Coverage by SGI Europe – Editorial Team.
The International Running Expo (IRX) held its inaugural edition at the RAI convention center in Amsterdam on Nov. 4-5, positioning itself as Europe’s first dedicated B2B trade show for the running industry. Backed by a new €3 million partnership with ISPO, the event aims to become a central platform for innovation.
Backed also by SCOTT Sports and organized by Raccoon Media Group, the event brought together brands, retailers and professionals for two days of product showcases, panel discussions and networking.
Format
The program featured talks with ultrarunning figures Dean Karnazes and Scott Jurek and Intersport CEO Tom Foley, who discussed the future of sports retail with Runner’s World editor Urs Weber. Themes included AI and marketing, sustainability and engaging midlife women in sport. Activations such as morning runs, yoga sessions and an ISPO-sponsored Cool Down Party aimed to foster community engagement.
Early days, tall ambitions
While the first edition attracted visitors and brand participation, the event’s long-term success will depend on scaling attendance, deepening retailer engagement and establishing differentiation within an already crowded European trade fair calendar. The organizers have signaled strong intent: immediately after the event, Raccoon Media Group announced a strategic partnership with Messe München, organizer of ISPO, backed by a €3 million investment program to strengthen both fairs and enhance collaboration between the running, outdoor and winter sports sectors.
What’s next
The next editions of IRX and ISPO will be held jointly on Nov. 4-5, 2026, in Amsterdam – a move that could elevate IRX’s profile by embedding it within the broader ISPO ecosystem and leveraging shared infrastructure, audiences and credibility.
IRX’s debut was an ambitious entry into the European trade fair landscape. Its future relevance will hinge on execution, strategic alignment with ISPO and its ability to offer tangible value to an industry already served by established platforms.