Outdoor Industry Association unveils ambitious 2026 convening roadmap with new flagship events and enhanced industry collaboration
The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) has unveiled an ambitious and carefully crafted roadmap of convenings for 2026, signalling a renewed commitment to uniting the outdoor sector around shared priorities such as advocacy, sustainability, leadership, and business-to-business engagement. This strategic vision emerges from extensive consultation with members and industry stakeholders, aiming to streamline event schedules and maximise meaningful connection opportunities. The announcement highlights a series of flagship events anchored by an inaugural Virtual Town Hall slated for November 4, 2025, designed to engage the wider outdoor community and outline the forthcoming year’s opportunities.
At the heart of the 2026 agenda is the return of well-loved gatherings such as the OIA Rendezvous in March, which will focus on executive leadership and cross-sector collaboration, fostering long-term strategic thinking. Following this is the Capitol Summit in April, a vital advocacy platform that facilitates direct dialogue between industry leaders and policymakers, enhancing the outdoor sector's political influence. Complementing these is the Catalyst Conference in the fall, which will deliver practitioner-led sustainability education, a critical area as businesses respond to increasing demands for environmentally responsible practices. Alongside these, the Switchback Shows—held in both spring and fall—will serve as essential trade and buying events paired with leadership development and innovation showcases. The lineup culminates with the Outside Festival in summer, a high-profile consumer-facing event aimed at driving outdoor participation and cultural engagement.
This curated event series aims to reinforce OIA’s role as the strategic backbone of the industry, offering members tools for informed decision-making, policy shaping, environmental stewardship, and community building. OIA President Kent Ebersole emphasised the association’s response to clear member feedback by focusing on optimisation and purposeful convening that can support sustained growth and resilience within the outdoor economy.
The partnership with Switchback Events exemplifies this integrated approach, with the two organisations deepening collaboration to provide national gatherings that blend education, networking, and celebration. Switchback’s events, including the upcoming December 2025 TRE event in Texas and the Switchback Spring show in New Orleans, promise robust programming tailored to varied business stages, further reinforcing industry cohesion and innovation.
In the broader context, OIA's advocacy efforts are supported by regular policy updates and educational webinars, such as the May 2025 Policy Town Hall that addressed critical trade issues and protections for public lands. These initiatives strengthen the association's influence in Washington, aiming to reduce operational costs and promote innovation for outdoor businesses nationwide.
While OIA’s roadmap is primarily focused on the outdoor sector, it shares a common industry theme with other trade bodies, such as the Industrial Supply Association and regional marketing organisations, which also highlight the importance of strategic convenings for growth, innovation, and engagement within their respective fields. The Industrial Supply Association’s ISA26 event, for instance, demonstrates a parallel commitment to collaborative learning, exemplified by its focus on emerging technologies and talent development.
With its comprehensive lineup, the OIA’s 2026 convening roadmap promises to deliver a balanced blend of advocacy, business development, sustainability education, and community-building opportunities, reinforcing the outdoor industry’s vitality and responsiveness in an evolving economic and environmental landscape. The upcoming Virtual Town Hall will mark the formal unveiling of this schedule, inviting industry stakeholders to actively participate in shaping a resilient and thriving outdoor economy.