The alpine skiing industry returns to Carezza on 12–13 January 2026 for the Prowinter Test Days, Europe’s premier proving ground for next season’s equipment. Over 250 professionals will test 2026/2027 innovations under real snow conditions, 40 minutes from the Prowinter trade fair in Bolzano.
The Prowinter Test Days powered by ITASnow and Prove Libere Retail by Pool Sci Italia is Europe’s earliest chance to test next season’s equipment under real snow conditions—brands, retailers and rental operators arrive with anticipation for what 2026/2027 will bring. The event has become the continent’s premier proving ground for alpine innovation, where emerging ski technology faces its first genuine trial on the Prà di Tori slope. Each January, Carezza transforms into the place where the future of skiing takes shape.
Trade fair meets mountain testing ground
Now in its third year, the Prowinter Test Days have evolved into more than a product preview—they’re a strategic pillar of Prowinter itself, the outdoor and winter sports industry’s leading B2B platform. Taking place 12–13 January at Messe Bozen, this year’s trade fair embraces an expanded international format, including a dedicated “Scandinavian Village” pavilion that bridges Northern and Southern European markets.
The model is simple but effective: see it at the fair, test it on the mountain. Products unveiled in Bolzano’s exhibition halls can be strapped on and put to work just 40 minutes away on Carezza’s Prà di Tori slope, where over 250 professionals will spend two days carving, stopping and scrutinising the materials and technologies poised to define winter 2026/2027.
First mover advantage in a compressed calendar
“This is the first strategic meeting point of the season,” says Geraldine Coccagna, Brand Manager of Prowinter. “Retailers and rental companies want to see the products at the fair and immediately test them on snow. We’re proud to deliver that with the support of Pool Sci Italia, ITASnow and Carezza Ski.”
For an industry where timing is everything, the event’s early-January slot offers a critical edge. Buyers gain early intelligence on performance and fit, whilst brands secure invaluable feedback before the season’s commercial cycle accelerates.
Pool Sci Italia doubles down on trade-fair-plus-slope model
Alessio Meda, President of Pool Sci Italia, underscores the event’s unique value proposition. “Prove Libere Retail by Pool Sci Italia is now one of the most important dates for the commercial supply chain in alpine skiing. It’s the first European B2B ski test where next season’s innovations are presented, and thanks to our synergy with Prowinter, the only event that combines a trade fair with on-snow testing.”
Meda points to steady growth in participant numbers and strategic importance—proof, he argues, that the model works. “We’re confident this positive trend will continue, thanks to active collaboration with Messe Bozen, ITASnow and the municipality of Carezza. Our shared goal is ensuring optimal operational, logistical and hospitable conditions for a high-level professional experience.”
More than a trade fair—a comprehensive B2B ecosystem
The Prowinter Test Days now form an integral part of what organisers call the “Prowinter ecosystem”—a holistic B2B platform that unites exhibition, networking and on-snow testing into a single high-calibre industry event. It’s a model that acknowledges a simple truth: in the ski business, you can’t judge a product by its booth alone.
Further information and registration: www.fierabolzano.it/de/prowinter/prowinter-test-days-1
About Prowinter
Prowinter is the leading B2B platform for the outdoor and winter sports industry, taking place annually at Messe Bozen in South Tyrol. The trade fair brings together international brands, retailers, rental operators and industry professionals to showcase innovations, facilitate business connections and drive the future of winter sports.
