Top 10 tips to make the most of the 2026 Melbourne Dog Lovers Festival!
Melbourne will be bursting with puppy love on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October as dog lovers from across Victoria and beyond come together for one of the biggest celebrations of dogs in Australia.
The Dog Lovers Festival returns for two unforgettable days packed with hundreds of beautiful dogs, action-packed dog sports, must-see attractions, expert talent and the best dog brands around.
With so much happening across the weekend, a little planning goes a long way. Here are our top tips to help you make the most of your day, so you don’t miss a single moment.
1. Fetch your tickets early
If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, now’s the time as they might sell-out.
Remember, tickets are valid for one day only, you can attend on either day but will need a separate ticket if you want to attend on both Saturday and Sunday.
Lock it in early so you can relax and focus on enjoying the ultimate day out for dog lovers.
2. Download the Festival App
Your paw-fect Festival companion!
Get the free Festival App to:
- Browse the full Exhibitor List and event timetables
- Save your favourite sessions and build your personalised Festival schedule
- Explore attractions and talent.
- Navigate the Festival with the interactive map
- Discover Festival Specials, New and Featured Products
- Access exclusive competitions and giveaways
- Take part in the Dog Sporting Legends official competition.
The App also helps you discover Festival-only offers and enter exclusive exhibitor competitions, so we recommend downloading it before Festival day.
3. Plan Your Journey to Melbourne Showgrounds
The Festival will be held at:
Melbourne Showgrounds
Epsom Road, Ascot Vale VIC
Melbourne Showgrounds is around 7km from Melbourne CBD, with direct public transport services and visitor parking available across the weekend.
Train
Special train services will run directly to Showgrounds Station on Saturday and Sunday.
Trains will depart from Flinders Street Station, Platform 6, stopping at Southern Cross and North Melbourne before running express to Melbourne Showgrounds.
Services begin from approximately:
- 8:15am, every 30 minutes
- From 10:15am, every 40 minutes
- Last train departs Showgrounds at approximately 5:55pm
Driving and Parking
General visitor parking will be available at the Melbourne Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse, accessed via Flemington Drive off Epsom Road.
- Parking is $30 per vehicle
- Card payments only
- Shuttle buses run approximately every 15 minutes over peak periods and every 30 minutes over lunch between Flemington Racecourse and Melbourne Showgrounds
- Visitors can also walk to the Showgrounds via the tunnel under the railway line, which is about a 10-minute walk.
Accessible parking is available at Melbourne Showgrounds via Gate 7 off Leonard Crescent for $30 per vehicle.
If you’re arriving by taxi or rideshare, ask your driver to drop you at Gate 1.
Tram
Regular and additional trams will operate via Route 57, with extra Route 57a services running between Flinders Street / Elizabeth Street and Sandown Road / Epsom Road near the Showgrounds.
Bus
You can also use:
- Route 472, Williamstown to Moonee Ponds, stopping on Langs Road
- Route 404, Footscray to Moonee Ponds, stopping at Epsom and Ascot Vale Roads
We recommend checking PTV before travelling for the latest service information and any possible disruptions to train lines.
👉 Explore all transport and parking information
4. Explore the Best Dog Brands and Festival Deals
Get ready for some serious dog shopping!
Across the Dog Expo and Marketplace, you’ll discover a huge range of products and services from some of the best dog brands, boutique businesses, clever start-ups and passionate creators.
Shop everything from:
- Premium food and tasty treats
- Toys and enrichment products
- Beds, collars, leads and accessories
- Grooming and health essentials
- Pet technology
- Training and professional services
- Dog-friendly travel and accommodation
- Unique products from boutique brands
You’ll also find Featured Products, free samples, exclusive competitions and Festival Specials throughout the weekend.
Come ready to discover, shop and find plenty of new ways to spoil your pooch at home.
5. Don’t miss the action across the Festival
There’s something happening everywhere you turn, so check the timetable and plan your must-see moments before you arrive.
Festival highlights include:
- The Dog Bowl: Catch two huge days of competitive dog sports, with the Canine Disc Competition on Saturday and Flyball Competition on Sunday.
- Kurgo® DockDogs: Watch dogs launch into a 100,000-litre pool with Big Air, Speed Retrieve and Extreme Vertical action.
- The Outback Arena: Head outside to the Royal Lawn for Temptation Alley, Dances with Dogs, Lara Shannon’s TV Su-Paw-Stars, Canine Freestyle Kids and more.
- Breed Showcase: Meet hundreds of beautiful dogs and talk directly to experts from leading Breed Clubs representing popular and rare breeds.
- Pat-A-Pooch: Enjoy a special opportunity to interact with beautiful dogs in a safe and supervised environment.
- Adoption Zone: Meet dogs looking for loving homes and connect with dedicated adoption groups.
- Dog Expo: Discover the latest products and services from some of the best dog brands.
- The Marketplace: Browse boutique dog brands, clever start-ups and unique products for your pooch.
- I ❤️ Dogs: Capture the ultimate dog-lover photo while you’re there.
👉 Explore all Melbourne attractions
6. Join the Dog Sporting Legends Challenge
Get ready to explore the Festival!
Join the Dog Sporting Legends Spotting Challenge at the Dog Lovers Festival for your chance to win PAWsome prizes to pamper your pooch!
Here’s how it works:
- Track down Dog Sporting Legends cards hidden around the Festival
- Use the QR scanner inside the Festival App to scan each canine champion
- Keep track of which legends you’ve found in the App
- Find them all to go in the draw to win PAWsome prizes for your pooch
From furry footballers to canine Olympians, it’s a tail-wagging adventure packed with fun and prizes.
Start sniffing them out and let the games begin!
👉 Discover Dog Sporting Legends
7. Please leave your dog at home
As much as we absolutely love dogs, visitor dogs unfortunately aren’t permitted at the Festival.
This helps protect the health, safety and wellbeing of:
- The hundreds of dogs already participating in the Festival
- Our visitors, including young children
- Your own dog, as large crowds, noise and unfamiliar surroundings can be overwhelming
The Festival team also can’t pre-check the behaviour, health, training or vaccination status of every visiting dog, and busy indoor venues can create additional hygiene and welfare challenges.
Accredited Assistance or Service Dogs are welcome in line with the Festival’s entry requirements.
Please never leave your dog tied up outside the venue or unattended in a vehicle.
Don’t worry, you’ll still get your full doggo fix! You’ll be able to meet hundreds of beautiful dogs, discover breed clubs and adoption groups, watch incredible dog sports and return home with treats, toys and plenty of new ideas for your pooch.
8. Follow the Dog Interaction Guidelines
We know you’ll want to meet every dog, and we get it.
To keep every interaction safe and enjoyable, please remember to:
- Always ask the owner or handler before approaching a dog
- Let the dog come to you
- Stay calm and gentle
- Follow all signage and handler instructions
- Use the hand sanitiser provided after patting dogs
- Supervise children during every interaction
- Leave resting or sleeping dogs alone
- Never approach dogs inside crates, enclosures or behind barriers without permission
- Avoid touching a dog’s face, mouth, ears, eyes or tail
- Never feed dogs or pull on their leads or collars
If a dog needs some quiet time, their handler may move them away from the public. Please always respect their space.
The Festival also has dedicated welfare measures in place, including access to fresh water, rest areas and roving welfare staff monitoring participating dogs throughout the event.
👉 Read the full Dog Welfare Guidelines
9. Visit Two Festivals for the Price of One
Even better for pet lovers: your Dog Lovers Festival ticket also includes FREE ENTRY to the Cat Lovers Festival, happening at Melbourne Showgrounds on the same weekend!
That means you can explore both Festivals with the same ticket on the same day.
Once you’ve experienced all the dog-filled fun, head over to the Cat Lovers Festival to discover:
- Cat Chat, featuring leading feline experts including Hannah Shaw, Dr Katrina Warren, Kate Cochrane and Tania Cantwell
- Breed Showcase
- Pat-A-Cat by Wee Kitty®
- Adoption Zone by Wee Kitty®
- Cat Expo
- The Marketplace
- The Purr Trail
- I ❤️ Cats
Please note that you must visit both Festivals on the same day shown on your ticket.
👉 Explore the Melbourne Cat Lovers Festival
10. Stay Fuelled and Enjoy the Day
There’s a lot to see, so give yourself time to explore without rushing.
With cafes and food trucks available throughout the Festival, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to recharge before heading back into the action.
Make sure you arrive early, check your saved App timetable and allow some flexibility between sessions for shopping, meeting dogs and discovering attractions along the way.
And if Melbourne weather decides not to cooperate, the Festival is primarily indoors and most attractions are undercover, so the event will still go ahead in the event of rain.
Bonus Tip: Get Social 📲
Join the dog-loving community and share the fun:
- Follow us on Instagram
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on TikTok
- Tag your favourite Festival moments @thedogloversfestival
- Keep an eye out for Festival updates, competitions and behind-the-scenes moments
- Don’t forget to snap a photo at the I ❤️ Dogs wall
Let the Dog Fun Begin!
Whether you’re coming solo, meeting friends or bringing the whole family, the Melbourne Dog Lovers Festival is the ultimate celebration of everything we love about dogs.
Fetch your tickets, download the App, plan your journey and get ready for a weekend filled with beautiful dogs, dog sports, shopping and unforgettable moments.
Event Details
📅 Sat 17 & Sun 18 October 2026
⏰ 9:30am – 5pm daily
📍 Melbourne Showgrounds
Epsom Road, Ascot Vale VIC
Need tickets or more information?
