After a record-breaking weekend in Sydney, the Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival are now preparing to head south, with Melbourne Showgrounds set to come alive on October 25 and 26, 2025.
The Melbourne events promise to be the biggest and most pawsome celebration yet, with the launch of an exciting new feature, The Dog Bowl, alongside all the crowd favourites that have made the Festivals Australia's ultimate destinations for cat and dog lovers.
The Sydney Festivals, held on August 23 and 24, attracted over 25,000 visitors from across the country and showcased everything from adoption drives and breed showcases to celebrity vets and live entertainment.
A world record was even set in the VitaPet Arena when canine athletes Maze and Belgian Malinois leapt an incredible 3.2 metres on the K9 Superwall, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 3.11 metres.
International cat advocate and internet sensation Hannah Shaw, known globally as The Kitten Lady, also proved a standout star in Sydney, with sold-out meet-and-greets and packed presentations.
Building on this momentum, organisers are now focused on delivering a purrfect experience for Melbourne audiences.
At the heart of the Melbourne Dog Lovers Festival will be The Dog Bowl, a brand-new attraction that combines the competitive spirit of major sporting carnivals with the heart-warming charm of man's best friend.
Featuring back-to-back live action, the Dog Bowl will showcase the very best in canine athleticism with weight pulling, big air dives, sprint racing, mini-dog racing, high-flying stunts and more.
Hosted by crowd favourite Dave Graham, the inaugural Dog Bowl promises to create a buzzing atmosphere worthy of Melbourne's reputation as Australia's sporting capital.
Supporting the Dog Bowl will be the ADVANCE™ Stage, hosted by journalist and presenter Shelly Horton, where visitors can learn training tips, watch dancing dogs, gain insights into dog sports, and enjoy live demonstrations.
"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," said Festival Director, Paul Mathers.
"Alongside all the returning favourites, we know this will be our biggest Melbourne festivals yet."
The Cat Lovers Festival will once again deliver a packed line-up of feline fun, with the local debut of CatKwiz, and the return of the WHISKAS® Stage, the Feline Natural Breed Showcase, the Championship Cat Show, Pat-A-Cat, Adoption Zone and the much-loved Kitty Cosplay.
In addition to these highlights, visitors across both festivals can look forward to appearances from presenters such as Lara Shannon, Dr Channy McGowan, Jamie Dog Trainer, Sonia Hank and Madelaine Burke , plus a host of educational sessions, hundreds of exhibitors, and plenty of retail therapy.
The Festivals will feature over 250 exhibitors, showcasing thousands of products, exclusive Festival specials, a host of free samples and amazing giveaways, making it the largest retail experience for cat and dog lovers in Australia.
The best part, each ticket provides the holder with access to the neighbouring Festival creating a weekend bursting with cats, dogs, fun, learning and entertainment for the whole family.
Following Melbourne, the Festivals will travel north to Brisbane in May 2026, ensuring that cat and dog lovers across the country can join in the celebration.
Tickets for the Melbourne Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival are on sale now.
