More than 400 launches lined up for PATS 2026

The Pet & Aquatics Trade Show (PATS) returns to the NEC in Birmingham from Sunday 27 to Tuesday 29 September, and the organiser expects more than 400 new products to be presented in halls 3 and 3A. According to Raccoon Media Group, which runs the event, the number of entries to the New Product Showcase points to an active launch year for the UK trade.

The showcase brings the launches together in one place, with an information card beside each item giving the exhibitor's stand and a suggested retail price. A panel of independent pet retailers judges the entries on the first day of the show, and the resulting New Product Awards are split into 12 categories: cat accessories and toys, cat food, dog food, dog treats, dog accessories and toys, harnesses, leads and dog wear, small animal and bird products, pet care, grooming, indoor and outdoor aquatics, and reptile products.

For exhibitors, the awards are above all a visibility instrument. Joanne Tohill, director of Barkin Bistro, which won a New Product Award in 2025 with a pancreatic support range, said the award had given customers and stockists added confidence and had opened conversations with retailers that had not previously come across the brand.

PATS is once again co-located with the equestrian trade fair BETA International, which runs on 27 and 28 September. A single registration gives visitors access to both events. Admission is free for qualifying trade professionals; registration is open at www.patshow.co.uk, where the exhibitor list can also be found.