Outdoor Retailer Comes to Minnesota: A Show, Not a Trade Show

For the first time, Outdoor Retailer — the outdoor industry's signature national gathering — is coming to Minneapolis. Running August 19–21, 2026 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, the show marks a major shift for an event that has long lived in the Mountain West. In this episode, host Randolph Briley sits down with three guests who bring complementary vantage points: a Minnesota brand-builder, a longtime industry journalist who built his career on the show, and the Outdoor Retailer leader shaping the 2026 experience. Together they unpack what the move means for the industry, for Minnesota, and for every outdoor business and nonprofit in the state.

Guests

• Aaron Keller — Founder of Capsule, a Minneapolis-based special projects agency that has worked with outdoor brands including Patagonia, Osprey, and Arc'Teryx.
• Stephen Regenold — Founder of GearJunkie and a journalist who has covered the outdoor industry for 20-plus years.
• Sunny Stroeer — Outdoor entrepreneur, professional adventure athlete, and co-head of the Leadership Village for Outdoor Retailer.

What You'll Hear

What Outdoor Retailer is — and why this move matters. The guests describe OR as the CES, Detroit Auto Show, or South by Southwest of the outdoor world: a  gathering where the industry reboots, new gear is unveiled, and relationships are built. After stints in Reno, Salt Lake City, and Denver, Minneapolis becomes the new home — a shift the panel frames as a deliberate reset for a show, and an industry, ready for new energy.

Why Minnesota is the right fit. Outdoor recreation contributes roughly $14 billion to Minnesota's GDP and supports about 100,000 jobs. Minnesota ranks #2 nationally for growth in hiking, camping, and climbing, and #1 in boats per capita. Stephen calls Minnesota a "sleeper" in outdoor adventure, pointing to a deep endurance culture — cross-country skiing, gravel, fat biking — and to athletes from Lindsey Vonn to Jessie Diggins to Will Steger. Aaron makes the case that Minnesota's extreme seasons breed creativity, which is part of why the state ranks high on the creative culture index.

What's new and different about OR 2026. Sunny walks through the initiatives that make this edition distinct:

• Minneapolis Urban Outdoor Experiences — Morning programming that gets attendees off the show floor and into the city's lakes, rivers, and trails.
• University of Minnesota collaboration: Outdoor Lab — Innovation around new fabrics, materials, and design techniques.
• Discovery focus — Centering emerging and discoverable brands rather than only the established names.
• Wild Reach Initiative — Bringing 150 creators to the show floor to connect the creator economy with brands and retailers, a meaningful departure for what has traditionally been a strictly B2B event.
• Nonprofit programming — Curated booth space plus dedicated programming, including a Save the Boundary Waters event on Tuesday, August 19.

Practical advice for Minnesota brands and nonprofits. Aaron's counsel: get as close to the center of the show as you can. Stephen adds that local brands will get special attention from out-of-state attendees curious about the Minnesota scene — so lean in, show up, and represent. For nonprofits, Sunny outlines the application process and the commitment to programming that goes beyond a booth.

Event Details

Outdoor Retailer 2026 August 19–21, 2026 Minneapolis Convention Center Tagline: Yours to Shape

Credits: 
Producers: Randolph Briley & Cody Nelson 
Hosts: Sarah Strommen and Lauren Bennett McGinty
Original Music by Andrew Haaheim and Alsever Lake