Interzoo 2026 heads to Nuremberg as its biggest edition yet
Bottom line
Interzoo 2026 is on track to be the biggest edition in the trade fair’s history, with more than 2,350 exhibitors from around 70 countries and about 150,000 square meters of gross exhibition space across 15 halls in Nuremberg, Germany, from May 12-15, 2026. Organizers WZF and the ZZF said that’s an increase of roughly 10,000 square meters from 2024, when Interzoo hosted 2,146 exhibitors and 37,000 trade visitors. This year’s program also expands beyond the show floor, adding a dedicated Groomers’ Day on May 14, a Europe debut for the Women in Petfood Leadership event on May 13, and a sustainability conference and Petfood Forum Europe on May 11. (interzoo.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, Interzoo’s growth is a signal about where the companion animal market is heading: more international sourcing, more pet food technology, and more attention to sustainability, grooming, and category specialization. While Interzoo is a B2B pet industry event rather than a veterinary meeting, its scale can shape the products, nutrition trends, supplier relationships, and care services that eventually reach clinics, hospitals, and pet parents. Organizers say nearly 88% of exhibitors are from outside Germany, with strong representation from China, Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and the U.S., underscoring how global the pipeline for pet products and services has become. (interzoo.com)
What to watch: Watch for product launches, pet food manufacturing updates, and sustainability messaging coming out of Nuremberg in mid-May, especially anything that crosses over into clinical nutrition, preventive care, and professional grooming standards. (interzoo.com)
Interzoo 2026 is set to open in Nuremberg on May 12 as the largest edition of the global pet trade fair to date, according to organizer WZF GmbH. The show is expected to host more than 2,350 exhibitors from all five continents, spread across roughly 150,000 square meters of exhibition space in 15 halls, making it larger than the 2024 event by about 10,000 square meters. (interzoo.com)
That growth builds on a strong 2024 showing. Interzoo’s last edition drew 2,146 exhibitors from 68 countries and 37,000 trade visitors from 140 countries, which organizers described as the biggest Interzoo ever at the time. The 2026 expansion suggests that momentum has continued, even as pet industry companies navigate supply chain shifts, sustainability pressures, and increasingly international competition. (interzoo.com)
This year’s edition looks broader not just in size, but in programming. Organizers say nearly 88% of exhibitors are coming from outside Germany, with participation from around 70 countries and 16 country pavilions. New exhibiting countries compared with 2024 include Egypt, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia, while Turkey, Thailand, and Spain will have their own country pavilions for the first time. Product coverage remains wide, with 1,703 companies listing dog products, 1,378 listing cat products, and 235 focused on pet food technology. (interzoo.com)
Interzoo is also adding new side events that reflect where the broader companion animal business is investing attention. On May 11, ahead of the exhibition, the Interzoo Sustainability Conference and Petfood Forum Europe will focus on regulatory change, manufacturing processes, ingredients, and supply-chain strategy. On May 13, the Women in Petfood Leadership initiative will hold its first European event at Interzoo, and on May 14, the inaugural Interzoo Groomers’ Day will bring grooming professionals together for demonstrations, networking, and education. (interzoo.com)
Organizers are framing the expansion as evidence of Interzoo’s role as a global meeting point for decision-makers. Gordon Bonnet, CEO of WZF and ZZF, said the rise in exhibitor numbers and international participation shows the sector’s continued interest in an in-person marketplace. Dr. Rowena Arzt, head of exhibitions at WZF, said the demand from every continent confirms Interzoo’s role in maintaining business contacts and creating new supplier relationships. Those comments are promotional, but they align with the exhibitor and visitor growth shown in the official figures. (interzoo.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, Interzoo is worth watching less as a clinical event and more as an early indicator of what may soon show up in exam rooms, retail channels, and pet parent conversations. Large trade fairs like this often preview nutrition formats, supplements, hygiene products, grooming tools, enrichment items, and wellness claims before they become mainstream in companion animal care. The dedicated emphasis on pet food technology and sustainability may be especially relevant for practices fielding more questions about ingredient sourcing, manufacturing quality, environmental claims, and specialized diets. (interzoo.com)
The grooming component may also matter more than it first appears. Grooming professionals often spot skin, coat, ear, nail, or mobility issues before a pet parent schedules a veterinary visit, so a higher-profile grooming track could strengthen another referral touchpoint in the care ecosystem. More broadly, the event’s international footprint means new products and suppliers may enter the U.S. and European markets faster, which can create both opportunities and due-diligence challenges for clinics evaluating recommendations and retail partnerships. This is an inference based on the event’s exhibitor mix and global participation, rather than a stated claim from organizers. (interzoo.com)
What to watch: The next signal will come from the show itself, running May 12-15, 2026, including whether exhibitor growth translates into notable launches in pet nutrition, grooming, sustainability, and care-adjacent services, and whether those trends carry into veterinary channels later this year. (interzoo.com)