Last updated July 20, 2026
Professional grooming conventions offer something difficult to recreate through online education alone. Groomers can watch techniques demonstrated in real time, compare equipment before buying it, learn from experienced educators, meet manufacturers, and talk with other professionals who understand the work.
They can also require a substantial investment in registration, travel, lodging, missed appointments, and the occasional piece of equipment that seemed far more necessary under trade-show lighting.
This calendar covers the major confirmed grooming conventions and grooming-relevant industry events remaining in 2026. It focuses on events offering professional education, competitions, trade shows, or a substantial grooming component.
Event schedules can change. Confirm dates, registration details, hotel information, competition requirements, and refund policies with the organizer before making nonrefundable travel arrangements.
Remaining 2026 Grooming Conventions at a Glance
| Event | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Mastergroom Canada | July 24–26 | Red Deer, Alberta, Canada |
| SUPERZOO | Education: August 11–12; Trade show: August 12–14 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| All American Grooming Show | August 13–16 | Schaumburg, Illinois |
| Groom Expo | September 10–13 | Hershey, Pennsylvania |
| Groomania | September 17–20 | Waregem, Belgium |
| Fun in the Sun Grooming Show | October 1–4 | Orlando, Florida |
| Wild West Groom Fest | October 29–November 1 | Mesa, Arizona |
| Artero Grooming Slam | November 20–22 | Vilassar de Dalt, Barcelona, Spain |
Mastergroom Canada
July 24–26, 2026
Westerner Park, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Mastergroom Canada describes itself as Canada’s largest grooming convention and grooming trade show. The 2026 event includes a sanctioned grooming competition, international educators, business and technical seminars, creative grooming, cat competition classes, and the Diamond Jackpot competition.
The education schedule includes subjects such as salon business development, veterinary observations for groomers, handstripping and carding, difficult-dog management, poodle and doodle finishing, Asian Fusion, coat carving, and social media.
This event may be a good fit for: Canadian groomers, competitors, cat groomers, creative groomers, and professionals looking for a grooming-specific trade show without traveling into the United States.
SUPERZOO
Education: August 11–12, 2026
Trade show: August 12–14, 2026
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
SUPERZOO is broader than a traditional grooming convention. It is a large pet-industry marketplace attended by retailers, groomers, service providers, distributors, veterinarians, and product manufacturers.
The 2026 event offers more than 60 education sessions and a 350,000-square-foot show floor. Groomers can find grooming education, competitions, product demonstrations, the Groomer’s Marketplace, and new grooming and wellness products within the larger event.
That broader scope is an advantage for salon owners who sell retail products, are considering new service categories, want to meet manufacturers, or are looking at business systems in addition to grooming tools.
It can also be overwhelming. This is one event where reviewing the exhibitor directory and creating a schedule before arrival is not merely a nice idea. It is how you avoid spending half a day wandering through several football fields’ worth of pet products.
This event may be a good fit for: salon owners, grooming businesses with retail operations, buyers, product-focused groomers, and professionals who want exposure to the wider pet industry.
All American Grooming Show
August 13–16, 2026
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, Schaumburg, Illinois
The All American Grooming Show is one of the profession’s longest-running grooming events. Its 2026 program includes professional education, grooming competitions, networking, and a trade show held August 14–16.
Because it is a grooming-focused event, attendees can build a weekend around technical education, business classes, competition observation, product comparison, or a combination of all four.
The dates overlap with SUPERZOO, so groomers considering both will need to decide whether they want a grooming-centered conference or a much larger pet-industry marketplace.
This event may be a good fit for: Midwestern groomers, first-time convention attendees, competitors, and professionals who want a traditional grooming-show experience.
Groom Expo
September 10–13, 2026
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Groom Expo is one of the largest and most established professional grooming shows in the world. Barkleigh reports that the event attracts thousands of attendees and includes an extensive trade show, seminars, grooming competitions, and the Barkleigh Honors Awards.
Its size allows attendees to choose from a broad range of technical, business, behavior, handling, management, and professional-development subjects. It is also one of the stronger opportunities of the year for comparing equipment and meeting grooming-product manufacturers in person.
The size is useful, but it rewards planning. Review the seminar schedule before registering, identify priority vendors, and leave enough space in the day to move between sessions without attempting to experience the entire convention through sheer determination.
This event may be a good fit for: groomers at nearly every experience level, salon owners, competitors, educators, serious equipment shoppers, and professionals who want the widest range of grooming-specific options.
Groomania
September 17–20, 2026
Expo Waregem, Waregem, Belgium
Groomania is an international grooming event built around education, competition, and professional community. The 2026 program includes the International Grooming Competition, the World Team Grooming Championship, seminars, a trade show, student and school competitions, cat-grooming demonstrations, and workshops.
Its international focus provides an opportunity to see techniques, finishing styles, products, and competition standards from outside North America. Groomania also places unusual emphasis on students, schools, and professional connection alongside advanced competition.
International travel requires a different level of planning. Registration is only one part of the cost. Airfare, passports, local transportation, currency exchange, equipment transport, dog arrangements, and additional travel days all need to be considered.
This event may be a good fit for: international competitors, advanced technical groomers, educators, grooming schools, students, cat groomers, and professionals interested in European and global grooming trends.
Fun in the Sun Grooming Show
October 1–4, 2026
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
Trade show: October 2–4
Fun in the Sun is a grooming-specific event featuring education, vendors, and grooming competition. The official 2026 information places the show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, with the trade show operating from October 2 through October 4.
The event is positioned as Florida’s largest grooming show and provides a more focused alternative for Southeastern groomers who may not want the scale or broader retail emphasis of SUPERZOO.
As with the other large trade shows, attendees should compare seminar-pass options, trade-show admission, competition schedules, and hotel costs rather than assuming every activity is included in one registration price.
This event may be a good fit for: groomers in Florida and the Southeast, competitors, salon owners, technical learners, and professionals looking for a grooming-centered fall event.
Wild West Groom Fest
October 29–November 1, 2026
Mesa Convention Center, Mesa, Arizona
Wild West Groom Fest is the renamed Arizona event previously associated with Rocky Mountain Groom Expo West. The four-day program is expected to include seminars, hands-on learning, grooming competitions, vendors, and professional networking.
This event fills an important regional gap for Southwestern groomers. A smaller or newer convention can sometimes provide easier access to educators and vendors than the largest national shows, although attendees should watch the official event channels as the full seminar and registration details are released.
This event may be a good fit for: groomers in Arizona and surrounding states, professionals seeking hands-on education, competitors, and attendees who prefer a more regional convention environment.
Artero Grooming Slam
November 20–22, 2026
Artero Headquarters, Vilassar de Dalt, Barcelona, Spain
Artero Grooming Slam is primarily an international grooming championship rather than a conventional North American-style expo. The 2026 event includes three days of competition, the Artero Masters Finals, educational seminars, public viewing, live streaming in Spanish and English, sharpening services, and additional event activities.
Competition categories include handstripping, pure breeds, model dog, spaniels, Asian style, poodles, and multiple skill levels. The Masters Finals bring together invited winners from qualifying competitions around the world.
Because this event is more competition-centered, it may be less appropriate for someone whose primary goal is general business education or large-scale equipment shopping. For competitors and groomers interested in international technique, however, it offers a different kind of professional experience.
This event may be a good fit for: serious competitors, advanced groomers, international attendees, and professionals who want to observe high-level competition and technical seminars.
Events That Are Not Currently on the Confirmed Calendar
Older convention lists may still include events that have since changed.
The New England Grooming Show has been canceled for 2026, according to the event’s official website.
The Teton Grooming Expo announced that it is pausing the event for 2026. Some older calendars still show October dates in Salt Lake City, but the organizer’s current website says the show will not proceed this year.
Groom South appears on the GroomTeam USA calendar as a possible December event in West Palm Beach, Florida, but complete public dates and program information were not available when this guide was updated. It has therefore not been included among the confirmed events above.
This is why it is worth checking the organizer’s website rather than relying entirely on an older social media graphic. Convention calendars have a habit of aging badly while still looking extremely official.
How to Choose the Right Grooming Convention
The largest event is not automatically the best event for every groomer.
Start by identifying what you want the trip to accomplish. A groomer shopping for a dryer or bathing system has different priorities from someone preparing to compete. A salon owner looking for software, retail inventory, and management education may benefit more from SUPERZOO, while a groomer seeking concentrated technical education may prefer a grooming-specific show.
Consider the entire cost of attending, including:
- Registration and seminar passes
- Airfare or mileage
- Hotel and parking
- Meals
- Lost appointment revenue
- Competition fees
- Dog transport or rental
- Shipping or baggage charges for purchases
Then review the schedule before registering. Three excellent seminars held at the same time are not three seminars you can attend. They are one seminar and two difficult decisions.
Before Buying Equipment at a Convention
Conventions provide an excellent opportunity to handle equipment, compare models, speak with manufacturers, and see demonstrations. They are not a reason to suspend the purchasing standards you would use at home.
Before making a major purchase, identify the problem you are trying to solve, research likely options, establish a budget, and compare the complete cost of ownership. Ask about warranties, repairs, replacement parts, return policies, shipping, required accessories, and ongoing fees.
A show special is valuable when it reduces the cost of something your business genuinely needs. It is less impressive when it merely provides a discount on an expensive new object that will spend the next two years occupying a corner.
For a complete purchasing framework, read How to Shop a Grooming Convention Without Wasting Money.
Make the Convention Useful After You Return Home
The value of a convention should not end when the badge comes off.
Before returning to work, identify the few lessons you intend to apply. Record useful vendor contacts, organize receipts and warranty information, schedule any equipment training, and decide which ideas are worth testing in the salon.
Trying to change everything at once usually results in changing very little. One new process that genuinely improves safety, efficiency, communication, or profitability is worth more than a notebook full of ideas that never make it past the airport.
A good convention should leave you better equipped to make professional decisions. The education, products, and connections are only useful when they continue improving the work after the trade-show floor closes.