Outdoor Retailer aims for ‘meaningful change’
US-based trade show Outdoor Retailer has announce 275 exhibitors have signed up to this week’s event at the Minneapolis Convention Centre (August 19–21), surpassing original goal of 200, along with more than 550 retail buyers.
Education Day on August 19 features the Retailer Playbook Lab, in addition to Industry Day, an afternoon with programmes presenting business data and trends on topics including AI, new buying behaviours and wearable tech.
Matthew Mathiasen, group show director for Outdoor Retailer, said: “We’ve added a number of initiatives giving exhibitors and attendees increased ROI [return on investment].
“Wild Reach brings creators directly onto the show floor to connect with brands, a programme that would otherwise require significant investment. Through our partnership with Explore Minnesota and Meet Minneapolis, we’re providing attendees opportunities to experience our new backyard every morning in close proximity to the convention centre.”
REI’s Path Ahead Ventures (PAV) is collaborating with Outdoor Retailer to showcase products from more than 25 founder-led brands near the registration area. Attendees can vote for one brand to receive a complimentary booth at OR 2027 to share their founder story and products.
Keynote sessions will address retail strategy, technology and the future of outdoor participation, featuring speakers including Eoin Comerford, former CEO of Moosejaw and host of the Outdoor Unfiltered podcast, and endurance athlete, author and advocate Mirna Valerio.
“Outdoor Retailer 2026 is about meaningful change,” added Lindsay Hubley, senior vice-president of the sports and outdoor division. “We’re meeting the industry where it is today, investing in real launch infrastructure for new and discovery brands, strengthening the independent specialty community that has always been the backbone of this industry, and doing it in a timeframe where buyers arrive with clarity and a real need to find the outdoor industry’s next top seller.”
