Organisers of the first European Outdoor Week (EOW) have provided an update on the event and issued a final call to action to get involved. Full details of the programme are now available, which includes the return of OUTDOOR, at which over 350 brands will exhibit to thousands of retail and media visitors. EOW is being delivered by the European Outdoor Group in partnership with the MagNet Group, and will be held in Riva del Garda, Italy, from 14-19 May.

Outdoor Impact Summit, 14-15 May

European Outdoor Week will begin with the second edition of the Outdoor Impact Summit (OIS). The two-day summit agenda has been built around a core theme: ‘No Excuses!’, and includes keynote presentations, workshops, breakout sessions, networking and time outdoors. OIS is a platform that brings together the entire outdoor supply chain and a wider community of professionals, and is dedicated to sustainability, responsible innovation, and social impact.

Summit speakers this year are thought leaders from within and outside the industry, who will bringing a wide range of deep insights, and will include: former MEP, minister of defence, and deputy governor of Banque de France Sylvie Goulard; experienced brand and marketing strategist Frederik Ekström of Above The Clouds; and Nacho Garcia-Valdecasas of online retail giant Amazon.

Content throughout the summit will focus on direct actions that organisations can take to redefine the boundaries of responsibility in the outdoor sector. The detailed schedule for the summit can be found at www.europeanoutdoorweek.com/outdoor-impact-summit.

There is still time to secure tickets for the 2026 Outdoor Impact Summit HERE.

Outdoor Media Day, 16 May

A key objective of European Outdoor Week is to bring together stakeholders from across the outdoor sector, making connections and adding value to the programme for all participants. Ahead of the return of OUTDOOR, EOW will host a special Outdoor Media Day, to help engagement between exhibiting brands and journalists from around Europe. Over 50 media representatives have already signed up for the initiative, which will run from 14:00-18:00 on 16 May, and will be followed by a social event and then the European Outdoor Award ceremony. Exhibiting brands and media who want to find out more about participating in the event should visit www.europeanoutdoorweek.com/european-outdoor-media-day.

European Outdoor Award, 16 May

The new European Outdoor Award scheme will celebrate the best of the outdoor sector in 16 categories, covering products and community. The awards will put a high profile spotlight on innovative product developments to support both sell-in and sell-through, while the scheme is also highlighting diversity and inclusion, and best practice in environmental, social and governance work. Following an online entry process, a jury of industry experts will select the winners, who will be revealed at a ceremony on the evening of 16 May, and then celebrated during OUTDOOR. Find out more about the European Outdoor Award at https://futureofsportshub.com/european-outdoor-award.

OUTDOOR, 17-19 May

Over 350 brands will be represented at the return of OUTDOOR, the European outdoor sector’s premier international trade show. The event will be held alongside the popular Outdoor & Running Days (ORBDays) show, in five halls at the Riva del Garda Exhibition Center, and in outdoor areas around the venue. As well as the booths, there will be a packed programme of events in and around the show, including new Activation Days for the trade and consumers, offering opportunities to engage at a deeper level with brands and their products. Find out more about OUTDOOR at www.europeanoutdoorweek.com/outdoor-trade-show.

In4Out, 18 May

A key feature of the new OUTDOOR, the Innovation For Outdoor (In4Out) programme is for product managers and business decision makers and is an opportunity for start-ups to pitch innovations to investors and the wider industry. At OUTDOOR, a dedicated In4Out session will run from 13:30–15:30 on Monday 18 May and will consist of moderated panel discussions and pitches from start-ups, followed by opportunities for networking. Selected start-ups will also have a small stand presence during the show in an In4out area on the show floor. There are two rounds of applications to pitch through In4Out, and the second of those is still open. Find out more at https://www.europeanoutdoorweek.com/innovation-for-outdoor.  

EOG Managing Director Christian Schneidermeier, comments: “Anticipation is really building as we get close to the first European Outdoor Week. We’ve developed and promoted each element really carefully and that’s been reflected in the very positive response to the individual events, and the overall concept. The demand for set piece in-person gatherings has always existed, but we knew that we had to shape and adapt this new concept in a way that would deliver strong and wide appeal. We have achieved that and the support from the trade has been very encouraging. Ultimately, European Outdoor Week will only succeed in the long-term if people turn up. If my industry colleagues have not yet booked places for some or all of the week, I urge them to do that now – it’s definitely shaping up to be a week that they won’t want to miss.”

Find all of the details for the first European Outdoor Week at www.europeanoutdoorweek.com.

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