The “2026 Seoul International Sports & Leisure Industry Show (SPOEX),” jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), and cohosted by the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO) and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), will take place at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from March 26 to 29.

Since its launch in 2001, SPOEX has grown into Korea’s largest sports industry exhibition and one of Asia’s three major sports trade shows, serving as an international platform that offers a comprehensive view of the latest trends at the intersection of sports, technology, and industry. This year’s exhibition is expected to bring together around 300 companies from Korea and abroad and attract approximately 46,000 visitors.

Going beyond a conventional exhibition, this year’s event will serve as a comprehensive platform for experiencing the latest sports industry technologies and trends firsthand and connecting them to business opportunities. A wide range of products will be showcased, including health and fitness equipment, sporting goods, healthcare technologies, and underwater and water sports equipment. Advanced sports services incorporating cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence–based exercise prescription systems and digital physical fitness assessment solutions, will also be presented.

In particular, the AI+SPO-TECH Special Pavilion will offer visitors the opportunity to experience innovative products and services that reflect global technology trends. The Professional Sports Special Pavilion will highlight both the scalability and popular appeal of the sports industry through sport-specific experiential programs in football and baseball, events featuring former and current athletes, and exhibitions of league-related content.

In addition, the exhibition’s main stages will host a variety of events, including bodybuilding competitions, fitness demonstrations, yoga and Pilates classes, and K-pop and hip-hop dance competitions, offering visitors a rich array of attractions and hands-on experiences. Programs designed to foster business development and job creation, such as sports industry job fairs, export consultation sessions, investment-matching consultations, and industry symposia, will also be held, making the exhibition a broad-based event encompassing the entire sports industry ecosystem.

The event will also strengthen the foundation for cooperation among participating companies through networking programs and investment-matching initiatives for early-stage startups. Through these efforts, it aims to support Korean sports companies in expanding into global markets and to enhance the industry’s overall competitiveness.