The Q4 2026 trade show calendar: led by a reinvented ISPO in a new city

With so many events happening in Q4, we’ve organized our list into categories. Use the contents links below to jump to a section.

The main event:

ISPO Summit and Expo | Nov. 03–05, 2026 | Rai, Amsterdam 

ISPO may be the world’s leading trade fair for the sporting goods, outdoor and winter sports industries, covering the entire value chain from materials and manufacturing through to brands, retail and customer experience. From 3–5 Nov., 2026, ISPO takes place at RAI Amsterdam for the first time.

The move ends a run of more than 50 years in Munich. In October 2025, organiser Messe München announced a new joint venture with UK-based Raccoon Media Group, which will run ISPO going forward, alongside a €3 million investment to reinvent the event’s format.

The new dates (earlier in the calendar) are designed to better align with global buying cycles. Amsterdam’s international transport links are also a draw for North American and Asian attendees.

Nov. 3 sees the one-day ISPO Leaders Summit. This new element, deliberately separate from the Expo, is a one-day,  limited-capacity gathering for senior decision-makers across the outdoor, winter sports and sporting goods industries. The Summit brings together “leaders” for a day of strategic dialogue on the three issues shaping the industry’s next decade: participation, sustainability and fair trade. 

Nov. 4–5 is the ISPO Expo. Tickets also include entry into the International Running Expo. 

Intersport became the first major retailer to confirm attendance at the new-look event along with more than 500 confirmed exhibitors. Margit Gosau, CEO of Sport 2000 is one of many confirmed speakers which also includes athlete Allyson Felix. 

 

3 things not to miss: The Padel Village, where you can try the latest gear firsthand. Players, brands and industry insiders will come together to play, watch and connect over one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

For anyone who’d rather test than talk, ISPO interACTIVE will turn the show floor into an open-format playground of sunrise yoga, live brand showcases and skills challenges, with a leaderboard to see if you’ve got what it takes to make the top spot.

And on Nov. 4, the ISPO After-Party takes the show into Amsterdam’s Escape Nightclub for a night of community building and celebration, running from 8pm to midnight.

Visit: ISPO Amsterdam

SVB Live Sports Venue Business | Oct. 01–02, 2026 | Hill Dickinson Stadium, UK

SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition is an annual B2B event organized by Sports Venue Business (SVB), specifically dedicated to professionals who design, build, and operate sports stadiums, arenas, and entertainment venues.

Rather than focusing on what happens on the pitch, SVB LIVE focuses entirely on the infrastructure, design, and operations of the venue itself. The overarching theme of the event is “elevating and innovating the live experience.”

The event caters to C-suite executives, stadium architects, venue operators, tech innovators, brand strategists, and procurement directors from major global sports teams and entertainment companies. 

Reason to attend: A major draw for attendees is the behind-the-scenes access to iconic venues. The 2026 event includes VIP tours of Everton’s new Hill Dickinson stadium, Liverpool FC’s Anfield, and the M&S Bank Arena.

Visit: SVB Live

Leaders Week London | Oct. 07–08, 2026 | Stamford Bridge, London

Leaders Week London returns from Oct. 7–8 2026 with a new home – Stamford Bridge, Chelsea FC’s stadium – bringing thousands of senior sport business executives together for two days of dealmaking, dialogue and networking, delivered in partnership with host Chelsea FC.

The 2026 agenda spans eight key themes: fan personalisation, international expansion, sponsorship strategy, content and media, where smart money is flowing (from women’s sport to private equity), venues and major events, AI’s commercial impact, and leadership.

Who should go: For anyone in sponsorship, media rights, venues or investment, the event offers direct access to decision-makers from over 70 countries, alongside forums, masterclasses and awards designed to turn high-level trends into practical takeaways.

Visit: Leaders Week London

China International Import Expo | Nov. 05–10, 2026 | National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai

Organised by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, CIIE (China International Import Expo) aims to support trade liberalization and open the Chinese market to the world.

An estimated 150,000 domestic and foreign purchasers are expected to attend.

Reason to attend: Relevant to the sporting goods industry are three “Consumer Goods” halls. A series of supporting events including Policy Interpretation and Investment Promotion make up the schedule.

Visit: China International Import Expo

INDX Sport and Leisure Show | Nov. 11, 2026 | Cranmore Park Conference & Event Centre, UK

INDX Sports and Leisure is a B2B trade show for the UK’s independent retail sector, curated by AIS, the UK’s largest non-food buying group.

The floor covers apparel, footwear, equipment and nutrition, with exhibitors ranging from HOKA, Brooks and New Balance to specialist and emerging brands.

Why you should go: Unlike large international events, it’s a fast-paced, one-day pop-up, held twice yearly (June and Nov.), letting independent buyers meet brands, test products and write orders within half a day – with free entry for registered trade attendees.

Visit: INDX Sports & Leisure

DMWF Digital Marketing World Forum | Nov. 24–25, 2026 | RAI, Amsterdam

Digital Marketing World Forum (DMWF) Europe returns 24–25 Nov. 2026 at RAI Amsterdam, bringing together 150+ speakers and 80+ exhibitors, CMOs, marketing directors and senior leaders to explore AI, agentic marketing and the future of digital strategy.

The two-day event spans 10+ conference tracks – covering AI and hyper-personalisation, social and community marketing, data and CRM, brand strategy, content and video, influencer marketing, and digital transformation – with 

Who should go: Anyone in brand, content or performance marketing – including sporting goods brands navigating AI-driven personalisation and creator economy shifts. DMWF offers dense access to senior marketing decision-makers across industries.

Visit: DMWF Digital Marketing World Forum

Mountain Sports

Vertical Pro | Nov. 13–14, 2026 | Messe Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance

Vertical Pro trade fair combines sport and professional climbing worlds – covering climbing sport as well as industrial climbing, tree care, rescue services and operators of climbing halls and high ropes courses. Taking place 13–14 November 2026 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, on Lake Constance, the event brings together more than 200 exhibitors from 30 countries across 18,610 m² of exhibition space.

The show includes dedicated areas such as a Science + Research Hub for R&D, a Start-Up Area for emerging companies, and a Demo + Test Area where visitors can trial the latest products firsthand.

What to expect: Vertical Pro’s 2025 edition drew 2,430 trade visitors from 46 countries and around 200 exhibitors from 29 nations. The German Alpine Club’s “Halls & Walls” anchored the sports segment, while exhibitors including Edelrid, Béal and DMM praised the event’s networking value despite a crowded autumn calendar. Over 100 hours of live demonstrations and workshops rounded out the program. 

Visit: Vertical Pro

Kendal Mountain Festival | Nov. 19–22, 2026 | Kendal, UK

Kendal Mountain Festival bills itself as the world’s largest outdoor cultural festival. Taking place 19–22 Nov. 2026 in Cumbria, UK, it will bring together over 25,000 outdoor enthusiasts for a program spanning film, speakers, books, art, activities and parties. 

For 2027, the festival is launching a sibling event, the North Downs Mountain Festiva l, bringing the format to Guildford for the first time.

What to expect: More than 200 live sessions, 300+ speakers, 150+ films, 60+ activities and workshops, and 10+ parties across the weekend.

Visit: Kendal Mountain Festival

Alpinmesse | Nov. 21–22, 2026 | Messe Innsbruck, Austria

Alpinmesse with Alpinforum is Europe’s largest mountain sports trade fair and conference, taking place 21–22 Nov. at Messe Innsbruck, Austria. It brings together over 200 exhibitors with mountain sports enthusiasts, leading organizations and institutions, experts and brand manufacturers, 

For those in the sporting goods industry, the topics of mountaineering, skiing, ski touring, freeriding, climbing, bouldering, trail running, biking, and alpine travel are of most interest. The 2025 edition drew over 220 exhibitors and more than 13,000 visitors.

What to expect: Workshops, competitions and presentations, including the Alpinforum – an annual conference on specialist alpine issues organised by the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety (ÖKAS).

Visit: Alpinmesse

Winter Sports

LISTEX | Oct. 15–16, 2026 | Hilton Kensington, London

LISTEX (London International Snowsports Trade Exchange) is a B2B networking event dedicated to winter sports and mountain destination travel, connecting suppliers – tourist boards, ski lift companies, accommodation providers and airlines – with specialist tour operators and travel agents.

Unlike gear-focused events like Switchback, LISTEX leans into the travel and destination side of the mountain economy.

The 2026 edition runs 15–16 October at Hilton Kensington, London, scheduled just before the consumer-facing Snow Show London (17–18 Oct.) – letting brands combine B2B and B2C activity in a single trip.

Why you should go: Networking possibilities. The event centres on pre-scheduled one-on-one trade meetings, alongside the annual State of the Snowsports Market consumer survey, industry forums covering sustainability and climate resilience, and dedicated press networking for editorial pitching.

Visit: LISTEX 2026

 

Snow Show London | Oct. 17–18, 2026 | Olympia London, UK

The 50th edition of “the UK’s biggest snow show” is happening on Oct. 17–18 at Olympia London. Snow Show London is a consumer-facing event bringing together ski resorts and destinations from around the world, alongside travel specialists, media partners and industry bodies. Exhibitors span global ski destinations including Andorra, Cortina and Colorado Ski Country USA

With the show scheduled directly after the trade-focused LISTEX event, brands can combine B2B and consumer activity in one trip to London. 

What to expect: The 2026 agenda spans seven themed stages: the Mountain Theatre for headline talks with elite athletes and adventurers; the Destinations Theatre showcasing resorts from Europe, North America and Japan; the Fitness & Mindset Stage covering ski fitness, injury prevention and recovery; the Equipment & Instruction Theatre for practical gear advice and technique; the Fashion Show Stage highlighting alpine apparel and technical innovation; the Protect Our Winters Theatre focusing on climate and sustainability. There’s also theAlpine Bar for socialising.

Visit: Snow Show London

Snowbound Expo | Nov. 14–15, 2026 | Mohegan Sun, USA

Snowbound Expo is the Northeast US’s premier ski and snowboard event, taking place in Connecticut. Now in its 40th-plus year, the consumer-facing show is billed as the “unofficial start of winter” for snow sports enthusiasts across New England, drawing skiers, snowboarders, resorts and brands from Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and beyond.

The 2026 edition features 200+ brands and exhibitors including Patagonia, Armada, Nordica and Lib Tech, alongside resort and destination partners.

What to expect: See your icons and legends in person on the Inspiration Stage with headline speakers including pro snowboarder Travis Rice, Olympic cross-country skier Jessie Diggins and freeride snowboarder Kimmy Fasani among them. The Snowboard Zone, Alpine Runway fashion show, trampoline show and an Après Party After Hours will also add to the “stoke-filled” vibes of the weekend.

Visit: Snowbound Expo

 

Running

The International Running Expo | Nov. 04–05, 2026 | RAI, Amsterdam

The International Running Expo (IRX) is a dedicated business event for the running industry, taking place 4–5 November 2026 at RAI Amsterdam. Organised by Raccoon Media Group – also behind the UK’s National Running Show – IRX brings together over 200 international brands, retailers, distributors and industry leaders to showcase the latest footwear, apparel, technology, nutrition and recovery products.

Alongside the show floor, IRX offers a content programme featuring speakers from Parkrun, Brooks, Salomon and UTMB Group, plus networking opportunities and live activations. Strategically co-located and timed with ISPO, ISPO ticket holders get access to IRX with a single ticket.

Don’t miss: “Follow the Beat.” A silent-disco interval running session which kicks off day two of IRX 2026, presented by Runners High. Runners register their current 5K personal best in advance, are sorted into pace groups accordingly, and then run together through silent-disco headphones – with music and voice cues guiding every effort and recovery interval, led by a coach.

Visit: The International Running Expo

TRE The Running Event | Dec. 01–03, 2026 | Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio

The Running Event (TRE) is a three-day event combining education, a trade show floor and industry networking. Taking place 1–3 Dec. at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, the 2026 event celebrates 20 years of TRE.

Retailers, brands, media and industry experts across will connect across four core pillars: Learn, Discover, Connect (the Opening Party, daily runs and walks, and happy hours), and Celebrate (the Industry Awards Dinner honouring the best running stores and industry trailblazers). 

Why you should go: Switchback at TRE – now in its fifth year – is a dedicated space on the show floor for outdoor specialty retailers to discover products and build peer relationships alongside their run specialty counterparts. Switchback at TRE serves the growing crossover between run and outdoor specialty retail.

Visit: The Running Event

 

Textiles and Sourcing

TITAS Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show | Oct. 06–08, 2026 | Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei

TITAS (Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show) is Taiwan’s only professional textile trade fair. The 30th edition will bring together around 400 exhibitors under the themes of sustainability, functional applications and intelligent manufacturing – spanning high-performance sport, outdoor and medical textiles alongside recycled and circular materials.

What to expect: A full schedule of seminars runs alongside the exhibits.

Visit: TITAS Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show

Performance Days Functional Fabric Fair | Oct. 13–14, 2026 | Messe München, Munich

Performance Days is a leading bi-annual B2B trade fair for sustainable sourcing and functional fabric innovation, widely regarded as the premier marketplace for activewear, workwear and athleisure. A specialized sourcing platform where technical textiles, yarns, membranes and accessories take centre stage.

Held at Messe München in Munich, the fair connects textile suppliers and sustainable material innovators with designers and decision-makers from major sports and outdoor brands, timed to align with seasonal sourcing cycles.

Sustainability runs through the event’s core, with a dedicated Circularity Zone showcasing recycling innovations, alongside a Trend Forum for new materials and colours, a Tech Hub covering AI and digital product passports, and an expert talks programme spanning legislation, EPR and biodiversity.

What makes it unmissable: Admission is free for industry professionals, and a digital marketplace, The Loop, offers year-round access to over 23,000 curated products.

Visit: Performance Days

Nordic Fabric Fair | Dec. 08–09, 2026 | Nacka Strandsmässan, Stockholm

Nordic Fabric Fair has a new and expanded format: Fashion and function. The relaunch is the result of a collaboration between the fair’s founders, Stockholm Fashion District, and Huginbiz, partners of international trade fairs including ISPO and Performance Days.

The new concept – taking place Dec. 8–9 at Nacka Strandsmässan in Stockholm – brings fashion, sport, outdoor, fitness and workwear together for the first time.

Why you should go: Organizers describe it as one of the first fairs of its kind, designed to create cross-industry synergies around sourcing, trends, technology and sustainable innovation. The event is pitched at international textile producers and suppliers alongside designers, buying teams and product managers from across Northern Europe. 

Visit: Nordic Fabric Fair

Trade Show Calendar at a glance: Q4 2026

October

• Oct. 01–02: SVB Live Sports Venue Business (Liverpool, UK) – sports venue design and operations
• Oct. 06–08: TITAS Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (Taipei, Taiwan) – innovative and sustainable textiles
• Oct. 07–08: Leaders Week London (London, UK) – sport business, sponsorship and investment
• Oct. 13–14: Performance Days Functional Fabric Fair (Munich, Germany) – functional fabrics and sustainable sourcing
• Oct. 15–16: LISTEX (London, UK) – winter sports and mountain destination travel
• Oct. 17–18: Snow Show London(London, UK) – consumer winter sports

November

• Nov. 03–05: ISPO Summit and Expo (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) – sporting goods, outdoor and winter sports
• Nov. 04–05: The International Running Expo (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) – running industry
• Nov. 05–10: China International Import Expo (Shanghai, China) – consumer goods and trade
• Nov. 11: INDX Sport and Leisure Show (Solihull, UK) – independent retail sourcing
• Nov. 13–14: Vertical Pro  (Friedrichshafen, Germany) – climbing and rope access
• Nov. 14–15: Snowbound Expo (Connecticut, USA) – consumer ski and snowboard
• Nov. 19–22: Kendal Mountain Festival (Kendal, UK) – outdoor culture and film
• Nov. 21–22: Alpinmesse (Innsbruck, Austria) – mountain sports and alpine safety
• Nov. 24–25: DMWF Digital Marketing World Forum (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) – digital marketing and AI

December

• Dec. 1–3: The Running Event (San Antonio, USA) – run specialty retail
• Dec. 1–3: Switchback at TRE (San Antonio, USA) – specialty running alongside TRE
• Dec. 8–9: Nordic Fabric Fair (Stockholm, Sweden) – fashion and functional textiles