Melbourne’s beloved Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival are back for another year of tail-wagging, purr-filled excitement at the Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October 2025.
Following their successful debut at the spacious venue in 2024, the co-located events return with even more attractions, interactive activities, and opportunities for pet lovers to celebrate their four-legged companions.
The Dog Lovers Festival introduces The Dog Bowl, a thrilling new arena making its national debut in Melbourne. This high-energy showcase features Australia’s most talented canine athletes in action, from Kurgo DockDogs to K9 Superwall, Weight Pull, Sprint Racing, and Mini-Dog Races.
“We’re always looking for new ways to engage and delight our audience, and The Dog Bowl is one of the most thrilling features we’ve ever introduced,” said Event Director Paul Mathers.
“It’s fast, fun, and full of energy – everything dog lovers want from a live experience.”
Popular presenter Brodie Young returns to host The Dog Bowl’s action-packed program, while well-known journalist Shelly Horton leads live training demos on the ADVANCE Stage, sharing her expertise and passion for dogs.
Meanwhile, the Cat Lovers Festival welcomes back crowd favorites, including Sonia Hankova and her adventure cat, Kepler Copernicus, with their awe-inspiring “Climb Up” display. The WHISKAS Stage offers expert talks, while the Feline Natural Breed Showcase presents over 25 breeds for visitors to meet.
New this year is Kitty Cosplay, Australia’s largest feline dress-up event, and CatKwiz, a lively trivia game where attendees can test their cat knowledge for prizes.
“This Festival is as much about fun as it is about learning,” added Mathers. “CatKwiz is a great example of how we’re building engaging, informative experiences that bring the community together around a shared love of cats.”
With adoption zones, pat-a-cat areas, and free entry to the sister festival with every ticket, it’s the ultimate weekend for pet lovers.
Tickets on sale now at dogloversfestival.com.au/melbourne and catloversfestival.com.au/melbourne. Kids 12 and under enter free.
