(PRESS RELEASE) COLLEGE PARK, GA — GROOM’D 2026 opens March 13–15 at the Georgia International Convention Center, as the event is expected to be its largest edition to date. Early registration trends indicate year-over-year growth, bringing a broader cross-section of grooming professionals together around competition, applied education and business operations. The 2026 program expands opportunities across international competition, hands-on learning and an enlarged show floor.
“GROOM’D is designed around how grooming professionals actually build skills and advance their careers,” said Mike Karsting, senior vice president of World Pet Association. “The momentum we’re seeing reflects a deliberate choice by professionals to invest time in education and hands-on evaluation of products in one place.”
The 2026 competitive program features the largest grooming competition prize pool in North America. The prize pool totals more than $29,000, representing an increase of about 60% year over year. This reinforces the growing role of national competition as a benchmark for technical excellence and professional recognition within grooming.
The 2026 program also expands the event’s marketplace, reflecting increased exhibitor participation. GROOM’D 2026 is on pace for a record number of exhibitors and the largest show floor in event history, including a strong mix of brands new to the event. The marketplace brings products, equipment and business services into the same environment as the event’s competition and education programming, allowing grooming professionals to evaluate tools and solutions alongside the techniques and standards discussed throughout the show.
Education remains a core component of GROOM’D. Live Expert Demos, which are new to this year’s show floor, will take place all three days, delivering applied, skills-based learning in real-world conditions. These sessions will focus on core grooming techniques, equipment use, safety and efficiency standards, and business practices relevant to today’s grooming professionals.
The full education program will include more than 50 sessions led by grooming experts. Instruction will feature nationally recognized groomers, competition winners and educators with experience across salon, mobile and specialty grooming environments. Sessions and Expert Demos will include insights from respected industry professionals such as Jay Batista, Rachel Colant and Melissa Jepson, influencing grooming standards and techniques across the trade.
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“As demand for grooming services continues to grow, the industry is searching out clear pathways for skill development and professional standards,” Karsting added. “GROOM’D brings together the best groomers in the business to learn from each other, and that collective effort raises the bar for excellence in our community.”
GROOM’D 2026 serves individual groomers, salon owners and pet care facility operators. While competition capacity is limited, general show floor registration remains open.
For more information or to register, visit groomd.org.
About World Pet Association
Founded in 1950, World Pet Association (WPA) is the pet industry’s oldest nonprofit organization. WPA connects and informs pet professionals through industry-defining trade shows SUPERZOO and GROOM’D (formerly Atlanta Pet Fair and Conference). Through WPA’s Good Works program, proceeds from these events are funneled back into key industry organizations and nonprofits, including World Alliance of Grooming Associations, National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), USARK FL, USARK, HABRI, Pet Advocacy Network, Pet Sustainability Coalition, BEAK, Pet Care Trust/Pets in the Classroom, Project Piaba, USAQUA-USAVIA, with the goal of making it easier for pet industry professionals to do business. WPA’s mission is to support the business needs of pet retailers and to promote responsible growth and development of the pet industry by providing thought leadership on consumer and legislative issues; leading efforts in the public sector to inform consumers and ensure safe, healthy lifestyles for all animals; and providing business resources, education, content and services to ensure pet product retailers have the support they need to be competitive. For more information about WPA, visit www.worldpetassociation.org.
