About the Summit
GSUN‘26 Summit
Leading Sport in a Global Society
Societal Impact • Collaboration in a Global Society • Transferring Research and Education to Practice • Governance of Sport • How Does Industry Access Research? • Entrepreneurship • Media and Communication
Hosted by German Sport University Cologne
7-8 October, 2026
Registration opens April 2026
The Summit is an annual conference which connects international academic experts from around the globe in all related areas of sports science including engineering, technology and human performance, sports business, humanities, law, journalism and more, with industry leaders, sports leagues and federations, and members of the media. The unique solution-oriented experience features:
Facilitated sessions designed to engage all participants.
2 plenary sessions
Panels made up of at least two university representatives from at least 2 different institutions and at least one external stakeholder. Panels run in concurrent sessions to larger groups of participants with 45 minutes of total presentation time and 15 minutes of question and answer.
Workshops made up of at least two university representatives from at least 2 different institutions and at least one external stakeholder. Workshops run in concurrent sessions to smaller groups with 20 minutes of total pitch-presentation time and 40 minutes of guided discussion. Workshops are intended to engage all participants in a provocative, output-oriented dialogue.
Networking opportunities
1 year associate membership in the Global Sport University Network
VIP networking opportunities for Congress and Leadership Council members
German Sport University Cologne
With more than 6000 students from 93 countries, the German Sport University Cologne (GSU) is an outstanding university location both nationally and internationally. The GSU stands for evidence-based research with a high volume of third-party funding and research-based as well as international teaching in sports practice and in all social and life science sub-disciplines of sport science. Research, teaching, and transfer are supported by the administration and central operating units with their services.
Steering Committee
Eva Engelmeyer
German Sport University Cologne
Ken Kozloff
University of Michigan
Chris Linton
Loughborough University
Tobias Vogt
Chair, German Sport University Cologne
Masashi Miyashita
Waseda University
Okseon Lee
Seoul National University
Bill Sheel
University of British Columbia
Lauren Sherar
Loughborough University
Call For Panel and Workshop Proposals:
Participate in the GSUN’26 Summit as a panel or workshop presenter. Proposals must speak to the Summit theme of Leading Sport in a Global Society and align with one of its key topics:
Societal Impact
Collaboration in a Global Society
Transferring Research and Education to Practice
Governance of Sport
How does industry access research?
Entrepreneurship
Media and Communication
Proposals received by 30 March, 2026 receive full consideration by the steering committee. Proposals received after this date will be reviewed as programming allows. Proposals submitted by GSUN Council and Congress members as well as those with recommended additional presenters will receive preferential review. Notification of acceptance will be sent by the end of April.
For additional questions contact us.
GSUN ’26 Early Bird Registration Opens April 2026
Past Summit Locations
2025 University of Queensland
GSUN’25 Summit Summary and Photos
2024 University of Oregon (Inaugural Summit)
Attendees representing 21 countries and 50 institutions gathered to discuss Inclusivity in Sport Performance.
GSUN’24 Session Summaries and Photos