Cat Lovers Festival & Dog Lovers Festival 2026

Two festivals • one weekend • side by side at Melbourne Showgrounds

Victoria's biggest celebration of cats and dogs is back – and this year the Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival are running on the same weekend, in neighbouring pavilions at Melbourne Showgrounds.

That means one ticket gets you into both festivals, so you can spend the morning with the cats in the Grand Pavilion and the afternoon with the dogs next door in the Exhibition Pavilion! There will be adoption zones, expert talks, dog sports and plenty of animal-friendly stalls.

20% off tickets for AJP supporters

We've secured an exclusive discount for our supporters. Use one of these codes when you buy your tickets online:

Come and say hi at the AJP stall!

The Animal Justice Party will have a stall at the festivals – come by to meet the team, chat about our work for animals, and find out how you can get involved in the lead-up to the state election.

Volunteer with us

We're also looking for friendly volunteers to help run our stall across the weekend. You'll chat with fellow animal lovers, hand out material and sign up new supporters. No experience needed – you'll be working alongside experienced volunteers and we'll provide everything you need. Morning and afternoon shifts are available on both days.

• Sign up for a Cat Lovers Festival shift
• Sign up for a Dog Lovers Festival shift

Please note: Pets can't be brought to the festivals – leave your furry friends at home and come meet some new ones!