ISPO Munich seeks fresh momentum with revamped layout and format

ISPO Munich, Europe’s leading outdoor sport and equipment trade show, is reinventing itself by adopting a revised layout and a new schedule. The goal is to adapt to the industry’s needs, in order to preserve its status as one of the top trade shows in Europe. ISPO will still be held at the Messe München Trade Fair Centre, in the eastern part of Munich, Germany.

ISPO Munich is changing its calendar by starting on a Sunday  ISPO MUNICH

ISPO Munich’s 2025 edition will welcome visitors and exhibitors from November 30 to December 2. The show was previously held mid-week, but will now start on a Sunday, a decision taken to better cater to small businesses. “Choice of dates is a crucial factor for a trade show’s success. In our opinion, tweaking the show’s schedule is a clear signal that ISPO is responding to industry needs. [Opening the event on] Sunday gives smaller retailers greater flexibility, making it easier for them to attend the show,” said Margit Gosau and Dominik Solleder, CEOs of Sport 2000 International.

Facilitating knowledge transfer

While the Outdoor show will not be held in 2025 due to a lack of participants, ISPO Munich is also relying on a new exhibition layout to generate fresh momentum. The event’s sections will be split up among three thematic areas. The ‘Brands and Products’ area brings together exhibitors showcasing innovative products belonging to various categories. Brands specialising in the lifestyle segment, featuring the more creative side of directional outdoor products that capture the contemporary zeitgeist, will exhibit in Hall A1. Hall A2 is dedicated to functional innovations and sustainable solutions by outdoor brands, and Hall A3 will showcase the latest racket sport trends. Still within the ‘Brands and Products’ area, Hall B2 will present indoor and outdoor fitness solutions, and will be the venue of the ISPO Award, in the Training and Performance section. The area’s final section, Health and Wellness in Hall B1, is a novelty, highlighting the growing importance of the connection between sport and well-being.

Hall B1 will also host the ISPO Brandnew section, presenting innovative sport industry start-ups as part of the second thematic area, ‘Commerce and Experience’. The latter will also include two conference areas, which have been set up closer to the show via the redesigned west entrance. The idea is to make networking and the transfer of knowledge and new ideas an integral part of the show’s activity. “We want to facilitate interaction right where industry professionals are meeting, at the heart of the show,” said Saskia Rettenbacher, head of event management at ISPO. Among the events planned during the show are the international Sport Brand Media conference (formerly Sport.Marke.Medien), the educational forum for professional sports trainers, and Sports Tech Nation. Details of other scheduled conferences are being finalised.

Sport influencers, ISPO Munich’s new communication tool 

The third and final thematic area, ‘Upstream and Supply’, will be the venue for promoting sustainable materials and innovative manufacturing methods. Procurement specialists, designers and product development specialists will be able to find new solutions and technologies for avant-garde sporting products in this area. The ISPO Textrends Award for ground-breaking textiles (in Hall B3) completes the event’s focus on sustainable solutions, while the Supply Chain Forum (in Hall C4) will showcase best practices for resilient supply chains.

In addition to introducing a new exhibition layout, ISPO Munich intends to boost its visibility by staging the International Sports Influencer Summit. Professional influencers invited to the show will be covering the event on social media. To make the new format even more effective, ISPO is introducing a new digital networking tool, facilitating the creation of ad hoc networks and exploiting the show’s commercial potential before, during and after the event.

ISPO Munich’s previous edition, focused on the circular economy and sustainability, featured 2,300 exhibitors and attracted 55,000 visitors.