Emerald Moves Outdoor Retailer to Minneapolis in 2026Emerald Moves Outdoor Retailer to Minneapolis in 2026
Emerald is relocating Outdoor Retailer from Salt Lake City to Minneapolis for August 19-21, 2026, with a reimagined format featuring a new leadership structure, innovation districts, and enhanced focus on sustainability and emerging brands to serve the $1.2 trillion North American outdoor industry.
October 9, 2025
Outdoor Retailer, produced by public company Emerald, is relocating from Salt Lake City to Minneapolis for 2026. After consolidating from two annual shows in 2024 to a single June event in 2025 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, the B2B show serving the $1.2 trillion North American outdoor industry will now take place August 19–21, 2026. Minneapolis was selected for its world-class trails, waterways, and thriving outdoor business community, organizers said. In 2023, outdoor recreation contributed $13.5 billion to Minnesota's economy, accounting for 2.8% of the state's GDP.
Outdoor Retailer will be held August 19–21, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Strategic Reinvention
"Over the past few months, we've engaged in thoughtful conversations across the outdoor community," said Lindsay Hubley, senior vice president of Emerald's Sports and Outdoor Division. "Those insights are shaping every facet of this event. We've reinvented the show to reflect the dramatic changes the industry has endured, while creating a platform that amplifies innovation, collaboration, and growth."
2025 Performance: Outdoor Retailer 2025 at the Salt Palace Convention Center drew nearly 1,700 attendees and more than 350 exhibiting brands from over 40 states across the three-day show.
New Leadership Structure
A new leadership team will be co-led by renowned athlete and Summit Scholarship Founder Sunny Stroeer and industry veteran Paul Gagner. Together with Hubley, they will guide a team of brand leaders, designers, sustainability experts, athletes, and emerging voices to shape the show's future direction.
Additional leadership team members include:
Dana Caraway, founder and principal of Caraway & Co
Sasha DiGiulian, champion climber and global outdoor adventure advocate
Peter Sachs, outdoor industry veteran and former GM of LOWA Boots
Mike Massey, founder of Locally
Additional leaders will be announced by October 30, organizers said.
"Outdoor Retailer must be a discovery engine, a strategic gathering place, and a convener for all corners of the outdoor community," said Stroeer and Gagner. "The new Leadership Village will bring this to life, creating a space to share knowledge, tackle challenges, and spark innovation."
Outdoor Retailer 2025 at the Salt Palace Convention Center drew nearly 1,700 attendees and more than 350 exhibiting brands across the three-day show.
Reimagined Show Experience
New initiatives include:
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Scholarship supporting specialty retailers
Complimentary exhibit space for leading Minnesota-based and mission-driven nonprofits
Industry Day conference covering AI, sustainability, and supply chain topics
Revival of the Outdoor Industry Innovation Awards
Show Highlights:
Ascent – Innovation district for emerging brands
Camp Forward – Startup pitches and futurist keynotes
Campfire – Storytelling and video content
Outdoor Lab – Forward-thinking product design
Industry Day – Full-day conference with actionable insights on AI, e-commerce, sustainability, and supply chain strategy
About the Author
Related Stories
