With one year to go before its 22nd edition, Zoomark 2027 is previewing new features and international expansion as the pet food and pet care trade fair prepares to return to BolognaFiere from May 11–13, 2027.
Organizers announced the show's seventh special area, named Beyond, which will focus on the bereavement and memorial care sector. It will be the first dedicated thematic area of its kind at an international pet industry trade fair, according to BolognaFiere.
"This new area is named Beyond," said Pascale Sonvico, show office and sales manager. "It will play host to companies operating within the bereavement and memorial care sector. Zoomark will be the first international trade fair in the industry to dedicate a specific thematic area and in-depth programme to this segment. It is a rapidly expanding field, driven by an increasingly profound need among pet parents for support when facing the loss of their pets and a desire to honour their memory in a meaningful way."
Zoomark 2027 expects to welcome more than 1,500 exhibitors and 33,000 visitors, representing a 23% increase over recent editions. More than 50% of exhibition space has already been secured.
Italy pet market reaches €5.3 billion
The Assalco-Zoomark Report 2026 was presented at a press conference in Nuremberg on May 14, 2026. Italy's pet market — covering pet food and pet care — reached €5.3 billion (approximately US$5.9 billion) in 2025, up 2.5%. The pet food segment saw a return to organic volume growth after two years of stability driven by price increases.
Giorgio Massoni, president of Assalco, addressed the findings: "The new omnichannel interpretation of our sector, coupled with positive market indicators, reaffirms the importance of pets in Italy. The survey conducted among pet owners confirms their widespread presence across all types of households, particularly among families with young children. Given that pets are so deeply woven into the social fabric, we believe it is essential to advocate for fiscal policies aimed at supporting owners in the purchase of pet food — everyday products that ensure the nutritional needs of companion animals are properly met — as well as veterinary services, which are essential to safeguarding pets' health."
PetBridge India set to debut in Mumbai
BolognaFiere announced the launch of PetBridge, a B2B trade fair focused on India's pet care sector, set to debut Nov. 25–26, 2026, at the NESCO Center in Mumbai.
Sahiba Puri, global manager of pet care at Euromonitor International, provided context on the market: "India's pet care sector is entering its transformation era. It leads the world in large dog population expansion and rising pet cat ownership levels. Driven by stronger pet humanization levels and a thriving start-up landscape, Indian pet care is transitioning from basic care to a wellness-minded ecosystem."
Luisa Bersanetti, exhibition manager of Zoomark, commented on the initiative: "Strengthened by our global vision, I am delighted to announce this important milestone for our Group. The partnership with PetBridge represents a valuable step in the internationalisation journey undertaken by Zoomark, which today even more concretely embodies a bridge between Europe and the rest of the world."
Special areas and partnerships
Zoomark 2027 will retain existing special areas including Factory (supply chain), Next (startups and innovation), Atelier (pet fashion and design), Pawfect! (grooming and pet wellness), Pet Vision (future trends) and Aqua Project (aquarium and terrarium). The show will continue its partnership with the Pet Sustainability Coalition.
International partnerships include Petzoo Eurasia in Turkey and Saudi Pet&Vet Expo in Saudi Arabia. Zoomark will also coordinate an Italy Pavilion at Pet Fair South East Asia in Thailand and will exhibit at TOPS and Marca China, Global Pet Expo, and SuperZoo.
The Zoomark Days initiative — a series of day-long networking and market events at locations across Italy — will continue through 2026 ahead of the 2027 show.
