ISPO Press Portal

From yoga and fitness trends to esports and new developments in the world of climbing: more than 2,800 international exhibitors will be presenting their highlights and innovations at ISPO Munich, the world’s largest sports trade fair, which is set to be held from February 3 to 6. In addition to live demonstrations and workshops, industry professionals can expect to see a large number of prominent athletes. Among them biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen, who will receive the ISPO Cup this year.

Each year, ISPO Munich (February 3–6, 2019) attracts more than 2,800 international exhibitors and over 80,000 industry professionals to the Bavarian capital. Trade visitors get an exclusive overview at the highlights of the upcoming sporting year. Since 2018, end consumers have also been able to take advantage of the trade fair: ISPO Munich Sports Week (February 2–9, 2019) brings the passion for sports to downtown Munich and invites sports enthusiasts to take part in and try out numerous events. A highlight of the sports week is the ISPO Munich Night Run presented by BUFF®, which takes place on February 2 at the Olympic Park.

The range of skiing activities has never been so expansive: Winter sports enthusiasts can choose from all sorts of innovative and traditional activities, including carving, freeskiing, ski touring and Alpine skiing. Each of these activities will be brought together in one special skiing hall at ISPO Munich (February 3–6, 2019). Exhibitors representing the leading ski brands will have the best conditions to display their solutions. Professional visitors will profit from the central hub for the entire skiing portfolio. Through the integration of the ski hall (Hall B5) in the Snowsports segment (Halls B2—B6), all information for the winter sports season will be ideally presented for sports business professionals.

The retail program “Altogether to Munich” supports sports retailers from Austria, Italy, Poland, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom in their planning for ISPO Munich itself and on site. From registration and hotel bookings to arranging appointments and trade fair tours in their own language, the all-round carefree package covers everything the sports retailers need to get a market overview at the world’s leading trade fair for the sports business. The program is an extension of “Club ISPO France”, which has been connecting retailers from France with partners and exhibitors for five years now. ISPO Munich is taking place from February 3–6, 2019.

The expert jury for the ISPO Brandnew award has selected the 2019 winners from more than 400 submissions. The most innovative products with true market relevance are distinguished each year in the world’s largest competition for start-ups in the sports industry. This year, the concept from ORIGINAL+ for the mass custom manufacturing of alpine skis came out as the overall winner. The other award winners offered remarkable products with personalized functions, new safety features and unconventional ideas. Visitors can see the ISPO Brandnew award winners and finalists from February 3 through 6, 2019, in the ISPO Brandnew Village at ISPO Munich.

ISPO Munich is the most important event in the calendar for the international sports business. In January 2018, over 2,800 exhibitors showcased their products at the leading international trade fair spread across 16 halls, however the 2019 event will boast an extra two halls. The multi-segment trade fair will feature all industry highlights for the upcoming year and provide manufacturers, brands and sports retailers with plenty of space for meetings and networking. Set across 18 halls for the first time ever, the main focus in 2019 will be on “Health, Physical Activity and Sport.” However, other topics under the spotlight at ISPO Munich will include “Digitalization” and “Women in the Sports Business.” ISPO Munich will be held from February 3 to 6, 2019.

The ISPO team is getting a boost with the addition of two new Community Managers, Franziska Zindl and Bastian Dietz. They will be in charge of the forward-looking areas “Digitize – Retail & Industry Services” and “Snowsports & Bike” and are part of a new team structure that takes account of the extended ISPO network. After all, another leading trade fair will also be held in Munich from 2019, namely OutDoor by ISPO. It will be headed by Markus Hefter as Exhibition Group Director, who is already in charge of ISPO Munich. ISPO introduces the new colleagues.

With a new price structure and discounted tickets, ISPO Munich (February 3 to 6, 2019) will be focusing in future even more on specialist retailers as the key trade visitor group. From 2019, the new ticket model will supplement the services already available specifically for this target group. Through this step, ISPO Munich is not only boosting the participation of the sports retailers but also, as the world’s biggest sports trade fair, aims to expand its character as a trading platform and thus achieve measurable benefits for the exhibiting brands.