In an online conference, Messe München presented its new concept for the ISPO Munich sports fair. The aim of the new concept: stronger focus on the needs of trade, a new segmentation based on the entire value creation, a stronger integration of conference formats, the first “global sport influencer summit” and an overall clear presentation.
Around 450 participants met online on Thursday morning to discuss the plans for the upcoming ISPO Munich with the ISPO managers at Messe Munich. The trade fair, which will take place on the Munich exhibition center from November 30 to December 2, 2025, should be even more align with the needs of the sports industry, which Lena Haushofer, Exhibition Director ISPO, wants to continue. Because the sports industry now includes far more players than just the classic sports clothing and sports equipment brands, which in the past still make up the majority of the fair. And some of which – that shows the development of recent years – now remain away from the fair. The topic of Health and Wellbeing, for which the fair has been committed to for years, is now to be presented more prominently. “For the first time there is a separate area for the growing understanding that sports and health go hand in hand and to seamlessly combine related topics such as relaxation and nutrition,” says Haushofer. Digital technologies and services for consumers: inside and companies should also be emphasized.
Structure of the fair into three “arenas”
Overall, the area is to be divided into three “arenas” in the future: Brands & Products, Upstream & Supply, Commerce & Experience. Brands & Products area is about established brands and emerging newcomers who present their most innovative products, technologies and brand stories. The Outdoor segment will also be located within this arena, which in turn divides into the areas of outdoor lifestyle (Hall A1) and outdoor functional (Hall A2). In the Outdoor Lifestyle area, there will be the curated zeitgeist area again as a creative highlight. In the Outdoor area Functional, there will again be the successful special area on the subject of sustainability. Other topics within this arena: team sport, training, fitness, health and the presentation of the ISPO Award winner. On the other hand, the topic of winter sports is not mentioned, once the supporting segment of the winter ispo. The winter sports fire – above all the hardware manufacturers – have increasingly withdrawn from the fair in recent years, but used the fair last year to host the “Ski Industry Climate Summit”.
The second arena, Upstream & Supply, is devoted to material and processes and is aimed at fabric and fiber manufacturers, sourcing specialist: inside, designer: inside and product developers: inside. The third and last arena, Commerce & Experience deals with sales, marketing and experiencing sports products. “This area is all about the connection between the product and consumer: in,” says Christoph Rapp, Head of Sales & Marketing of ISPO. Digital technologies and services are also located here.
Overall, there should be no more square meter limits in the exhibition areas. Haushofer: “We offer participation options for almost every need and almost every budget, from simple plug-and-play solutions to tailor-made stand areas, curated areas and sponsorship opportunities.”
First “Global Sports Influencer Summit”
In addition to the new trade fair structure, the ISPO Munich starts three new initiatives. On the one hand, it is about taking a closer look at the needs of trade. Above all, because the fair starts again on a Sunday, and thus planned two days earlier than originally planned. This is how traders can also visit the fair inside that otherwise have no time because they are indispensable on weekdays in the shop. In addition, a retail initiative, launched, is intended to provide more exchange with the trade.
On the other hand, the media presence is to be expanded in order to increase the attractiveness of the fair for the brands that are not looking for new trade contacts because they focus on direct sales. “These brands come to attract the attention of the media and position their brand,” says Rapp. In order to increase the media presence, the fair will first organize the “Global Sports Influencer Summit”, where international content creators and industry experts can be presented.
Last but not least, the fair also wants to introduce a new matchmaking tool that should make business contacts easier and promote targeted networking.
Better integration of the conference formats
While in 2024 some of the affiliated conferences took place in the neighboring ICM and was therefore spatially separated from the exhibition halls, exhibition halls and conferences should move closer together at the upcoming event. The Convention Area is integrated into the foyer of the west and the West entrance to the central entrance area for all formats. Haushofer: “So everyone has to go through the same entrance and we increase the touchpoints”. In addition to the Global Sports Influencer Summit, further conferences are to be organized: The previously German -language conference “Sport brand Medien” is to be expanded internationally and carried out as “Sport Brand Media” and the German coach Summit should also take place again. Further conferences are being planned. Numerous side events in Munich should also round off the fair again.
Ultimately, it is about combining as many relevant sub -areas of the sports industry at the fair and thus drawing a holistic picture of a differentiating industry. “The value of the ISPO increases exponentially with the number of participating actors. The more sports actors in the network, the more valuable it will be for everyone,” said Christoph Beaufils, Team Lead Isspo Marketing.
The future of the Outdoor by ISPO, which is pausing this year, was not discussed to restart the next year with a new concept. This is co-developed in cooperation with the European Outdoor Group (EOG), the outdoor industry association and ideal support of the outdoor by Isspo.