Nuremberg, Germany – When the doors of Interzoo 2026 opened at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg on May 12, they opened on what would become the largest and most international edition in the trade fair’s history. By the time the show concluded on May 15, organiser WZF, Pet Industry Services had confirmed numbers that underscored just how emphatically the global pet industry had shown up: around 2,400 exhibitors from approximately 70 countries, and nearly 39,000 trade visitors from more than 130 nations. Both figures were records.
The four-day event, held every two years, is widely regarded as the definitive global platform for the pet care sector, a place where manufacturers, retailers, distributors, buyers, and innovators converge to do business, discover what is next, and take the pulse of an industry that shows little sign of slowing down. This year did not disappoint on any of those counts.
A Show Floor That Reflected a Confident Industry
Walking the exhibition halls at Interzoo 2026, the breadth of the show was immediately apparent. Products and services for dogs, cats, fish, small mammals, birds, terrarium animals, and a wide range of other pets filled a sprawling footprint, with exhibitors spanning every corner of the globe. More than 87 per cent of exhibitors came from outside Germany, making this as international a showcase of pet industry talent and enterprise as exists anywhere in the world.
“For many exhibitors and visitors, Interzoo week marks the most important date in the business calendar,” said Gordon Bonnet, CEO of ZZF and WZF. “I am delighted that this year we have not only met the correspondingly high expectations, but in many cases even surpassed them. In face-to-face conversations in the exhibition halls and at the numerous supporting events, participants spoke very positively about the quality of the event and were optimistic about converting the contacts made into sustainable business relationships.”
International visitors made up over 70 per cent of total attendance, a reflection of how truly global the pet industry has become. The halls buzzed with the energy of deals being struck, products being discovered, and relationships being built or renewed. As Norbert Holthenrich, President of ZZF, German Pet Trade & Industry Association and honorary sponsor of the event, observed, pets are today regarded as members of the family, and this reality was evident in the sophistication, ambition, and sheer variety of what was on display.
Innovation, Start-ups, and the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
One of the most energising aspects of any Interzoo is the space it makes for new thinking, and the 2026 edition was no exception. A total of 59 young companies participated through the International Start-up Area and Young Innovators shared stands, presenting ideas and products that offered a glimpse of where the industry is heading. Twenty-seven of these were German-based Young Innovators; 32 were international start-ups making their mark on the world stage.
The Fresh Ideas Stage drew strong crowds throughout the week, with 37 start-ups and established companies presenting their solutions to a highly engaged audience. The top prize of the Fresh Ideas Contest went to mousebouncer GmbH, a German company whose AI-controlled cat flap uses facial recognition technology to prevent cats from bringing prey into the home, a product that elegantly captures the moment where technology, pet welfare, and owner convenience converge. Second place went to Kuro & Kai, a Spanish start-up producing sustainable cat litter made from olive pits, while Frankfurt-based Lumiies, specialising in premium dog accessories, claimed third.
New to Interzoo 2026 was the Sourcing Stage, a dedicated platform focused exclusively on cross-border procurement, a recognition that as the industry globalises, the mechanics of international sourcing are increasingly a strategic concern for companies of all sizes.
The Supporting Programme: Learning, Networking, and New Conversations
Beyond the exhibition floor, the Interzoo supporting programme offered a dense calendar of sessions, conferences, and events designed to reflect the trends shaping the industry. Five Country Sessions gave attendees insight into national market dynamics across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. A focused social media conference tackled the increasingly central role of digital platforms in how pet brands communicate and build community. The inaugural Interzoo Groomers’ Day, conceived for the international professional dog grooming community, made a strong debut, drawing around 200 participants and signalling the growing recognition of grooming as a distinct and growing professional discipline within pet care.
The breadth of the programme was matched by its reach. Some 312 journalists and bloggers from 30 countries attended Interzoo 2026, reporting across radio, television, newspapers, trade magazines, and online media, a measure of the fair’s standing not just within the industry but in the wider world.
India Steps Forward on the Global Stage
Among the national pavilions that added to the international colour of Interzoo 2026, the India Pavilion drew considerable attention. Organised and led by Creature Companion Magazine, India’s foremost pet industry publication, the pavilion was built around a clear purpose: to bring the story of Indian pet manufacturing to a global audience and open doors for collaboration with buyers and partners from around the world.
The pavilion brought together a carefully chosen group of Indian companies, each representing a different facet of the country’s growing pet industry capability. Model Exim, Hye Pets, Super Foods, Umayal Pet Foods, Bones N Paws, Kafa International, Fur Ball Story, Sreepadma, Ibrahim Foods, and Ashapura collectively made the case for India as a source of quality, diversity, and competitive strength in the global pet products market. From food and treats to accessories and specialty products, the range on display was a compelling demonstration of what Indian manufacturers are capable of delivering.
The pavilion was conceived as much as a statement of intent as a trade exercise — a chance to show the global industry not just what India makes today, but what it is capable of becoming as a partner in the years ahead. The ‘Make in India’ spirit that animated the initiative resonated with international visitors, many of whom were encountering these brands for the first time and leaving with a markedly different view of India’s place in the global pet industry.
A Landmark Edition and a Look Ahead
“We are pleased to join the industry in celebrating a successful Interzoo week, which featured excellent discussions, promising business contacts, more than 110 conference sessions and numerous new formats where the pet industry could network, learn and do business,” said Dr Rowena Arzt, Head of Exhibitions at WZF GmbH. “The substantial increase in the number of visitors, notably from Germany, is a positive indication of the industry’s confidence in Interzoo. Interzoo is unique worldwide and is quite clearly a trade fair by industry for the industry.”
For those who attended, Interzoo 2026 was a reminder of what makes this event irreplaceable ,not just the scale and the commerce, but the energy of an industry that is deeply invested in the bond between people and their pets, and in building better products and experiences around it. The next edition is already on the calendar: Interzoo 2028 will take place in Nuremberg from May 23 to 26, 2028.
Sources: PetfoodIndustry.com | Pet Age Magazine | De Molenaar / Petfood Magazine