The sports media technology landscape is shifting fast. AI-powered video production, cloud-native workflows and new distribution models are rewriting the rules. The trade shows and conferences you attend will inform whether you're leading these changes or scrambling to catch up. More than that, these conferences are a great place to understand the ROI of media asset management and AI-powered media workflows.  

We've ranked the top events for networking value and access to decision-makers. Here's where to invest your time for best practices in sports broadcasting in 2026.

1. SPOBIS

February 4-5, 2026 | Hamburg, Germany

The numbers: 5,000+ participants from 50 nations, 1,500+ companies, 200+ speakers

Why attend: SPOBIS is the self-proclaimed world’s biggest sports business event—and the networking intensity is remarkable. Topics span digital transformation, fan engagement and commercial strategy. If you want to understand how European sports organizations think about technology investments, SPOBIS is essential.

Best for: Sports business executives, commercial teams, technology vendors targeting European markets

2. SportsPro New York

March 12-13, 2026 | Marriott Marquis, Times Square, New York, USA

The numbers: Hundreds of executives in the world's largest sports media market

Why attend: SportsPro New York focuses on what matters in North American sports media: streaming strategies, rights deals, betting integration and emerging distribution models. The attendance is executive-level—people who control budgets and make decisions. If the US market is your priority, this event delivers concentrated access.

Best for: Media executives, streaming platforms, sports rights buyers, betting and gaming companies

Check out this article by SportsPro to learn how Bayer Leverkusen’s partnership with Moments Lab helped the club use social media to tell the story of a historic season.

3. International Sports Convention (ISC)

March 25-26, 2026 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

The numbers: 3,000+ attendees, 150+ speakers across dedicated tracks

Why attend: ISC connects the dots between broadcast, OTT, sponsorship, digital platforms and fan engagement. The venue—Tottenham's world-class football stadium—sets the tone. You're meeting people who build and operate modern sports businesses. Tracks on media rights, technology and commercial strategy give structure. The conversations in between are where value compounds.

Best for: Media rights professionals, commercial directors, technology innovators, brand partners

4. CAA World Congress of Sports

April 14–16, 2026 | Los Angeles, USA

The numbers: North America's largest sports business conference

Why attend: The 2026 location says it all—LA is hosting the FIFA World Cup and NBA All-Star Game that year, Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and the Summer Olympics in 2028. World Congress puts you in the room with the executives shaping those events. If you need face time with decision-makers at the ownership and C-suite level, this is the conference; it’s where the leaders in sports business convene.

Best for: Sports business executives, team owners and presidents, corporate sponsors, media executives, agency leaders, investors

5. PEAK 2026

April 20–22, 2026 | Las Vegas, USA

The numbers: 1,000+ founders, executives, investors and media

Why attend: PEAK is built for the sportstech startup ecosystem—founders pitching, investors scouting, and industry executives looking for their next partner or acquisition. The Startup World Cup adds stakes, and the expo floor lets you demo and compare emerging tools side by side. If you're building, funding or buying sportstech, this is where deals start. 

Best for: Sportstech founders and startups, venture investors, corporate innovation teams, sports technology buyers

6. The SPOT

4-5 May 2026 | Lausanne, Switzerland

The numbers: A curated gathering of innovators, sports professionals and researchers

Why attend: The SPOT is different. It bridges commercial innovation and academic research, connecting you with federations, clubs and technology pioneers thinking long-term. Cross-sector collaboration produces insights you won't find elsewhere. If you're exploring emerging technologies for sports performance, fan engagement or content creation, this is your event.

Best for: R&D teams, sports scientists, forward-thinking federations, innovation-focused vendors

7. SBJ Tech Week 2026

May 18–20, 2026 | New York City, USA

The numbers: 500+ attendees at the 2025 edition

Why attend: Sports Business Journal's annual tech gathering puts league executives, team technologists and solution providers in the same room to talk AI, fan engagement and venue operations. The Sports Business Awards: Tech ceremony on day one sets a collaborative tone—less sales pitch, more peer-to-peer problem-solving. 

Best for: Sports business executives, technology vendors, team and league tech leaders, fan engagement specialists

8. World Football Summit (WFS)

June 2026 | Mexico
September 2026 | Madrid
December 2026 | Riyadh

The numbers: 40,000+ attendees, including almost 2000 brands and close to 3000 rights holders

Why attend: Football is the world's most valuable sport—and World Football Summit is where its business gets shaped. Digital transformation, data analytics and fan engagement dominate the agenda. With 2026 being a FIFA World Cup year, investment and innovation are accelerating. There’s three events to choose from—Mexico City, Madrid and Riyadh, with exact dates tbc—or attend all of them to maximize potential.

Best for: Football industry professionals, fan engagement platforms, data companies, commercial strategists

9. TranSPORT Forum 2026

8 July 2026 | London, UK

The numbers: Only a half-day event, so easy to slip into your schedule

Why attend: If your work involves getting live sports from venue to screen, TranSPORT Forum is where transmission specialists gather to hash out real challenges—5G workflows, IP transport, cloud-based delivery, compression standards and remote production connectivity. It’s by SVG Europe, whose events draw senior technical decision-makers who shape how sports content moves. 

Best for: Broadcast engineers, transmission specialists, satellite and connectivity providers, remote production technologists

10. SPORTEL Monaco

19-21 October 2026 | Monaco

The numbers: 2,000 participants, 70 countries, 800 companies, 30+ years running

Why attend: SPORTEL Monaco is the sports media industry's deal-making hub. Nearly half of attendees are C-level. The intimate setting—everyone in one venue over three days—fosters the kind of meetings that can turn into contracts. Topics include AI in production and content monetization, but the real agenda is business development.

Best for: Rights holders, broadcasters, distributors, technology vendors with solutions ready to sell

11. SportBiz Europe

Dates tbc, October 2026 | Barcelona, Spain

The numbers: Four days with clubs, leagues, brands and technology providers

Why attend: SportBiz Europe offers depth—four days to explore innovation, digital transformation and market trends. Barcelona's sports ecosystem provides context and energy. You'll discuss commercial strategies, content monetization and fan engagement with peers who face similar challenges.

Best for: European sports business professionals, technology vendors, commercial and marketing teams

Wherever you’re headed, plan strategically and come prepared. These events can deliver real business value—qualified leads, partnerships and insights that compound. Your 2026 success starts with the right calendar.

To know more about where we’ll be and when, follow us on LinkedIn.