PATS launches hosted buyer programme for 2026 show
PATS has launched a Hosted Buyer Programme for its 2026 trade show, with registration now open.
The scheme will arrange pre-scheduled meetings between senior retail buyers and exhibitors at the pet and aquatics event, which returns to the NEC Birmingham for three days in September 2026.
Aimed at international decision-makers and leading pet and aquatic retailers, the programme will give selected buyers a structured way to meet suppliers and review products in person, rather than relying on informal networking during the show.
The move marks a format change for PATS, which has positioned itself as a key UK trade event for the pet and aquatics sector. The show brings together retailers, distributors and suppliers across categories including aquatics, exotics and mainstream pet care.
Buyer focus
Under the Hosted Buyer Programme, meetings between buyers and exhibitors will be arranged in advance. The model is intended to support strategic sourcing and export activity while helping participants use their time at the show more efficiently.
Applicants must meet qualifying conditions to take part, and places will be allocated to selected participants. Interested buyers are being encouraged to apply early.
The programme follows a strong 2025 event, when attendance and exhibitor numbers rose sharply, prompting a more formal buyer engagement model for 2026.
"PATS 2025 was a landmark, record-breaking year," said Ian Reynolds, Event Director, PATS.
According to the organisers, visitor numbers rose by 70% in 2025, while international attendance increased by 169%.
Reynolds said a record 445 exhibitors from 15 countries took part in the last edition, underlining the growing scale of the show and the value of a scheduled buyer programme for suppliers and retail delegates navigating a larger exhibition floor.
"The event saw a 70% surge in visitor numbers and a massive 169% increase in international attendance. A record 445 exhibitors from 15 countries participated. Building on this momentum, the 2026 Hosted Buyer Programme will offer selected participants exclusive benefits and a curated, efficient, and cost-effective experience tailored to their specific requirements," said Reynolds.
Sector reach
PATS is focused on the specialist pet and aquatics trade, where exhibitions remain an important route for product discovery and wholesale buying. For suppliers, access to retail buyers through scheduled meetings can make trade events more commercially predictable. For buyers, it offers a faster way to compare ranges and hold discussions with multiple brands in one place.
The programme is described as a procurement platform for leading retailers in the sector. It is also intended to help brands build international links by making structured meetings central to the event experience.
That international element is notable in light of last year's growth in overseas attendance. If sustained, it could strengthen PATS' role not only as a UK trade exhibition but also as a meeting point for cross-border buying and supplier relationships in the pet and aquatics market.
The programme will sit alongside the wider trade show, where exhibitors present new lines and meet trade customers. The event spans a broad range of the sector, from traditional pet care to aquatics and exotics, giving buyers access to multiple product segments under one roof.
PATS is organised by Raccoon Media Group, which runs specialist events and media brands. The introduction of a hosted buyer format brings the show more closely into line with exhibition models used across other business-to-business sectors, where curated meetings match major buyers with selected exhibitors.
For the 2026 edition, the next step is the application process for buyers seeking a place in the programme, with entries screened against set criteria.