A heartfelt opening speech by award-winning actor Kevin Costner, who shared his love for animals and gratitude for veterinary professionals based on personal experience. A full-day honeybee symposium spotlighting their critical role in pollinating one-third of the U.S. food supply. Groundbreaking advances in veterinary medicine—from AI-driven diagnostics to the first RNA vaccine technology for companion animals (offering rapid, targeted protection against diseases like canine influenza and feline leukemia virus).
Those were just a few of the many highlights from the jam-packed agenda at the VMX 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo, according to Joe Sorrentino, chief events officer for the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), which organizes the event.
"NAVC was founded in Orlando and has strong ties to the local community; the first conference was held in 1982 and has been hosted here every year since," Sorrentino says. "Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is a great venue for large-scale conferences like VMX. Plus, Orlando is a top destination, offering a variety of attractions and amenities for attendees to enjoy preor post-conference."
BREAKING THE RECORDS
VMX is the global platform where groundbreaking advancements in veterinary medicine are launched, Sorrentino says, enhancing the care of diverse species across the entire animal kingdom—from domestic house cats and miniature pigs to exotic reptiles and senior sea lions.
The 2025 event in January welcomed a record number of attendees (nearly 30,000 from 87 countries), along with 735 trade show booths covering the latest in animal healthcare products and diagnostics. The New Product Gallery, which features companies ranging from startups to major multinationals, included a record-breaking 32 products in 2025. And a VMX virtual option provides remote access to live speakers, interactive sessions and on-demand education.
"VMX is a unique opportunity for veterinary professionals from across the world to come together for a few days to learn, network and have some fun—and truly sets the direction each year for the $60 billion global animal health industry," Sorrentino says. "The technology ranges from new vaccines from Merck to fight canine influenza and feline leukemia to pet DNA testing from Royal Canin and Wisdom Panel that enables veterinarians to create tailored health and nutrition plans. We’ve seen attendance skyrocket by more than 60% in just five years, and VMX ranks 11th out of the top 20 largest shows (by attendance) at the OCCC. Over the last 10 years alone, VMX has contributed $436 million to the local Orlando economy."
ATTENDEE OPTIONS ABOUND
Signature activities provide a variety of opportunities for attendees throughout VMX as well as a chance to give back to the community.
"Through Believe & Belong in Veterinary Medicine, at VMX 2025 we welcomed 71 middle and high school students from underserved Central Florida communities to participate in a full day of hands-on veterinary training," Sorrentino says. "These events are held throughout the year in cities across the country."
Another popular activity is a "Shark Tank"-style pitch competition offering pet industry startups the chance to introduce their products, services and solutions to thousands of veterinary professionals and practice decision-makers in the industry, Sorrentino says. And a NAVC HiVE event, which provides the veterinary community with deep dives into key areas as well as opportunities to network and share and learn from their peers, also took place during VMX (HiVE events are also held across the U.S. throughout the year).
"For attendees seeking the ultimate VMX experience, The Lion’s Club provides priority access to education sessions, evening entertainment, hotel booking, lunch vouchers throughout the conference and admission to an exclusive lounge that provides a quiet place to relax, recharge and enjoy some refreshments," Sorrentino says.
