Due to the spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and following the recommendation of the Bavarian State Government and the competent health authorities, Messe München is compelled to cancel OutDoor by ISPO 2020. This step was taken in agreement with the European Outdoor Group (EOG) trade association in order to protect the health of exhibitors and visitors. The next OutDoor by ISPO will be held in summer 2021.

“Under these circumstances it is not reasonable to go ahead with OutDoor by ISPO as scheduled—for health and economic reasons,” said Klaus Dittrich, Chairman and CEO of Messe München, who is responsible for OutDoor by ISPO. “We are now looking ahead and working together with the industry to organize a successful OutDoor by ISPO 2021.”

The decision was taken in close consultation with the European Outdoor Group, the OutDoor by ISPO Advisory Board and the exhibitors.

Mark Held, the President of the European Outdoor Group, said: “The outdoor industry is facing unprecedented stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that cancelling OutDoor by ISPO 2020 will free up much needed company resources that can be used to support employees, retailers and other stakeholders along the supply chain. The more we can do now to protect everyone involved, the better equipped we will be once this crisis is over. Then Outdoor by ISPO 2021 will offer a key platform for the entire industry and will set standards for the economic comeback.”

A decision about the continuation of ISPO Digitize Summit, ISPO Textrends and Outstanding Outdoor formats will be taken at a later date.

Exhibitors and visitors will find further information on the latest developments at this link.

Tobias Gröber, Business Unit Manager Consumer Goods at Messe München, and Markus Hefter, the project manager of OutDoor by ISPO, tell us in an interview how difficult the decision to cancel OutDoor by ISPO was for them. Click here to read it.