Showcasing groundbreaking innovations, education, and thought leadership in animal health, VMX 2025, one of the largest veterinary education conferences representing the $60 billion animal health care industry, once again took over the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla. with record-breaking attendance, robust exhibitor participation, and an expanded trade show floor. 

Held Jan. 25-29 and presented by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), the annual association event attracted nearly 30,000 veterinary professionals from 86 countries and 735 exhibitors--ranging from multinational organizations to veterinary startups showcasing the latest in diagnostic technologies and transformational medical advances--across a bustling 160,800-square-foot expo. 

Compared to 2024, when VMX drew approximately 26,000 attendees and 719 exhibiting companies spanning 154,350 square feet, the event grew year-over-year in attendance, exhibitors, and size, with more than 15%, 2%, and 4% increases in all three metrics, respectively. 

Carrying the theme “Festival of the HeARTs” to celebrate the emotion and art behind veterinary science, the event showcased breakthroughs in animal medicine, more than 1,300 hours of continuing education, immersive hands-on experiences and activities, celebrity guests and entertainment, and special events. 

“This year’s VMX is our largest event ever,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill. “We have seen our attendance skyrocket by more than 60 percent in just five years–a testament to the incredible demand for the resources, knowledge, and community VMX provides. Veterinarians had the opportunity to participate in the latest scientific sessions from world-renowned speakers and immersed themselves in our award-winning Expo Hall with the latest medical advances. VMX 2025 was a celebration of the expertise, innovation, and passion that drive the profession forward.” 

The Art of Animal Healthcare 

To kick off the event, VMX presented a heartfelt keynote speech delivered by Academy Award-winning actor, director, and animal lover Kevin Costner, who shared his love for animals and gratitude for veterinarians, based on his personal experiences. Other entertainment highlights included musical guests Dan + Shay, a special Cirque du Soleil art performance, the VMX Vet Gala (a play on New York City’s annual Met Gala), and a talent show featuring veterinary community members. 

The event’s artsy theme extended to the VMX Expo Hall, where several art-themed installations and activities helped create a fun and whimsical atmosphere, including the Veterinary Community Art Gallery that featured art created by veterinary professionals with accompanying audios providing background on each piece; the Art District, where attendees could participate in creative activities such as candle making, bracelet making, and poetry composition; an Escape Room; a Zen Garden; an art gallery-style redesign of the New Product Gallery; art-related education sessions; and a Build a Bag station where attendees could customize their conference bags. 

Innovations Take Center Stage 

On the show floor, exhibiting companies showcased the industry’s latest groundbreaking advances, from AI-powered diagnostics to breakthroughs in cutting-edge treatments enabling veterinarians to provide faster, more precise care.  

Among the record-breaking 32 innovations featured in the New Product Gallery was the first RNA vaccine technology for companion animals, offering rapid, targeted protection against diseases such as canine influenza and the feline leukemia virus.  

Meanwhile, the show’s conference portion grew this year, with the debut of three new show floor education rooms and an expansion of its learning theaters to accommodate 50% more participants compared to 2024. Extensive and in-depth educational sessions delved into the transformative technologies and approaches to critical health challenges that are advancing animal health, such as advances in and innovative approaches to longevity medicine that are transforming how veterinarians approach personalized care for senior animals. 

Conservation efforts were another highlight, with sessions focused on collaborative approaches to wild animal care, including endangered species, and how veterinarians are at the forefront of efforts to ensure the survival of at-risk populations through habitat protection, population programs, and disease management. 

The event also offered a full-day honeybee symposium spotlighting their critical role in pollinating a third of the U.S. food supply, and how veterinary expertise is essential to maintaining healthy hives in the diagnosing and treatment of bee diseases.  

Furthering the Profession and Giving Back 

For the eighth year in a row, NAVC presented the Pet Pitch Competition, a Shark Tank-style business pitch event where emerging companies present solutions for some of the veterinary industry’s most pressing challenges. 

This year, Ease Pet Vet claimed the top prize for its groundbreaking behavioral health platform, designed to bridge the gap between general practice veterinarians and board-certified veterinary behaviorists. With common behavioral problems such separation anxiety and reactivity among the top reasons pets are surrendered to shelters, this forward-thinking solution offers science-based, tailored treatment to help pets and families thrive, according to NAVC officials. 

“Ease Pet Vet’s behavioral health platform is an excellent example of how technology and forward-thinking innovation can bridge gaps in pet care, making essential behavioral treatment more accessible to veterinarians and—most importantly—pets in need,” O’Neill said.   

To reinforce the importance of inclusivity in veterinary medicine and pave the way for the next generation of animal care professionals, VMX presented the third annual Believe & Belong in Veterinary Medicine, a partnership between NAVC and blendVET, which provides hands-on experiences and mentorship for students from underrepresented communities. This year, the program welcomed more than 70 students from Florida.  

VMX 2025 also empowered veterinary professionals to help animals in need around the world through its give-back programming, including: 

• NAVC Gives, which awarded a $25,000 grant to BestyBnB, a technology platform that provides temporary foster homes to pets impacted by domestic violence and other crises 
• A global veterinary fundraising drive to support the Pasadena Humane Wildfire Relief Fund, which is helping animals impacted by the California wildfires 
• A $10,000 donation to support animal care in the war-torn country of Ukraine through the work of Dr. Vlad Ushakov, president of the Ukrainian Small Animal Veterinary Association (USAVA) 

“VMX 2025 brought invigorating energy and excitement,” said NAVC Chief Veterinary Officer Dana Varble, DVM. “From cutting-edge technologies to transformative medical innovation, this year’s event was packed with resources that veterinarians can take back to their practices and make a real difference for patients and their owners.” 

What’s next 

Watch the VMX 2025 Ultimate Highlights Video here. VMX will return Jan. 17-22, 2026, to the OCCC. 

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