When winter drags on and the summer season still feels distant, there’s one event that brings gear, water sports culture and adrenaline all under one roof: boot Düsseldorf. Running 17–25 January 2026 at Messe Düsseldorf, boot transforms a convention centre into a full-on surf and watersports playground, and this edition looks set to be one of the biggest yet.

When winter drags on and the summer season still feels distant, there’s one event that brings gear, water sports culture and adrenaline all under one roof: boot Düsseldorf. Running 17–25 January 2026 at Messe Düsseldorf, boot transforms a convention centre into a full-on surf and watersports playground, and this edition looks set to be one of the biggest yet. 

A 62-metre Indoor Pool: Where Gear Meets Action

At the heart of boot 2026 is the massive indoor pool in Hall 17. 62 metres long and filled with 1.3 million litres of water, turning the show floor into a live playground. Top-level competitors will ride wingfoils, SUPs, pump-foils and more, often in world-cup-class contests like the GWA Indoor Wingfoil World Cup, the SFT Surf Foil World Tour and the EuroTour SUP Indoor World Cup. 

For anyone who geeks out on kit, likes to try before you buy, and loves actually seeing the gear and talking to the brands in person, this is where it’s all happening. Watching the worlds best athletes battle it out in the pool ads a dimension to the event that you don’t often get to experience indoors. From the warmth of the exhibition hall you can enjoy displays of pump foiling, winging, parawinging and flat water paddle up and pump races. This is not your average boat show!

Try It Yourself, Don’t Just Watch

boot isn’t just about being a spectator. One of the most powerful draws is the participation zone. Whether you’re a complete beginner or seasoned foiler, there are opportunities to wakeboard, SUP, pumpfoil, windsurf (with 82 wind machines), or even try a kitesurf simulator,  all under professional supervision. 

It’s a rare 9-day window where you can see, feel and have a go on some of the latest gear without having to be outside in the wild weather of winter! It’s ideal if you’re in the market for a new foil setup or curious if pumpfoiling is “your thing.”

Gear, Tech & Culture, All in One Place

boot Düsseldorf isn’t just a demo day. It brings together roughly 1,500 exhibitors from around the world, showcasing the latest in surf, SUP, foil, paddling, windsurf and watersports tech. Whether you’re scouting a new SUP board, checking out cutting-edge foil gear, inspecting carbon masts, or comparing the latest wing boards, you get to see many of the upcoming season’s releases before they hit stores. 

Beyond gear, there’s culture: live shows, pro contests, community vibes, and even social events. Hall 17 morphs into a laid-back shared space after sessions with DJs, surf chats and drinks, turning a trade fair into a mini surf festival. 

A Winter Escape With a Surf-Soul

For many, boot is more than a trade show: it’s a winter escape. boot gives you a concentrated taste of surf life, it's indoors, warm, social, and loaded with energy. For those of us living far from coastlines or waiting for spring winds, this is the place to be to connect with the sport and the people who are so passionate about it. 

It’s also a place to connect. You get to meet other foilers, brand reps, shapers, and gear geeks, often the people who can give you first-hand insight on what works, what’s coming, and the clever hacks the internet doesn’t tell you.

We’ve Got 10 Tickets to Give Away — Want One?

To get you even more excited, we’re offering 10 free-ticket passes to boot Düsseldorf 2026 — exclusively for our subscribers.

How to enter:

Simply make sure you’re a current subscriber.

We’ll pick winners at random by the 1st of Jan, and email ticket codes directly to the winners.

What the ticket includes: full access to the show (all halls), entry to Hall 17 and the indoor pool events, and full participation in demos/activities.

If you’ve ever thought about trying foiling, seeing the latest gear up close, or just immersing yourself in surf culture for a few days, this is your chance. Don’t miss it.

By Tonic Mag