Joe Jackson, Trailheads Editor

Switchback at TRE returns December 1-3, 2026 to San Antonio’s Henry B. González Convention Center with a retailer focused education slate covering AI informed marketing and cutting edge merchandising. The event opens with a dedicated retail education day before two days of retailer and brand meetings on the exhibition floor, featuring legacy and emerging outdoor brands.

Switchback Spring, the business and education event for the outdoor industry, concluded its second-annual event last week with a robust list of outdoor specialty brands, retailers, and working media. Over three days, Switchback Spring drew 1,262 attendees from 46 states and 16 countries for three days of business and learning in the vibrant city of New Orleans.

Switchback strengthens growing team with addition of Joe Jackson, Amelia Arvesen, and Ryan Nettleton in marketing, editorial, and sales