PATS 2026 adds buyer matchmaking and international sourcing
Bottom line
Version 1 — Brief
PATS 2026 is widening its role as a sourcing and buyer-matching event ahead of its September 27-29 run at the NEC Birmingham, with organizers adding an International Pavilion, a Hosted Buyer Programme, an expanded Grooming Zone, and a business support Drop-In Clinic in partnership with the Pet Industry Federation. The show’s organizer says the event is building on a record 2025, when attendance reached 6,021, up 70% year over year, with international attendance up 169% and 445 exhibitors from 15 countries. PATS 2026 is also co-located again with BETA International, and the show has announced a media partnership with GlobalPETS as it pushes for more international reach. (patshow.co.uk)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the changes point to a broader trade environment where retail, grooming, aquatics, and animal health conversations are becoming more connected. The Grooming Zone will include retailer-focused sessions on coat types, product selection, welfare-led grooming practices, and customer loyalty, while the PIF-backed clinic is positioned to offer practical guidance on compliance, welfare standards, and business operations. That could make PATS a more useful touchpoint not just for product discovery, but also for clinics, practice-adjacent retail teams, and veterinary businesses tracking pet parent demand and supplier trends. (petbusinessworld.co.uk)
What to watch: Watch for how many international brands and hosted buyers actually convert the new format into distribution deals, and whether the added education features pull in more animal health-focused attendees at the September 27-29, 2026 event. (patshow.co.uk)
Version 2 — Full analysis
PATS 2026 is expanding beyond a traditional trade show format, with organizers adding new tools meant to make product discovery more structured and buyer engagement more deliberate. The Pet & Aquatics Trade Show will return to the NEC Birmingham from September 27-29, 2026, with more than 550 exhibitors, according to GlobalPETS, alongside a new Hosted Buyer Programme, a first-time International Pavilion, and broader on-floor support for visitors and suppliers. (patshow.co.uk)
The shift follows a strong 2025 edition. PATS says last year’s show drew 6,021 attendees across three days, a 70% increase from the prior year, while international attendance rose 169% to 317 visitors. Organizers also reported a record 445 exhibitors from 15 countries in 2025, numbers they’re now using to justify more formal buyer programming and a bigger international pitch for 2026. Raccoon Media Group, the show’s organizer, has framed the new features as a response to demand and as part of a more digital-first, commercially focused strategy. (patshow.co.uk)
The most notable additions are aimed at turning foot traffic into planned business meetings. The Hosted Buyer Programme, launched in April 2026, is designed to set up pre-arranged meetings between exhibitors and senior retail buyers, with eligibility criteria and attendance commitments built in. Organizers say that structure should help suppliers spend less time chasing uncertain leads and give buyers a more efficient way to review launches and sourcing options. Separately, the new International Pavilion is intended as an entry point for overseas brands seeking UK distributors and retail partners, a move PATS says could strengthen cross-border trade links and give UK buyers earlier access to products not yet widely distributed in the market. (patshow.co.uk)
Other changes broaden the show’s utility beyond product browsing. The Grooming Zone is being expanded with retailer-focused sessions delivered with the British Isles Grooming Association, covering coat types, product selection, welfare-led grooming practices, and ways to build customer loyalty through better advice. PATS is also introducing a Drop-In Clinic with the Pet Industry Federation, offering practical support on business management, legal and regulatory compliance, animal welfare standards, and customer service. The show’s co-location with BETA International will continue as well, after organizers said the shared format helped drive a 228% increase in registrations in 2025. (petbusinessworld.co.uk)
Industry reaction has centered on PATS’ growing international ambitions. In announcing a new partnership with GlobalPETS on August 13, 2026, the show tied that relationship directly to the International Pavilion and Hosted Buyer Programme. GlobalPETS Managing Director Philippe Vanderhoydonck said the partnership reflects rising international interest in the UK market and positions PATS in front of a global audience of brands, retailers, and distributors. Event Director Ian Reynolds has made a similar case, saying buyers are increasingly drawn by the strength of British brands, product quality, and innovation on the show floor. (patshow.co.uk)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, especially those involved in clinic retail, grooming referrals, nutrition, preventive care products, or supplier selection, PATS is becoming more relevant as a market signal. The addition of welfare-led grooming education and compliance-focused business support suggests the event is trying to serve a more informed, operational audience, not just general retail buyers. That matters because pet parent expectations increasingly span clinical advice, grooming, nutrition, wellness products, and informed purchasing, and those categories often overlap in practice-adjacent settings. A show that brings those threads together can offer an early read on what products, claims, and service models may soon reach clinics and specialty retail channels. (petbusinessworld.co.uk)
There’s also a broader industry angle. The International Pavilion and Hosted Buyer Programme suggest PATS wants to compete more directly as a gateway event for overseas suppliers entering the UK market. If that works, veterinary teams may see a faster flow of new products, imported brands, and adjacent service offerings into distribution. At the same time, the show’s emphasis on structured meetings and export readiness suggests suppliers are under pressure to show clearer commercial value, not just novelty. (patshow.co.uk)
What to watch: The next test is execution in Birmingham this September: whether the hosted-buyer model delivers measurable deal-making, whether the International Pavilion attracts meaningful overseas participation, and whether education features like the Grooming Zone and PIF clinic expand PATS’ relevance for veterinary and animal health professionals, not only retail buyers. (patshow.co.uk)