The European Outdoor Group (EOG) has announced the return of its flagship international trade show, now rebranded as part of the new European Outdoor Week, set to take place in Riva del Garda, Italy, from May 15 to 20, 2026. The central trade show event, Outdoor 2026, will be held on May 17 and 18 in collaboration with the regional Outdoor and Running Business Days (ORBD).
The initiative, reflects the EOG’s broader approach of uniting the outdoor sector under a single event platform. The European Outdoor Week includes the Outdoor Impact Summit (May 15–16), the EOG Assembly, a redesigned awards ceremony for the outdoor industry and a concluding outdoor festival aimed at both trade visitors and consumers.
Speculation about the future development and existence of the “OutDoor” trade show, which was paused in 2025, had been many and varied before this announcement. EOG member feedback had been calling for a more modern and efficient event model. EOG’s new format aims to foster collaboration, attract a wider audience and offer better ROI for participants compared to past trade shows.
“This is about delivering a united, compelling platform that offers real value,” said Christian Schneidermeier, EOG Director. “Riva del Garda speaks directly to our shared love for the outdoors, and each component of this week has been designed to stand strong individually, while creating more value together.”
In a video, that can be seen on our sister publication Outdoor Industry Compass, Schneidermeier provides further details and acknowledges that this new concept can be seen, for now, as a temporary solution, scheduled to last for at least two years.
At the time of publication, the press release neither confirmed nor denied whether the partnership between EOG and ISPO, which, according to an official statement earlier this year, was to continue through 2028, still exists. ISPO is not listed as a returning partner on the 2026 event website, in the logo or in other communication materials.
The full event lineup and additional details are expected to be released by the end of October.
This article was published first at the Outdoor Industry Compass.
