Dog Lovers Festival, Melbourne 2026

Get ready for the ultimate paw-some experience at the Melbourne Dog Lovers Festival - a celebration of all things canine! Victoria's biggest celebration of dogs returns to the Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October, 2026, and it’s set to be our most tail-wagging festival yet. Whether you’re a proud dog parent, thinking about welcoming a new furry friend, or you just love being surrounded by happy, wagging tails, this is your weekend. 🐶 What’s waiting for you: • Shop the best dog brands across the Dog Expo and Marketplace, with the latest treats, toys, accessories, tech and more • Discover Festival Specials & Featured Products only available at the Festival • Meet hundreds of beautiful dogs across dozens of breeds at Pat-A-Pooch and the Breed Showcase • Watch two epic dog sports competitions in The Dog Bowl, with Canine Disc on Saturday and Flyball on Sunday • Enter the splash zone at Kurgo® DockDogs as high-flying pups launch into a massive 100,000-litre pool • Connect with adoption groups in the Adoption Zone and learn about dogs looking for loving forever homes. Please note that adoptions will not take place on-site • Track down eight Dog Sporting Legends around the Festival for your chance to win PAWsome prizes • Capture the perfect Festival photo at the giant I ❤️ Dogs installation • Enjoy delicious food trucks to keep you fuelled throughout the day This is the ultimate festival for dog lovers, perfect for families, couples, and groups of friends but sadly no BYO dogs, learn why here. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the unconditional love of dogs and create paw-some memories that last a lifetime. And the added bonus? Every Dog Lovers Festival ticket holder also gets FREE ENTRY to the Cat Lovers Festival happening on the same weekend - that’s two great Festivals for the price of one! 🐾 Get your tickets today and make tails wag 🐾 Event Hours Saturday 17 October: 9:30am - 5pm Sunday 18 October: 9:30am - 5pm