Sport Forum Hungary 2025: Central Europe’s Premier Sports Business Conference
Central and Eastern Europe’s sports industry will converge on Budapest this November for Sport Forum Hungary 2025, a two-day conference bringing together over 1,200 sports professionals, executives, athletes, and decision-makers from 28 countries. Held at the iconic Groupama Arena on November 19-20, this event has rapidly established itself as the region’s most influential platform for sports business, innovation, and networking.
Whether you’re interested in sports marketing, athlete development, sustainability in sports, or the future of sports technology, Sport Forum Hungary offers a comprehensive look at where the industry is heading. The conference combines international expertise with regional insights, creating conversations that shape the future of sports across multiple continents.
What Makes This Conference Special
Sport Forum Hungary goes beyond typical industry events by creating a genuine community of sports professionals. The 2024 edition featured over 1,000 participants, 140 speakers, and 75 professional presentations, establishing it as a critical knowledge-sharing hub for the sports industry. Attendees consistently praise the quality of dialogue and networking opportunities, with many describing it as an essential annual gathering for anyone serious about sports business.
The conference focuses on real conversations about the future of sports, bringing together diverse perspectives from Olympic organizers to startup founders, federation leaders to technology innovators. This diversity creates unique opportunities for cross-pollination of ideas and formation of partnerships that wouldn’t happen anywhere else in the region.
Key Topics for 2025
This year’s program addresses the most pressing and progressive topics shaping contemporary sports:
Sports Marketing and Media
Explore how digital transformation, podcasts, and fan engagement strategies are revolutionizing how sports organizations connect with audiences. Sessions cover everything from passive spectators to active communities and the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting.
Best deals of Budapest
Major International Events
Get insider perspectives on organizing world-class competitions, including preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North and Central America, and the 2026 UEFA Champions League Final in Budapest. Learn about the Budapest 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship and the economic and strategic impact of hosting major sporting events.
Technology and Innovation
Discover how artificial intelligence, esports, sports robotics, and facility digitalization are transforming training, competition, and the fan experience. Sessions explore everything from AI-driven performance analytics to how esports functions as a professional global industry.
Women’s Sports
Dedicated programming examines the growing investment in women’s sports, sponsorship strategies that drive growth, media visibility, and how to make women’s sports both visible and commercially viable. International experts discuss record-breaking transfers and the evolution of women’s sports from undervalued to unavoidable.
Talent Development and Performance
Deep dives into youth development programs, mental health in sports, crisis management under pressure, team dynamics, and the science behind building championship teams. Learn from successful academies across Scandinavia, Switzerland, and Hungary.
Active Lifestyle and Healthy Society
Discussions on corporate wellness programs, nutrition science, preventing athlete burnout, sustainable movement across generations, and how sports clubs and corporate initiatives drive active living.
Sustainability and Sports Diplomacy
Explore how the sports industry addresses environmental challenges and serves as a catalyst for international cooperation and social change.
Notable Speakers
The conference features an impressive international lineup including:
- Kamil Veselý – Marketing Director, Sparta Praha
- Tammy Parlour – CEO and Co-founder, Women’s Sport Trust (UK’s leading advocate for women’s professional sport)
- Andrea Ekblad – Co-founder, Her Next Move
- Beth Johnson – CEO, Umbrella
- Thomas van Schaik – Founder and Author, Athlete Brand
- Edina Heal – Founder and CEO, Egyenlítő Alapítvány (former Managing Director of Google Hungary)
- Martin Benko – Chairman, SSIC and MBCD Sport Innovation
Plus dozens more industry leaders, federation officials, marketing executives, athletes, and innovators from across Europe and beyond.
The Expo Experience
Running alongside the conference, the Sport Forum Hungary 2025 Expo connects businesses directly with decision-makers and potential partners. The expo welcomes sports equipment manufacturers, technology providers, marketing agencies, event organizers, health and wellness brands, esports solutions, infrastructure providers, and educational institutions.
Previous exhibitors consistently report establishing valuable business contacts and receiving concrete orders directly at the event. With prominent exposure across the conference website, social media, event app, and through 18 international and domestic media partners, exhibitors gain visibility before, during, and after the event.
Conference Formats and Networking
The program includes multiple formats designed to maximize learning and connection:
- Main Stage Presentations – Keynote addresses from industry leaders
- Panel Discussions – Roundtable conversations exploring complex topics from multiple angles
- Workshops – Interactive sessions including the Parents Forum focusing on youth sports
- Business Lounge – Exclusive networking space for business ticket holders
- After Hours Networking – Informal gatherings that extend conversations beyond the conference hall
- Sport Forum Awards – Recognition ceremony celebrating excellence across the sports industry
Practical Information
Dates: November 19-20, 2025
Location: Groupama Arena, Üllői út 129, Budapest
Expected Attendance: 1,200+ professionals from 28+ countries
Languages: Hungarian and English
- Normal Ticket – Two-day access, coffee breaks, in-app networking, after-hours networking events
- Business Ticket – All normal ticket benefits plus Business Lounge access, lunches, priority entry, parking, and digital presentation archive access
- Parents Forum Ticket – Access to specialized 3.5-hour workshop focused on youth sports (separate from main conference)
All ticket prices include VAT and catering services.
Why International Visitors Should Attend
For sports professionals visiting Budapest, Sport Forum Hungary offers far more than typical conference value. You’ll gain insights into Central European sports markets, build relationships with decision-makers across 28 countries, and experience Budapest’s world-class hospitality and infrastructure.
The Groupama Arena itself, home to Ferencvárosi TC, provides an inspiring venue that embodies the connection between sports tradition and modern facilities. Located in Budapest’s accessible 9th district, the arena is easily reachable by public transportation or taxi from anywhere in the city.
Budapest’s combination of affordable costs, excellent cuisine, rich culture, and thriving sports scene makes it an ideal conference destination. Many attendees extend their stay to experience the city’s famous thermal baths, historic sites, and vibrant nightlife.
Sport Forum Hungary 2025 represents a unique opportunity to engage with the fastest-growing sports markets in Europe while contributing to conversations that will shape the industry for years to come. Whether you’re exploring expansion opportunities, seeking partnerships, showcasing innovations, or simply staying ahead of industry trends, this conference delivers the connections and insights that matter.