PIAA Pet Industry Achievement Awards Nominations Open for 2026

Nominations are open for the 2026 PIAA Pet Industry Awards, the Pet Industry Association of Australia’s national recognition program across retail, grooming, veterinary services, and related fields. Updated 23 July 2026.

Winners will be announced at the AusPet Industry Expo in Sydney on 2–3 September 2026. Pet News Australia reports PIAA is encouraging nominations from independents and larger chains. Check piaa.org.au for the live category list and deadline. We are not inventing a 2026 winner.

What categories usually look like

Final 2026 labels will come from PIAA. Past years have included Pet Retailer of the Year (independent and chain), Grooming Salon of the Year, Mobile Grooming Service of the Year, Veterinary Practice of the Year, Pet Product Innovation, Customer Service Excellence, Industry Educator of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, and a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Treat that list as history, not a promise. Some categories may require PIAA membership. Others may be open to the wider trade. Read the form before you write a 400-word pitch for the wrong bucket.

Who can nominate, and what the form wants

You can usually nominate your own business, a colleague, a supplier, or a staff member. The online form typically wants nominee details, a category, a supporting statement, and evidence such as testimonials, photos, or coverage. Deadlines sit several weeks before the ceremony so judges can work.

If you’re a groomer, collect client notes and before-and-after photos now. Community work (shelter days, apprentice hours) is easier to evidence than a vague “we care.” Don’t wait until the week of AusPet.

How judging has worked

PIAA assembles an independent panel. Criteria in past cycles have covered service quality, innovation, business performance, community work, and industry leadership. Judges may ask for more information or visit a site depending on the category. Results stay confidential until the night.

Finalists get stage time, a plaque or trophy, media through PIAA and trade titles, and permission to use award logos. That’s marketing, not a welfare licence. If a salon wins, still ask how they handle a shutdown dog.

Tied to AusPet, not a separate gala city

The awards sit with AusPet Expo at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. The ceremony usually runs on the evening of day one, then a networking reception. If you’re already registered for the trade show, that’s the same building. See our AusPet Expo registration notes for visitor rules.

Even an unsuccessful nomination forces a salon to write down what it actually does. That’s useful copy for a website that currently only says “all breeds welcome.”

Frequently Asked Questions