2026 Events Schedule

Time: 7:00 a.m.
Location: Media Lounge, S220 FG

Welcome to the Media Lounge at Global Pet Expo! Here, you will pick up your credentials, media bag and exhibitor media kits, access show information, connect with other media members and influencers, conduct interviews and more. On Wednesday morning, Global Pet Expo will host a grab-and-go breakfast from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., where you can mingle with fellow media members and influencers and ask our public relations team any questions before you head onto the show floor!

Time: 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. 
Location: General Session Main Stage, S320

More details coming soon!

Add to Show Planner

Time: 11:00 a.m.– 11:45 a.m. 
Location: The Petfluence Studio

Join us for a media-exclusive look at the American Pet Products Association’s (APPA) latest pet ownership data.

Time: 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. 
Location: Spotlight Stage

Join Brandon McMillan, the three-time Emmy® Award-winning host of CBS’s "Lucky Dog," a two-time bestselling author, and a MasterClass instructor. In this keynote presentation, McMillan will introduce a brand-new collection of dog training tools, unlike anything currently available on the market. Designed for practical, everyday use, this innovative line makes professional-level training techniques accessible to pet parents for the first time. Select attendees may even have the opportunity to see their own dogs work with McMillan live on stage, providing a rare and interactive look at elite training techniques in action.

Add to Show Planner

Time: 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: S320

Join the ultimate pet industry party, proudly sponsored by Hill's Science Diet! Step into an arcade wonderland filled with neon lights, classic games, and music hits that never get old. Whether you're a Pac-Man pro or ready to bust a move on DDR, this is your moment to shine and connect with fellow industry pros!

Learn more here.

Sponsored by:

Time: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Media Lounge, S220 FG

Coffee, tea, bagels and pastries available for registered media and influencers in the Media Lounge.

Time: 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Location: General Session Main Stage, S320

What's actually driving pet consumer behavior, and what comes next? The pet industry is rapidly changing. Generational expectations are shifting, spending behavior is fragmenting, and paths to purchase are evolving faster than traditional research can keep up.

This high-impact opening keynote kicks off Global Pet Expo with a fast-paced, interactive quiz-style provocation led by Karyn Schoenbart, Duo Partners, designed to challenge long-held assumptions about what’s driving growth—and what’s no longer working.

Panelists:

• Karyn Schoenbart (Moderator), Co-Founder & Managing Director at DUO Partners
• Tod Johnson, Co-founder & Managing Director at DUO Partners
• Nihal Advani, Founder & DEO at QualSights
• Mitch Christopher, Director of Strategic Accounts at Revuze

Add to Show Planner

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Location: Spotlight Stage

Presented by NaturVet, this session will explore the growing industry trend of proactive health and wellness for our pets. Moderated by Mario and Courtney Lopez, representing the voice of today’s engaged pet parents, a panel of experts will address the questions many pet owners are already asking: How does supplementation fit into a long-term health and wellness strategy? When should proactive care begin? What does proactive really mean? And how can we better support pets before challenges arise?

Mario and Courtney Lopez will also welcome some very special guests to showcase the real benefits of proactive supplementation in shaping a pet’s future long-term health and wellness.

Add to Show Planner

• Innovaive Pet Lab, Inc.
• CoVetAI Inc.
• PetPax Co.
• Pawsitive Inc.
• ChefPaw

Winners of the competition will be announced at the end of the event.

Add to Show Planner

Time: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Media Lounge, S220 FG

Coffee, tea, bagels and pastries available for registered media and influencers in the Media Lounge.

Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Spotlight Stage

Join us at the Best in Show Awards at the 16th Annual New Products Showcase. Hear the winners of this year’s awards and meet the brands behind the best new products hitting the market in 2025 across twelve product categories: Aquatic, Bird, Cat, Dog Food/Treats, Dog Products, Farm & Feed, Modern Pet. Natural Pet, Pet Tech Innovation, Reptile, Small Animal and Sustainable Pet.

Add to Show Planner