ISPO 2025 Lays The Foundation For Strategic Further Development

ISPO 2025 was strongly shaped by change this year, with a sharper focus on retail and innovation. With this, ISPO 2025 lays the groundwork for the continued development of the trade show format.

Across the three days of the event, the sports industry met in nine halls—divided into three arenas structured along the value chain with numerous conferences to discuss the challenging market environment. While inventories are slowly stabilizing, subdued consumer spending, and an uncertain global landscape continue to shape the market, the event also highlighted the industry's innovative strength: growth segments such as running, racket sports, female performance (high-performance apparel designed for women), health, and wellbeing are clearly developing positively.

"In the panels, at the booths, and especially at the Retail Conference, it became clear where the industry sees potential and how much more confident it is about the future compared to recent years," summarizes ISPO Exhibition Director Lena Haushofer. "Challenges remain, but the industry is bringing solutions, answers, and determination. And that created a very positive atmosphere." Growth areas such as corporate health or performance technologies underscore the potential for a transforming sports landscape.

New hall structure and the ISPO Retail Club sharpen focus on retail topics

• Within the industry, sports, outdoor, fashion, tech, and health continue to converge. This is why the organizers of ISPO focused this year on a holistic, curated, and retail-specific program and trade show environment.
• The clear structure of halls and segments—developed in close dialogue with brands, associations, retailers, and media representatives—ensures orientation along the value chain. The presentations showcased trend-setting products and solutions.
• The launch of the Retail Club, panels on the future of retail with industry leaders Margit Gosau (Sport 2000), Dr. Alexander von Preen (Intersport Deutschland e.G.), and Arnaud Sauret (Decathlon Deutschland), as well as a strong prioritization of retail needs, demonstrate that the targeted strategic adjustments paid off and were widely welcomed. Decision-makers from established brands, emerging newcomers, and retailers came together to discuss future topics and strategies.

ISPO Brandnew highlights start-up potential; Founders Fight Night and the ISPO Award honor new ideas and solutions

• A particularly positive sign: with 120 start-ups, ISPO reached a new record. This shows that new ideas, technologies, and business models are entering the market and can inject new growth impulses into the industry.
• The broad spectrum of innovations—from portable ice baths to functional gaming apparel—demonstrates the dynamism with which young companies are shaping the market. The winners emerging from the live pitches at the exciting Founders Fight Night were celebrated across the industry for their creativity.

Executive Panel discusses responsibility and markets.

A program highlight was the cross-segment Executive Panel featuring Tim Selby (Merrell), Christoph Engl (Oberalp), Astrid Thams Labayen (Hexagon Cup), and Marc-Ivar Magnus (WFSGI). The discussion on the impact of political shifts made one thing clear: global uncertainty and related consequences, such as tariff conflicts, reduce access to sports and therefore pose a risk for rising inactivity and health issues within the population. Industry leaders are aware of their responsibility and are actively shaping strategies to make sports more accessible and future-proof.

ISPO Cup 2025: Laura Philipp as a role model for empowerment in sports

Against this backdrop, ISPO presented the ISPO Cup 2025 to triathlete Laura Philipp. The decision highlights the industry's core values. Philipp has been among the world's best for years, champions topics such as female performance and mental health, and has consistently pursued her own path: combining entrepreneurship with elite sports to build an independent career outside institutional structures.

Further development of ISPO

ISPO 2025 demonstrated how crucial transformation and ongoing development are for the sporting goods industry—building a bridge toward the next edition. Based on strategic reconceptualization and within the framework of a joint venture between Messe München and Raccoon Media Group, ISPO will undergo a fundamental realignment. Next year, the event will take place earlier in the calendar, from 3 to 5 November, at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam.