In 2026, participating in ORBDAYS & Outdor will not only mean taking part in an industry event, but also entering the broader context of the European Outdoor & Running Week, from May 14 to 19, which will transform Riva del Garda into one of the European reference points for outdoor and running business.
For specialized running retailers, this is the real news of the 2026 edition: ORBDAYS & Outdoor this year will take place from Sunday, May 17 to Tuesday, May 19 and it will no longer be just a trade fair event, but will be part of an international and strategic ecosystem, where product, market, relationships, and vision coexist at the same time and in the same place.
This is where the trade show acquires even more value for those who work every day in the running specialty. Because today, more than ever, a retailer not only needs to see collections, but also to understand the market, anticipate sector trends, engage with the right brands, and build assortments with greater awareness.
Five reasons to be present at the trade show
1. Running is changing, and it needs to be closely observed
In recent years, running has accelerated in complexity and segmentation. Road, trail, performance, comfort, training, race-day, increasingly specialized footwear, technical apparel, accessories, and an increasingly informed clientele are changing how a store builds its assortment. Being present at ORBDAYS & Outdoor means being able to observe these changes more directly, comparing visions, collections, and strategies in a key moment of the season.
2. Better assortment selection
For a retailer, the real value of an industry event lies in the quality of the decisions it helps make. Being able to meet multiple brands in the same context, compare positions, verify innovations, observe category evolutions, and relate products to each other means building orders and assortments with greater clarity. In a market where choosing better matters more than choosing more.
3. Truly engaging with brands
One of the most concrete advantages of ORBDAYS & Outdoor remains the direct relationship with people. Speaking with agents, distributors, brand managers, and product teams allows a retailer to gather information that often does not emerge elsewhere: sell-out support, collection logic, availability, materials, storytelling, training, commercial potential. At a time when the specialized store must differentiate itself more and more, the relationship with the brand is not a detail: it is part of the competitive value.
4. Testing, observing, and validating
In the running specialty, a product is not well presented if it has not been truly understood. The opportunity to closely observe innovations, place them in a real context, and immediately engage with those who have designed or distributed them helps the retailer better validate their choices. And this has a direct impact on in-store work: those who know the product better tell its story better, sell it better, and make it more credible to the end customer.
5. The 2026 context raises the level of the experience
The inclusion of ORBDAYS & Outdoor in the European Outdoor Week calendar also changes the value of participation.
This year, in fact, the trade show is part of a broader ecosystem, where product, market, sustainability, industrial vision, and relationships coexist at the same time and in the same place. For the specialized retailer, this means experiencing the fair in a more strategic way: not only as an opportunity to see collections and meet brands, but as a useful moment to better understand the sector and guide commercial choices with greater clarity.
Running is increasingly in the spotlight
Running has a strong, autonomous identity that is becoming increasingly central in the European sports business landscape.
And specialized retailers need events that truly speak their language: that of selection, specialization, relationships, and vision. ORBDAYS & Outdoor fits exactly into this space, and this year it does so with even greater strength, thanks to a new, broader, and more relevant international context.
This is confirmed not only by the event’s positioning, but also by the market’s response: hundreds of retailers have already chosen to participate, recognizing the event as an increasingly useful moment to understand the sector, engage with brands, and guide their choices for the future.
We have collected some of their testimonials, which directly explain why today the trade show represents an increasingly relevant event for those who work every day in the running specialty.
Retailers’ voices
“We participate in the event mainly to have an overview of the outdoor and running market, with particular attention to possible new trends and company initiatives. It is also an important moment for retailers and companies to meet, useful for discussing the season’s progress and future forecasts. Currently, at a national level, we believe it is the most important fair in the sector. And there is also a not insignificant aspect: the location is fantastic.” – Marco Piovesan, Passsport, Busche (BL)
“We will participate to discover the sector’s innovations, engage with other professionals, and delve into the latest trends.
Being present at this event also allows us to strengthen our network and evaluate new brands to include in our stores, always with the aim of offering our customers the best solutions for running and walking in comfort and safety.
Our main expectations are to be inspired, update our offering, and create new collaborations that can enrich Rico Running’s proposal for all running and walking enthusiasts.” – Massimo Mangino, Rico Running, Livorno and Lucca
“I participate because, in fact, it is the only fair that focuses on trail running and outdoor, where I have the opportunity to see the novelties for the SS2027 season in a single day and in a single place. It is also a great opportunity to meet friends and competitors, but above all to see people from companies, such as product managers, customer service, managers, who often do not meet during the year. My expectations are not particularly high in terms of business, because I do not go there to place orders, but mainly to see, explore, and evaluate.” – Hansjörg Pichler, Pro:Cursu, Bolzano
“For us, it is always important to be there, as it is a way to evaluate how much companies are investing in our sector.
Especially by observing, season after season, how the largest brands decide to allocate the budget and how much they choose to focus on running. The fair also allows us to discover or get to know emerging brands better, especially when we need to introduce new products in the store, such as accessories.
It is also a useful opportunity to physically touch some products that we have only seen during online ordering and that we have evaluated based on the information received from the company: at the fair, instead, we can finally see them in person.
Finally, it remains an important moment of comparison with colleagues, to exchange opinions and points of view, especially today when meetings organized by companies are increasingly rare and in some cases are no longer held.” – Luigi Ferraris, Ready To Run, Torre Boldone (BG) “We will participate because it is one of the most important fairs in Italy and sees a wide participation from companies in the sector. Being present is essential to understand the direction brands are taking and how they intend to work in future seasons.
Furthermore, the fair offers the opportunity to test and physically touch the new collections, an aspect that is always very important for us.
Our expectation is that the brands present guarantee the highest level of technical explanation of the products, allowing us to evaluate them with greater awareness.” – Marco Figliuzzi, KM 42, Vicenza
Are you a specialized retailer or an industry professional? Register at this link. See you in Riva!
