"VAN" (Sports Desk - 14.02.2026) :: World Rowing and the Japan Sport Council will host the 2026 edition of the Virtual Sports Forum in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne, Switzerland, on Tuesday 17 March, convening leading voices from across the Virtual Sports and Esports ecosystem for a landmark gathering focused on shaping the future of the industry.
The event will feature compelling presentations and strategic discussions aimed at defining the next chapter of Virtual Sports. Key players from the Indoor/Connected Rowing community, alongside innovators and decision-makers from the broader Virtual Sports landscape, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), leading International Federations and established game publishers will come together to collectively explore opportunities and strengthen collaboration in this rapidly evolving sector.
Since its landmark 2024 debut in Tokyo following the formation of a strategic partnership between World Rowing and the Japan Sports Council, the Virtual Sports Forum has rapidly established itself as a global epicentre for progressive dialogue and cross-sector collaboration. In 2025, the Forum, hosted at the Konami Headquarters in Tokyo, entered a transformative new phase underpinned by strengthened international representation and cooperation. These forums have highlighted the International Olympic Committee’s pioneering Esports initiatives while fostering unprecedented engagement between International Federations, technology leaders and games publishers.
Building on this momentum, the 2026 edition – presented as Virtual Sports Forum PLUS – will expand its scope and ambition. The Forum will bring together elite stakeholders from sport, technology, academia and industry to spark bold ideas, unveil disruptive innovations and cultivate high-impact partnerships. Discussions will address the structural development of Virtual Sports, governance considerations, technological advancements and the integration of connected competition formats into the global sporting ecosystem.
Hosted in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, home to the Olympic Movement, the Forum reinforces the shared commitment of World Rowing and the Japan Sport Council to position Virtual Sports and Indoor/Connected Rowing at the forefront of innovation, accessibility and global engagement.
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