September 22, 2025 EOG’s flagship Outdoor event returns with a purpose-driven agenda

After a pause, the European Outdoor Group brings back its main trade show in 2026 – this time as part of a broader week designed to strengthen industry collaboration on pressing challenges like environmental impact and shared responsibility.

The European Outdoor Group (EOG) has revealed the first details of the return of the industry’s flagship international trade show in 2026. Outdoor will take place from 17-18 May in Riva del Garda in Italy and will form part of a new initiative called European Outdoor Week, which will also incorporate the Outdoor Impact Summit, an EOG Assembly, outdoor awards ceremony and networking event, and a festival style activation for trade and consumer visitors.

European Outdoor Week will host multiple industry events

When it announced a pause for Outdoor this year, the EOG reaffirmed its commitment to staging a trade show for the European outdoor industry, with a fresh approach for 2026. The association has worked on plans for next year in extensive collaboration involving its board members, executive team and external stakeholders and partners. When Outdoor returns, the EOG will align it with the regional show Outdoor and Running Business Days (ORBD), sharing infrastructure and cooperating on marketing. The association is working closely with MagNet Srl SB, which owns and organizes ORBD.

Outdoor 2026 will be the centerpiece of the new European Outdoor Week, which will run from 15-20 May, all in Riva del Garda. Following the success of the inaugural Outdoor Impact Summit, the second staging of the event will be from 15-16 May, and will conclude with the EOG Assembly, a refreshed Outdoor Awards ceremony, and a networking dinner. Outdoor will take place alongside Outdoor and Running Business Days from 17-18 May, and the week will finish with a new outdoor festival concept, providing trade and consumer visitors with an opportunity to test equipment during a range of activities involving key participating brands and leading outdoor athletes.

Collaboration and industry input shape new format

The EOG has announced the first details of plans for Outdoor and European Outdoor Week now, to encourage brands, retailers and other organizations in the value chain to get in touch and explore the numerous opportunities that the week presents. Bringing a family of high profile outdoor trade focused events together in one place and at the same time, will allow partners to put a high profile focus on the sector, that reaches beyond the core industry. The EOG has listened to feedback and ideas from its members and other colleagues, and has built a line-up that meets the requirements of all parts of the industry, in a format that enables businesses to maximize the value of getting involved, and the return on any investment in one or all of the events.

Christian Schneidermeier, EOG director, comments:

“The EOG has long been the voice of the outdoor sector and one of our core roles is to deliver a vibrant platform that supports collaboration that in turn facilitates profitable, responsible business. Hosting a major international trade show has been at the heart of that work for many years and when we paused Outdoor this year, we made it clear that the show would return.”

“No excuses” approach to sector-wide engagement

Schneidermeier continues to explain that the concept for European Outdoor Week was shaped over the past year to create a meaningful gathering for the sector in a location that reflects the spirit of the outdoors. While Riva del Garda provides that setting, he notes that each event within the week must stand on its own and work together as a cohesive whole to broaden the event’s appeal and increase its overall value.

“Most importantly, Outdoor will be at the heart of a concept that unites and activates our whole community in one place. We have been using the phrase ‘no excuses’ in our discussions and this applies to many aspects of the project – ultimately, we want to ensure that there are no excuses for any organisation in the outdoor sector to consider missing out. At the European Outdoor Group, we recognise that these are challenging times, and the best way to tackle the biggest challenges is to get on the front foot with positive, constructive action. This is what we’re doing and I urge colleagues to join us in Riva del Garda in 2026.”

Full details of Outdoor 2026 and the other events that form European Outdoor Week will be revealed by the end of October. For more information about Outdoor, visit www.europeanoutdoorgroup.com/european-outdoor-week.