Conference chooses outdoor hub to demonstrate industry solidarity: "The best way to support Asheville is to show up"
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Nov. 12, 2025 – Outdoor Media Summit (OMS) announced that its 2026 conference will take place Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 28-30, at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville, North Carolina. The decision to bring the outdoor industry's largest media gathering to Asheville represents a deliberate show of support for the region's economic recovery following Hurricane Helene just over a year ago.
"Asheville is one of the outdoor industry's most important hubs, and they need us now more than ever," said Yoon Kim, founder of Outdoor Media Summit. "The best way the outdoor industry can support Asheville is to show up and bring the energy that our community is known for."
Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville, said, "Asheville and Western North Carolina are synonymous with outdoor adventure, from the Blue Ridge Parkway and world-class mountain biking, paddling, and hiking to the outdoor product companies that call our area home. Hosting Outdoor Media Summit is another strategic win, securing conferences for our community and generating direct spending for area businesses. It’s one more example of how travel and hospitality can be the front porch for traditional economic development, shining a light on targeted business sectors with influential attendees who shape how millions of outdoor enthusiasts plan their adventures.”
The midweek event conference for media, marketers, and CEOs in the outdoor industry is expected to generate more than $450,000 in direct spending. With an attendee base of the nation's top outdoor media brands, editors and journalists, Outdoor Media Summit in the Blue Ridge Mountains will showcase the region's natural, recreational and cultural assets while introducing homegrown outdoor brands to some of the most influential voices in the industry.
The Executive Track Expansion: Doubling Down on CEO Education
Building on the success of its Executive Track program, which attracted approximately 40 CEOs in 2025, OMS is expanding the offering with a goal of hosting 100 CEOs of emerging outdoor companies ($1-30 million in revenue) in 2026.
The expanded Executive Track will feature double the number of sessions, including new peer-to-peer issue processing workshops and strategic planning sessions tailored specifically to growth-stage companies looking to scale faster. The program earned a 79 Net Promoter Score in its inaugural year and has become a cornerstone of OMS programming.
"We turn away more people than we let in because we're committed to maintaining a high-quality audience," said Kim. "Moving to a larger venue in Asheville allows us to serve more of the outdoor industry leaders who need this kind of tactical, CEO-focused education."
Conference Highlights
The 2026 conference will feature:
- Expanded New Gear Speed Date event with additional brands and extended sessions
- Outdoor excursions showcasing world-class trail systems and outdoor recreation in the Asheville area
- Annual Outdoor Media Awards recognizing excellence in journalism, marketing, and gear innovation
- Keynote presentations from industry leaders
- Continued partnership with conservation organizations including The Conservation Alliance
Registration and Sponsorships
Registration is now open at outdoormediasummit.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available in three inventory-based tiers: Super Early Bird, Early Bird, and Regular Price.
Why Asheville Matters
Set within the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains and shaped by one of the world’s oldest rivers, Asheville has long been a gathering place for outdoor visionaries. Positioned between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this mountain city rises amid the highest peaks east of the Mississippi River. Here, adrenaline and stillness coexist. The landscape fuels innovation, influencing everything from gear makers and trailblazers to the collaborative energy that drives a thriving outdoor industry.
Western North Carolina’s flourishing outdoor economy is home to more than 150 outdoor product manufacturers, outfitters and retailers, experience providers and guides, and advocacy groups. Renowned companies like Liquidlogic, Industry Nine, Eagles Nest Outfitters, Astral and FOX Factory exemplify the city's legacy of self-sufficiency and a quality-driven culture. According to Made X Mountains, Western North Carolina’s outdoor economy generated $4.9 billion in 2023, supporting 48,000 full-time jobs
. Asheville represents the first time the conference has deliberately chosen an outdoor destination with a community in need of industry support. The city's outdoor recreation economy, brands and outfitters were significantly impacted by the hurricane in 2024, making OMS’s in Asheville particularly meaningful to spotlight the region’s comeback and continued momentum.
"This is about more than just hosting a conference," Kim added. "It's about the outdoor industry showing that we stand with communities that have been the backbone of our industry."
About Explore Asheville and The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
Explore Asheville is the official destination marketing and management organization for one of the most deeply rooted and creative destinations in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Explore Asheville is powered by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, a public authority that has been investing in and building community since 1983. The authority has committed nearly $110 million in grants to 55 community projects, as well as more than $2.18 million in grants through the Always Asheville Fund to local small travel and hospitality businesses to reopen in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
About Outdoor Media Summit
Outdoor Media Summit is where the brightest minds in outdoor media and marketing gather to share secrets, forecast the future, and drive industry growth. The conference brings together journalists from major outdoor publications, brand marketers, content creators, and outdoor industry CEOs for education, networking, and the industry's only consensus-driven gear evaluation process. The 2026 conference will take place Sept. 28-30 at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville, North Carolina.
For more information, visit outdoormediasummit.com.
About The Executive Track
The Executive Track is the outdoor industry's only conference designed exclusively for CEOs of emerging product brands. Now in its second year, the conference delivers tactical education, strategic insights, and peer networking opportunities tailored to CEOs of some of the best outdoor brands.
