BOULDER, CO (OCTOBER 28, 2025) – Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is proud to announce a dynamic lineup of events for the coming year, reaffirming its role as the strategic backbone of the outdoor industry. With the return of long-celebrated gatherings, bold new partnerships, and an emphasis on meaningful engagement, OIA continues to lead the way in building stronger outdoor businesses and a more resilient outdoor economy.
At the heart of this renewed strategy is a commitment to streamlining the industry’s event landscape, reducing fragmentation, and uniting brands, retailers, suppliers, non-profits and industry partners around shared goals. In support of this mission, OIA will host a Virtual Town Hall on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, inviting members and the broader outdoor community to learn more about upcoming opportunities for connection, innovation, and growth.
“We’ve listened to our members and the industry at large. The call was clear: optimize the event schedule, focus opportunities for connection and add purpose in how we come together,” said Kent Ebersole, President of OIA. “The 2026 convening roadmap reflects our vision to bring the industry together across advocacy, sustainability, leadership, participation and B2B engagement, with the goal of strengthening the outdoor economy at every level.”
2026 Highlights Include:
- OIA Rendezvous (March 2026) – The highly anticipated return of OIA’s signature executive-level event, focusing on long-term strategies, cross-sector collaboration, and thought leadership.
- Capitol Summit (April 2026) – A cornerstone advocacy event, offering direct engagement with lawmakers to amplify the industry’s voice and policy impact.
- Catalyst Conference (Fall 2026) – Practitioner-led sustainability education, offering real-world solutions for environmentally responsible growth.
- Switchback Shows (Spring & Fall 2026) – In partnership with industry leaders, these events serve as premier buying and shows, and gathering place for leadership development, innovation, and community building.
- Outside Festival (Summer 2026) – A powerful consumer-facing event promoting outdoor participation and culture.
Purposeful Convening, Lasting Impact
These strategic convenings are core to OIA’s value proposition: building stronger outdoor businesses through actionable insights, government advocacy, sustainable business practices, and cutting-edge learning. From executive planning sessions to retail-focused education, each event is designed to empower the industry to make informed decisions, reduce environmental impact, shape policy, and foster community.
Join the Conversation: November 4 Virtual Open House
OIA invites all members and the broader outdoor community to its Virtual Town Hall on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, where OIA leaders will share the full 2026 event calendar, provide strategic insights, and discuss how businesses can maximize their engagement in the year ahead. To register for OIA’s Virtual Town Hall please sign up at this LINK.
About Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.
Media Contact: Chris Denny / Denny, ink. / chris@dennyink.com
