Businesses serving the running, sport and fitness sectors are being invited to exhibit at the Irish Running Show at the RDS in Dublin on 6 and 7 February 2027, following a successful first event in Northern Ireland earlier this year.
The organisers are targeting 10,000 visitors across the two-day show and are inviting brands and service providers from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and further afield to discuss opportunities to take part.
The Dublin event builds on the Northern Ireland Running Show, which attracted around 5,000 visitors to the Eikon Exhibition Centre outside Lisburn in February 2026. That event brought together international brands, local businesses, healthcare professionals and running experts, providing a foundation for the next stage of the show’s development.
Organisers are planning an exhibition featuring around 100 brands and service providers, supported by a programme of more than 40 speakers and experts. Topics will include training, nutrition, recovery, injury prevention, women’s health and mental wellbeing.
The show is intended to attract runners at every stage, from people preparing for their first 5K to established club runners, marathon participants and experienced endurance athletes, as well as visitors with a wider interest in health and fitness.
Exhibitor enquiries are welcomed from businesses offering running footwear and clothing, equipment, nutrition, sports technology, coaching, physiotherapy, recovery and other relevant services. Running clubs, race organisers and event providers are also encouraged to get in touch.
The event will give participating businesses an opportunity to speak directly to potential customers, explain their products and services and hear what runners are looking for. Alongside exhibition space, organisers are keen to discuss ways for businesses to contribute through demonstrations, expert advice and interactive experiences.
Irish Running Show
Oonagh Cattigan, Founder and Event Director of the Irish Running Show, commented: “Our first event in Northern Ireland showed the value of bringing runners and the businesses supporting them together in person. Visitors could ask questions, explore products and speak directly to people with specialist knowledge, while exhibitors could hear first-hand about their interests and needs.
“For the Dublin show, we want to build on that experience and bring together a broad mix of businesses, from established international brands to independent companies with something valuable to offer the running community.
“For a footwear or clothing brand, that might mean helping someone understand which product suits them. For a coach, nutrition specialist or healthcare professional, it could be a conversation about a challenge someone is facing. For a race organiser, it’s a chance to introduce runners to their next event.
“We’d love to hear from businesses with something to bring to the show, whether that’s expertise to share, a product for people to try or a fun activity to get visitors involved. You don’t need to have it all worked out before getting in touch. Drop me an email or a message and let’s have a chat. I’m always happy to meet for a coffee and talk through a few ideas.”
Oonagh brings more than 20 years of experience in the exhibitions industry, including work at major venues such as London’s ExCeL, the NEC in Birmingham and the Javits Center in New York.
The idea for the show grew out of her own experience of joining Glens Runners in County Antrim through its Couch to 5K programme. Combining her commercial events background with her involvement in running, she set out to create a meeting place for runners, clubs, experts and businesses.
Feedback from the Northern Ireland event helped shape the decision to bring the next show to Dublin, with the RDS providing a location for an event aimed at audiences across the island.
Lorcan Healy, Founder and CEO of Eos Elite, said: “Following the success of the Northern Ireland Running Show, we couldn’t wait to get involved in the Dublin event. It was a great opportunity to meet runners face to face, introduce them to what we do and hear what matters to them when choosing products and services. We’re looking forward to building on that experience at the RDS, meeting new customers from across Ireland and being part of another fantastic weekend for the running community.”
The exhibition will sit alongside talks, interactive activities and opportunities for visitors to meet clubs and race organisers. Early bird adult weekend tickets are already on sale, with student tickets and free admission for children helping the show welcome a broad audience.
Businesses interested in exhibiting at the Irish Running Show on 6 and 7 February 2027 should visit www.runningshowsireland.com or contact Oonagh Cattigan directly at [email protected] to discuss availability and participation.
