Big move for Outdoor Retailer
US trade show Outdoor Retailer has announced its new home is Minneapolis, with the first show on between August 19 and 21, 2026.
Organisers said the location has been chosen for its “world-class trails, waterways and thriving outdoor business community”.
Randolph Briley, director of Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership, said: “Moving Outdoor Retailer to Minnesota creates a fresh stage for collaboration, creativity and the outdoor community to thrive together. This step underscores the strength of our outdoor economy, driving billions in impact, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and inspiring people to get outside.”
Lindsay Hubley, senior vice-president of Emerald’s Sports and Outdoor Division, the parent company of Outdoor Retailer, added: “Over the past few months, we’ve engaged in thoughtful conversations across the outdoor community. Those insights are shaping every facet of this event. We’ve reinvented the show to reflect the dramatic changes the industry has endured, while creating a platform that amplifies innovation, collaboration, and growth.”
The show has undergone multiple changes over the past few years.
In 2017, the twice-yearly show left Utah after 20 years in protest of Utah’s officials' plans to challenge the National Monument designations, which were reinstated by President Biden in October 2021. However, in 2022 Outdoor Retailer organisers announced they would move back to Salt Lake City “with a commitment to effecting meaningful change”. In 2023, it announced a fresh format, including Hosted Buyer programme, and also merged with other shows.
For the Minneapolis show, Outdoor Retailer will:
• launch the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Scholarship, supporting specialty retailers
• offer complimentary exhibit space for Minnesota-based and "mission-driven" non-profits
• organise an Industry Day conference on topics such as AI, sustainability and supply chains; and
• revive the Outdoor Industry Innovation Awards.
Image: Minneapolis, courtesy of OR
