Organisers of ISPO, the world’s leading trade event for the sporting goods, outdoor, and winter sports industries, have announced the first highlights of the ISPO 2026 agenda. Among the newly confirmed speakers for the all-new Leaders’ Summit are IIC – INTERSPORT International Corporation CEO Tom Foley and World Cup and Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn.
They will join an impressive line-up of industry visionaries, including filmmaker and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, Celine Del Genes (Decathlon, Global Game Changers), Hap Klopp (Founder, The North Face), Professor Laura McAllister (Vice President of UEFA), Andy Rubin (Deputy Chair, Pentland Group), John Lacy (CEO, Burton), and Pia Heidenmark Cook (Former Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Ingka/IKEA).
The ISPO Leaders’ Summit will be an exclusive, C-suite level conference bringing together senior executives, policymakers, and changemakers from across the global sports ecosystem. Through keynote addresses, fireside chats, and panel discussions, speakers will share their expertise and debate critical topics such as fair trade, participation, and sustainability.
Lindsey Vonn, widely regarded as the most successful female alpine skier in history, brings unparalleled sporting insight to the Summit. She won Olympic gold in downhill skiing at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and claimed four World Cup Championships, along with a record eight season titles. Vonn is also one of only six women to win World Cup races across all five alpine disciplines: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and super combined. Recently, she made a historic return from retirement to rejoin the U.S. Ski Team, aiming for another appearance at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“There are so many parallels between competing at a high level and leading a business. I’m looking forward to joining the Leaders’ Summit in Amsterdam and connecting with the people behind the brands we all love,” Vonn said.
Tom Foley brings more than two decades of experience in global sports retail. Before becoming CEO of IIC – INTERSPORT International Corporation, he served as CEO of French retailer Go Sport and previously led its Middle East operations. He is also the founder of the Independent Sports Retailers Alliance in Ireland, which he headed until 2011. Known for steering businesses through rapidly changing retail landscapes, Foley is recognised for his strategic insight into what it takes to succeed in a highly competitive market.
Mike Seaman, Group CEO of Raccoon Media Group, commented: “The Leaders’ Summit will see a veritable who’s who of the industry share decades of experience. There is very little that our speakers haven’t seen or experienced, and we’re honoured to have them all attend and share their learnings, insights, and knowledge. The Summit is an event not to be missed.”
The complete Summit programme is available at the ISPO website.
Raccoon Media Group, together with partner Messe München, has committed a total investment of €3 million to reimagine ISPO from 2026 onwards. Of this, €1 million will be dedicated specifically to content across the Leaders’ Summit and the Expo, with the aim of creating a richer and more memorable visitor experience.
“ISPO 2026 will be so much more than a trade show,” said Kate Jamieson, Content Director at Raccoon Media Group. “ISPO will address the head – the commercial side that keeps our industry vibrant and profitable. At the same time, we will focus on the heart – why we do what we do, what motivates us, and what inspires people to move. This balance will be reflected in our content, combining strong business insight with a healthy dose of fun.”
The expanded content programme will run across all three days of ISPO 2026. Visitors can expect a wide range of interactive activations, including a Rail Jam outside the RAI with live stunts and demos, the ‘Screen to Summit’ interactive climbing wall, Summit Sprint, The Runway, avalanche simulation, Shop of the Future, and a VR Powder Run.
In addition, four theatres on the show floor will host educational sessions, while popular features such as the Functional Clothing Swap and BrandNew — a Dragon’s Den-style pitch zone for start-ups — will return. A series of fringe networking events, hosted by leading industry associations, will further strengthen connections across the sporting goods, outdoor, and winter sports sectors.
“We are curating an immersive and interactive experience across the three show zones so that every attendee leaves engaged and inspired,” Jamieson added. “Ultimately, every element of ISPO 2026 is designed to ensure visitors feel they have experienced something truly special and that their time and investment were worthwhile.”