Key Takeaways:
- REI Co-op’s Path Ahead Ventures is bringing more than 25 founder-led brands to Outdoor Retailer 2026, with attendees voting on a complimentary 2027 booth.
- More than 275 exhibitors and 550 retail buyers are expected at the August 19-21 Minneapolis show, both above initial targets.
- August 19 is a full Education Day (Ascent Summit and Retailer Playbook Lab in the morning, Industry Day in the afternoon), with the expo floor open August 20-21.
Outdoor Retailer announced Tuesday that REI Co-op’s Path Ahead Ventures (PAV) is collaborating with the show to showcase products from more than 25 founder-led brands near the registration area at the 2026 Minneapolis show, giving the initiative one of the most visible placements on the floor.
“REI Co-op Path Ahead Ventures exists to accelerate the success of founders of color in the outdoor industry,” Keenan Corrigan, Managing Director of Path Ahead Ventures, said in a statement. “By showcasing products from founder-led brands in our community, we’re helping increase visibility for emerging businesses, creating opportunities for retail buyers to discover innovative products, and highlighting the entrepreneurs helping strengthen and expand our industry.”
Attendees will vote for one brand from the PAV showcase to receive a complimentary booth at Outdoor Retailer 2027, where the winner will share its founder story and products with the full show floor.
The PAV activation sits alongside a broader discovery push at the 2026 show. Established brands including Backcountry, Body Glove, Red Wing Shoe Co. and Wenonah Canoe will exhibit alongside emerging names such as ALPAKA, Bowl & Kettle, NAVEE and Wolfpack. More than 70 young brands will take part through the Ascent Program, which connects new brands with retailers and media, while Garage Grown Gear and Founded Outdoors are bringing additional independent, retail-ready brands to the floor.
“Having a prominent presence on the show floor signals the key role these young brands are playing in the outdoor community,” Lloyd Vogel, Founder of Garage Grown Gear, said in a statement. “Small and independent brands built this industry. Centering them in the middle of the show, instead of a back corner, is exactly where they belong. We’ve seen firsthand how a single conversation on the floor can change the trajectory of a brand’s entire year.”
More Than 550 Retail Buyers Set to Attend
More than 550 retail buyers and retail organizations are expected at the Minneapolis Outdoor Retailer show, spanning specialty retailers, regional chains, international retailers and ecommerce businesses. Confirmed retailers include Academy Sports, Alpenglow, Appalachian Outfitters, Camping World, Cape Union Mart, Gearhead Outfitters, MEC, REI, River Sports Outfitters, Runnings, Sunlight Sports, The Sportsman’s Guide, The Trail Head and Westerlind Outdoors, among others. Outdoor Retailer’s Outdoor Specialty Scholarship and Hosted Buyer Program are providing travel support for qualifying attendees.
Keynote programming will address retail strategy, technology and the future of outdoor participation. Confirmed speakers include Eoin Comerford, Former CEO of Moosejaw and Host of the Outdoor Unfiltered podcast, and endurance athlete, author and advocate Mirna Valerio.
“Outdoor Retailer 2026 is about meaningful change,” Lindsay Hubley, Senior Vice President, Sports and Outdoor Division, Emerald, said in a statement. “We’re meeting the industry where it is today, investing in real launch infrastructure for new and discovery brands, strengthening the independent specialty community that has always been the backbone of this industry, and doing it in a timeframe where buyers arrive with clarity and a real need to find the outdoor industry’s next top seller. We are fueling the future.”
Show Details
Outdoor Retailer runs August 19-21 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, with more than 275 exhibitors confirmed, surpassing the show’s original goal of 200, and more than 550 retail buyers expected.
The show follows a redesigned structure this year. August 19 is a full Education Day, split into two simultaneous morning tracks: the Ascent Summit, a program for founders of independent and specialty outdoor brands, and the Retailer Playbook Lab, a series of hands-on workshops for specialty retailers covering AI, digital media, e-commerce trends and circular resale. Industry Day takes over the afternoon of August 19, presenting key business data and trends on topics including AI, new buying behaviors and wearable tech. The expo floor is open August 20-21.
The show is also offering access to more than 15 million followers through the inaugural Wild Reach Initiative, powered by Popfly, which brings more than 150 curated outdoor creators onto the show floor across all three days. Creators are matched with participating exhibitors ahead of the show, arriving with established relationships and a content plan in place.
