A brand operator deciding whether to exhibit at Global Pet Expo 2027 is making that call now. American Pet Products Association opened registration for the March 2027 show.
Global Pet Expo 2027 runs March 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. APPA and the Pet Industry Distributors Association expect nearly 20,000 attendees, more than 1,200 exhibitors across 3,500 booths, and over 1,000 new product launches. The show is the pet industry's largest annual trade event.
The advance window and what it forces
Opening registration now moves the exhibitor decision into a different planning cycle. The association said registration includes access to the exhibit hall, new product launches, the Global Learning Series education programming, and eligible networking events. Additional details for The Pet Summit premium programming will be available through the main registration process.
We're reading the timing as APPA managing demand, either from exhibitors or from the expanded Pet Summit format that now runs March 15-18 alongside the main show.
The Pet Summit integration and the Stronger Shot partnership
The Pet Summit will be reimagined in 2027 as a connection-driven extension of Global Pet Expo. The new format adds Connector Rooms, expert panels with structured Q&A and guided networking around specific industry peer groups, and Speaker Deep-Dives that extend select sessions into smaller workshop-style conversations. The Pet Summit runs March 15-18, bracketing the main show.
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APPA also announced a year-long partnership with Stronger Shot, a storytelling initiative that will follow select shelter pets from rescue to adoption. The partnership will produce digital content, social media, and event activations, with select pets serving as ambassadors for Global Pet Expo 2027 and The Pet Summit. Adam Goldberg, founder of Stronger Shot, said the goal is to help shelter pets make a stronger first impression through photography and video that shows personality beyond the kennel.
What changes on the shelf this quarter
If you're a brand operator deciding between Global Pet Expo and a regional show, the decision point is live now. Registration is open at the Global Pet Expo site, with pricing and booth details available through the standard exhibitor process.
For buyers planning to attend, opening registration now gives you more runway to justify travel budget and plan store coverage for March 2027.