ISPO has concluded its first edition in Amsterdam, bringing together an estimated 26,000 visitors and 1,361 exhibitors from across the international sports industry.
The event marks the beginning of a new chapter for ISPO under the ownership of Raccoon Media Group. Building on the momentum of Amsterdam, CEO Mike Seaman will now turn his attention to ISPO Sports Week 2027 – a new international platform that connects the business of sport with consumers. This is supported by investment in new events, a flagship Sports Week in Europe, and regional editions in the Middle East, US, and Asia. Seaman is optimistic that the move from Munich and new leadership will revitalise ISPO, returning it to its position as a preeminent global sports trade fair.
With a vision to connect brands, retailers, distributors, consumers, and industry leaders, ISPO is setting out to create an accessible platform for the future of sport.
Organised by Raccoon Media Group, this year’s iteration took place at the RAI Amsterdam on November 3–5, 2026, and kicked off with the ISPO Leaders Summit. The summit gathered over 750 C-suite leaders and decision makers to address pressing issues shaping the industry. Speakers included Hap Klopp, Founder at The North Face; Tom Foley, CEO at Intersport International Corporation; Jimmy Chin, Filmmaker, Climber and DEI Advocate at The North Face; and Andy Rubin, Deputy Chair at Pentland Group.
The following two days saw RAI Amsterdam transformed into a showcase of the international sports ecosystem, featuring 10 exhibition halls filled with brands, products, emerging technologies, materials, and ingredients. Visitors experienced an array of live demonstrations, interactive activations, content, and opportunities to connect through curated meetings facilitated by the event’s app.
With visitor numbers increasing by a reported 13% compared with 2025, the organisers note that the Amsterdam edition demonstrated the continued demand for an international meeting place for the sports industry.
Tracy Bebbington, Managing Director for ISPO said “ISPO has always played an important role in bringing the sports industry together, and this year’s event in Amsterdam has given us an incredible platform to build on that legacy. We wanted to create an event that went beyond the traditional trade show – bringing together the entire sports ecosystem to do business, share ideas, challenge convention and inspire the next generation of the industry.
“The response we’ve seen from exhibitors, retailers, brands and industry leaders has been hugely encouraging. This is just the beginning. We’re excited about what comes next as we build towards ISPO Sports Week 2027 and our ambition to create an even more connected global platform for sport.”
Key details and metrics from the event include:
- €3 million invested in content, the Hosted Buyer Programme, and the formation of the ISPO Impact Foundation – a non-profit foundation aiming to give away €1 million annually.
- Over 750 C-suite and senior leaders joined the ISPO Leaders Summit.
- Over 26,000 visitors attended RAI Amsterdam from over 100 countries, covering both ISPO and The International Running Expo.
- 10 exhibition halls showcased products, technologies, and ingredients across the sector.
- 1,350 exhibitors including 500 exhibiting brands participated in the event.
- 6 stages hosted more than 60 sessions and 200 speakers.
- 20 live activations took place, including snow spectacle Rock a Rail, climbing, shake-out runs, and fashion shows.
- 18 fringe events were hosted, including roundtables, workshops, and networking experiences.
- 3 awards programmes recognised design and materials innovation with 134 finalists.
- An official After Party took over four floors of a central Amsterdam nightclub.
Key takeaways highlighted during the ISPO Leaders Summit included using sustainability as a commercial differentiator, addressing climate change in outdoor sports, making sports more inclusive, meeting evolving consumer expectations, and fostering industry-wide collaboration.
Looking ahead, ISPO Sports Week 2027 will build on the foundations established in Amsterdam, bringing together complementary events and experiences for the sports sector.
ISPO Sports Week 2027 provisional dates (subject to change)
- Asia Beijing – January 7-10, 2027
- Asia Shanghai – July 2027
- Amsterdam – October 30, 2027 to November 4, 2027
- Middle East – September 20-26, 2027
USA – 2028 TBC
www.isposportsweek.com
www.ispo.com
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