ISPO 2025 is seeing a 20 percent year-over-year increase in ticket sales as of mid-October, signaling positive momentum ahead of its Nov. 30–Dec. 2 edition in Munich. With over 100 start-ups confirmed, the event will host the largest number of new companies in its history, according to organizer Messe München. “ISPO 2025 impressively demonstrates how change and continuity can go hand in hand,” said Exhibition Director Lena Haushofer, pointing to new formats, partnerships and an expanded innovation focus.
Yet while the metrics point upward, strategic questions remain unresolved. Industry observers continue to speculate about ISPO’s long-term direction within Messe München’s portfolio and whether Munich will remain its permanent home. “We are in the midst of a change process,” the ISPO team told our sister publication SGI Europe. “With ISPO 2025, the process is showing its first positive interim results, but it needs to continue into the coming year.”
The show, themed “Maze to Movement,” aims to evolve beyond a traditional trade show. New areas include a Retail Club, the House of Content and renewed collaboration with Highsnobiety. The conference program emphasizes sustainability, and side events such as Sports Tech Nation and the Trainers’ Summit expand ISPO’s offering. Despite the positive signals, ISPO faces growing competition from emerging shows like Prowinter in Bolzano or the new International Running Expo (IRX) in Amsterdam. With budgets tight and calendars crowded, the broader role of trade shows in the active lifestyle sector remains in flux. This is also reflected in recent changes at long-standing trade shows such as Outdoor (move to Riva in Italy) and the US trade show Outdoor Retailer (move to Minneapolis).
Read the full article on our sister publication, SGI Europe.
