• Skip to content
  • City of Melbourne
  • Create a listing
  • Subscribe
  • What's on homepage
    • Home
    • Things to do
      • Free things to do
      • Family and kids
      • Theatre and shows
      • Music, concerts, and gigs
      • Entertainment
      • Comedy
      • Film
      • Sport
      • Attractions and sights
      • Major events
      • Exhibitions
      • Festivals
      • Aboriginal Melbourne
      • Walks and itineraries
      What's on
      • Today
      • This weekend
      • This week
      • This month
      Guides
      • The ultimate theatre guide to Melbourne
      • Melbourne's best blockbuster events
      • The ultimate Melbourne live gig guide
      • Read more things to do guides
    • Eat and Drink
      • Restaurants
      • Cafes
      • Takeaway
      • Bars and pubs
      • Dining events
      • Dining deals
      Guides
      • The best new restaurants in Melbourne
      • Where to get the best doughnuts in Melbourne
      • The best cheesecake in Melbourne
      • Read more eat and drink guides
    • Shopping
      • Fashion
      • Accessories
      • Specialty food
      • Gifts and homewares
      • Technology and entertainment
      • Sport and outdoor
      Guides
      • Melbourne's most iconic shops
      • Rare shops you can only find in Melbourne
      • Melbourne’s best winter coats and jackets
      • Read more shopping guides
    • Visiting Melbourne
      • Where to stay
      • Accessible Melbourne
      • Visitor Centres
      • Travel essentials
      Getting around Melbourne
      • Public transport
      • Cycling
      • Driving and parking
      • Taxis and rideshares
      • Maps
      • Walks and itineraries
      Guides
      • How to spend 24 hours in Melbourne
      • The best new hotels in Melbourne
      • Melbourne's accessible and wheelchair-friendly attractions
      • Read more visitor info guides
    • Create a listing
    • Contact us
    • Subscribe

What are you looking for?

Primary category
Secondary categories for primary category Anything
Secondary categories for primary category Things to do
Secondary categories for primary category Eat and drink
Secondary categories for primary category Shopping
Secondary categories for primary category Hotels
Secondary categories for primary category Guides

Accessibility

List of Accessibility Features

When are you visiting?

Date shortcuts
Calendar

Where do you want to look?

Locations
What are you looking for?
Anything
Anytime Anywhere
  • Two fluffy white Samoyed dogs wearing decorative bandanas at a dog expo, with smiling young children looking at them.
  • A scruffy dog at a dog show expo being patted while sitting in a fluffy bed wearing a blue harness.
  • A dog leaping in the air after a red ball at an expo.
  • A young woman with glasses smiles broadly as she leans in next to a long-haired, dark-furred Afghan Hound wearing small red hair bows on its ears, at a dog expo.
17 – 18 Oct

Dog Lovers Festival

  • Family and kids
  • Expo

Get ready for the ultimate paw-some experience at the Melbourne Dog Lovers Festival – a celebration of all things canine. Victoria's biggest celebration of dogs returns to the Melbourne Showgrounds and it’s set to be the most tail-wagging festival yet.

Whether you’re a proud dog parent, thinking about welcoming a new furry friend, or you just love being surrounded by happy, wagging tails, this is your weekend.

Shop the best dog brands across the dog expo and marketplace and discover festival specials and featured products. Meet hundreds of beautiful dogs across dozens of breeds at pat-a-pooch and the breed showcase. Watch two epic dog sports competitions in the dog bowl, with canine disc on Saturday and flyball on Sunday. Enter the splash zone as high-flying pups launch into a massive 100,000-litre pool.

Connect with adoption groups in the adoption zone and learn about dogs looking for loving forever homes.

Hours

Date Times
Sat 17 Oct
  • 9.30am - 5pm 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sun 18 Oct
  • 9.30am - 5pm 9:30am - 5:00pm

Location

Melbourne Showgrounds
Epsom Rd
Ascot Vale 3032

Open in maps location for Melbourne Showgrounds

Price and bookings

Adult / general $43
Senior $37
Student / concession $22
Children $22

Free for children under 12

Book online for Dog Lovers Festival

Contact details

  • telephone number: 1300 889 655
  • email address: info@dogloversfestival.com.au
  • Visit website for Dog Lovers Festival
Facebook page for Dog Lovers Festival Instagram page for Dog Lovers Festival

Accessibility

  • Accessible toilets
  • Mobility access
  • Service animals

All accessibility information is self-reported by the listing owner. It has not been verified by the City of Melbourne.

Only In The City

Only in the City
Inside a bustling market hall

Things you can only see in the city

Uncover secret rooms, historic architecture and iconic landmarks found only in the city.

  • Free
  • Hidden gem
A family of four standing in a grand library with antique desks, large white walls and a dome ceiling.

Things you can only do in the city

There's only one place to find these rare Melbourne experiences and secret spots.

  • Tour
  • Entertainment
Multiple plates on a white table cloth.

Things you can only eat in the city

Where to find the city's most iconic dishes.

  • Restaurant
  • Fine dining

Discover more

Seated audience watching a live panel discussion happening on a stage inside a large expo space.
17 – 18 Oct

Melbourne Gluten-Free Expo

Melbourne’s Gluten-Free Expo returns this October, with tastings, offers and entertainment.

  • Family and kids
  • Expo
Looking down on a pregnancy and baby expo with many people moving around near booths.
3 – 4 Oct

Pregnancy, Babies and Children Expo

Australia's largest parenting event returns to Melbourne.

  • Family and kids
  • Expo
Author and educator Hannah Shaw, widely known as the Kitten Lady, holding a small kitten, her blond hair falling to one side of her face, she stands in front of a wall of cat pictures.
17 – 18 Oct

Cat Lovers Festival

Explore the latest and greatest products and services to spoil your furry feline friend.

  • Family and kids
  • Expo
View of Melbourne from across the Yarra River
9 – 11 Oct

PAX Aus

Celebrating gaming culture with panels, expo halls, demos, music, tournaments and community.

  • Expo
  • Exhibition
Envelope Icon

Subscribe to What’s On Melbourne

Sign up to receive updates on what to see and do in Melbourne.

Subscribe now
Australian Aboriginal Flag Torres Strait Islander Flag

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future. For more information, visit Aboriginal Melbourne.

Create a listing
Contact What's On Melbourne
  • What's On Facebook page
  • What's On Instagram page
  • What's On TikTok page
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2026 City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne home page