Don't Miss These Pet Industry Conferences: Essential Events for Pet Food & Product Brands

The pet industry is booming, and staying connected with the latest trends, innovations, and key players is more crucial than ever. Whether you're launching a new pet food line, expanding your product distribution, or looking to forge strategic partnerships, industry conferences offer unparalleled opportunities for networking, education, and business growth.

We've pulled together the most essential pet industry conferences happening in 2026 that every pet food and product brand should have on their radar. From regulatory updates to the latest in pet nutrition trends, these events will keep you ahead of the curve and connected with the people who matter most in your industry.

Why Pet Industry Conferences Matter More Than Ever

The pet industry has evolved dramatically over the past few years. Consumer preferences are shifting toward premium, natural, and specialized products, while regulatory landscapes continue to evolve. Supply chain challenges and retail media opportunities are reshaping how brands reach pet parents. These conferences aren't just networking events: they're essential intelligence-gathering missions that can make or break your strategic planning for the year ahead.

Plus, there's nothing quite like meeting face-to-face with retailers, distributors, and fellow brand leaders to build the relationships that drive real business growth.

Essential 2026 Pet Industry Conferences

AAFCO Midyear Meeting

January 20-22, 2026 | New Orleans, LA

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Midyear Meeting kicks off the conference season with crucial regulatory insights. This event is essential for anyone involved in pet food manufacturing, as AAFCO sets the nutritional standards and labeling requirements that govern the industry.

Why attend: Stay ahead of regulatory changes, understand compliance requirements, and network with regulatory affairs professionals.

Best for: Pet food manufacturers, regulatory affairs teams, and nutrition specialists.

Learn more about AAFCO events

Global Pet Expo

March 25-27, 2026 | Orlando, FL

Global Pet Expo remains the cornerstone event for the North American pet industry. With nearly 20,000 attendees and over 1,000 exhibitors showcasing new-to-market products, this is where major business happens.

Why attend: The New Products Showcase alone is worth the trip: it's where you'll spot the trends that will define the next year. The buyer education sessions and networking events provide direct access to key retailers and distributors.

Best for: All pet industry professionals, especially those focused on product innovation and retail partnerships.

Register for Global Pet Expo

The Pet Summit

March 23-26, 2026 | Orlando, FL

Running just before Global Pet Expo, The Pet Summit positions itself as the premier educational event in the pet industry. With six dynamic educational tracks and dozens of expert speakers, it's designed for professionals who want to dive deep into industry trends and strategies.

Why attend: The focus on actionable education makes this ideal for marketing teams, product developers, and business strategists. The timing: right before Global Pet Expo: means you can maximize your Orlando trip.

Best for: Marketing professionals, brand managers, and executives looking for strategic insights.

Explore The Pet Summit

Petfood Forum 2026

April 27-29, 2026 | Kansas City, MO

If you're in the pet food space, Petfood Forum is non-negotiable. It's the only event 100% dedicated to pet food, covering everything from consumer trends to manufacturing innovations. The co-located Petfood Essentials preconference focuses on business optimization and operational efficiency.

Why attend: Deep-dive sessions on pet food trends, nutrition science, and manufacturing processes. The networking here is unmatched for pet food professionals.

Best for: Pet food manufacturers, formulators, nutritionists, and anyone involved in pet food production or marketing.

Register for Petfood Forum

SuperZoo

August 12-14, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV

SuperZoo has established itself as the premier trade show for pet retailers and their suppliers. This summer event typically features new product showcases, educational programming, and extensive networking opportunities focused on the retail side of the pet industry.

Why attend: Direct access to independent pet retailers and regional chains, plus insights into consumer shopping behaviors and retail trends.

Best for: Brands focused on specialty retail distribution and those launching innovative products.

Stay updated on SuperZoo

Notable International & Virtual Events

GlobalPETS Forum

January 20-22, 2026 | Istanbul, Turkey

While not US-based, GlobalPETS Forum deserves attention as the leading international networking event for pet industry executives. Limited to approximately 300 senior-level participants (C-suite and VP/Director level), this forum offers unparalleled access to global industry leaders.

Why consider: If you're planning international expansion or looking to connect with global suppliers and partners, this intimate forum provides elite-level networking opportunities.

Learn about GlobalPETS Forum

Interzoo 2026

May 12-15, 2026 | Nuremberg, Germany

As the world's largest trade show for pet supplies, Interzoo offers a global perspective on industry trends and innovations. While it requires international travel, the insights into European and global markets can be invaluable for strategic planning.

Why consider: Spot global trends before they hit the US market and explore international partnership opportunities.

Explore Interzoo

Regional and Specialized Events to Watch

Natural Products Expo West (March 2026, Anaheim, CA) increasingly features pet food and health products, making it valuable for brands in the natural/organic space.

Groom Expo West (February 2026, Pasadena, CA) focuses on grooming but includes pet product brands targeting professional groomers.

Keep an eye on emerging virtual events and regional meetups throughout 2026, as the industry continues to embrace hybrid event formats.

Making the Most of Your Conference Investment

Plan Early: Popular events like Global Pet Expo and Petfood Forum fill up quickly. Book accommodations early and register for priority access to key sessions and networking events.

Set Clear Objectives: Whether you're looking for new suppliers, seeking retail partnerships, or gathering competitive intelligence, define your goals before you go. This helps you prioritize which sessions to attend and which networking events matter most.

Follow Up Fast: The real value happens after the conference. Make sure you have a system for following up with new contacts within 48 hours while conversations are still fresh.

Leverage Our Expertise: If you're looking to maximize your presence at these events: whether through strategic booth placement, thought leadership opportunities, or targeted pre-event marketing: we'd love to discuss how to make your conference investment pay off.

The pet industry conference calendar for 2026 offers incredible opportunities to stay ahead of trends, build crucial relationships, and drive business growth. From the regulatory insights at AAFCO to the innovation showcase at Global Pet Expo, each event serves a unique purpose in your professional development and business strategy.

Start planning now, and we'd love to hear about your conference experiences throughout 2026. Drop us a line if there are other events we should add to this list: we're always looking to keep this resource as comprehensive and useful as possible for the pet industry community.