique Marketplace, a Dog Friendly Travel Hub to help families plan pet-inclusive holidays, and a Grooming Stage presenting expert demonstrations on essential care tips like nail trimming and coat maintenance.
This year, getting to the Festivals will be easier than ever before, with dedicated train services running directly to Showgrounds Station across the weekend, offering the most convenient way to travel.
Each ticket provides entry to both the Cat Lovers Festival and the Dog Lovers Festival – that's two great Festivals for the price of one.
Tickets for the Melbourne Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival are on sale now. For more information and to secure tickets, visit: www.catloversfestival.com.au/melbourne and www.dogloversfestival.com.au/melbourne
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