Amsterdam, 4-5 November 2026 - ISPO 2026 has launched its new Hosted Programme, a targeted initiative designed to connect senior retail decision-makers, selected distributors and brand innovation leaders with the global brands and suppliers shaping the future of sport, outdoor and active lifestyle.
Developed as part of ISPO’s evolution into a more commercially focused industry platform, the programme will facilitate high-value meetings, accelerate product discovery and create new business opportunities across the sporting goods market.
Taking place at ISPO’s inaugural Amsterdam edition, the Hosted Programme will give exhibitors direct access to qualified buyers and decision-makers responsible for purchasing, category strategy, product development and innovation.
Hosted participants will receive reimbursed travel and accommodation, exclusive networking opportunities as well as access to dedicated event facilities. In return, they will commit to a schedule of pre-arranged meetings with exhibiting brands of their choice, ensuring meaningful engagement and measurable business outcomes.
"Trade shows are at their best when they bring the right people together to do business," said Tracy Bebbington, Joint Managing Director of ISPO at Raccoon Media Group. "The Hosted Programme is designed to connect exhibitors with senior retail decision-makers, distributors and innovation leaders actively seeking new products, partnerships and growth opportunities."
The programme is strictly only open to qualified retailers, selected distributors and brand representatives with direct responsibility or influence over buying decisions, assortment planning, sourcing and product innovation.
Organised by Raccoon Media Group in partnership with Messe München, ISPO 2026 is expected to welcome more than 25,000 industry professionals and over 850 exhibitors. Major retailers already engaged with the event include Ellis Brigham, Intersport, JD Plc, EK-Retail, TitleNine, Mountain Warehouse, Back Country, Hervis, Sports Pursuit, Sportscape and Outdoor Prolink amongst others.
Applications for the ISPO Hosted Programme are now open. Places are limited and participants will be selected according to programme qualification criteria. Visit https://www.ispo.com/expo/hosted-buyer-programme to find out more.
3 November 2026 | RAI Amsterdam
(ISPO Expo: 4-5 November)
The sport and outdoor industry is in a period of accelerated change. Participation patterns are evolving, climate pressures are reshaping priorities, supply chains are being redefined, and consumer expectations continue to shift at pace.
The ISPO Leaders Summit convenes those at the centre of this transformation - the executives, founders and policymakers actively shaping the direction of the industry.
A carefully curated, one-day gathering for senior leaders across sport, outdoor and winter sports.
This is not a conference in the conventional sense. It is a closed, intentionally focused setting designed for senior decision-makers to step away from operational demands and engage with the broader strategic landscape.
The emphasis is on clarity, perspective, and meaningful exchange between peers operating at the highest level of the industry.
Participation is deliberately limited to preserve the quality of dialogue and the seniority of the room.
The programme is structured around three interconnected themes:
Participation
How participation in sport and outdoor activity is evolving - and what this means for long-term industry growth.
Sustainability
How sustainability is being embedded beyond compliance, becoming integral to innovation, performance and brand value.
Fair Trade
How global supply chains are being reshaped around greater transparency, resilience and responsibility.
The Summit brings together experienced industry voices in a format centred on reflection and exchange, including:
With a strictly limited audience, the Summit is shaped to encourage depth over breadth.
The most valuable discussions often take place outside the formal sessions - in conversation between peers, over coffee, and throughout the day - where ideas are exchanged more freely and relationships are formed over time.
Following the close of the Summit sessions, attendees are invited to the ISPO Leaders Networking Evening, brought to you by the European Outdoor Summit and supported by FESI and the SIA. Set in a relaxed setting, the evening offers a natural extension of the day’s discussions - a chance to connect more openly with peers from across the industry. With a drinks reception and nibbles served into the evening, it provides space for conversations to continue, ideas to develop, and new relationships to form in a more social atmosphere.
Capacity is intentionally limited to maintain a curated, senior-level environment.
An opportunity to step into a private setting for the conversations shaping the future of sport, immediately ahead of ISPO 2026 in Amsterdam.
Learn more: https://www.ispo.com/ispo-content/ispo-leaders-summit#/seminars