Photo: Jacky WattMANILA — Worldbex Services International has confirmed the dates for World Pet Expo 2026: September 24 to 27 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, expanding to four full days after a debut edition that organizers describe as beyond every projection.
The numbers from the first run set a high bar. The inaugural World Pet Expo logged 35,780 human attendees and 16,840 pets over four days — figures that instantly made it one of the largest pet gatherings in Southeast Asia, in a country where a 2024 Kantar survey found 94 percent of households own pets, the highest rate in the region.
The 2026 edition doubles down on competition programming. A grooming championship with international judges headlines the schedule, alongside agility demos, a dedicated cat show wing, and breed club meetups scheduled per day through the expo's mobile app.
Community programming remains at the core, organizers said. Adoption villages staffed by partner shelters return, along with a Sunday pet blessing, a kids' responsible-ownership zone, and a veterinary triage booth operating throughout expo hours.
"The first expo proved that Filipino pet owners will show up — with their whole families, pets included," the organizing team said in a statement. "For 2026, we are building the event around them: more shade, more water stations, more rest areas for pets, and faster entry lanes."
Gate tickets are priced at ₱100, with children under 12 and all pets entering free. Online pre-registration opens in July at worldpetexpo.ph and includes an express entry lane — a strong recommendation for weekend visitors, based on last edition's queues.