The seventh edition of the Namibia Sports Expo will take place from 1 to 4 October 2026 at The Dome in Swakopmund, with this year’s event placing a strong focus on high-performance sport and the commercial potential of the sports industry.
The expo, organised by the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), aims to bring together sports federations, athletes, administrators and private-sector stakeholders to explore opportunities for investment, commercialisation and long-term growth. The initiative builds on momentum that began in 2019, with organisers seeking to position sport as an investable market while strengthening Namibia’s broader sporting ecosystem.
NSC spokesperson Givean Samulandela said the high-performance focus is linked to the Association of Sports Performance Centres (ASPC) African Continental Forum, which will form part of this year’s programme. “We had topics at the Creative Sport Tourism Expo. Now it’s time to elevate, Samulandela said, explaining that the two events would build on each other.
The conference will run from 1 to 3 October, while the main Expo activities will take place on 4 October. Sports federations will have the opportunity to showcase their respective codes through exhibitions held alongside the conference. Organisers are encouraging federations to move beyond conventional promotional material such as pamphlets and flyers and instead create interactive displays that allow visitors to experience different sports.
The public will also be exposed to practical sporting activities, with high jump and volleyball competitions forming part of the programme. According to Samulandela, the interactive approach could also help expose young people to different sporting disciplines and assist federations in identifying potential talent. He pointed to last year’s cricket exhibition, which incorporated a virtual reality experience, as an example of how technology can be used to make sports exhibitions more engaging.
The 2026 Expo comes at a time when Namibia is placing increased emphasis on the commercialisation and professionalisation of sport, with government and sports authorities exploring ways to attract private investment, create employment and develop sustainable revenue streams.
The four-day event is therefore expected to serve not only as a showcase of Namibia’s sporting talent and federations, but also as a platform for discussions around the future of the country’s sports economy.
By Rudi Bowe
