XLeisure, the Sport and Recreation Factory: strength in unity
The event that brought together ForumPiscine, Outex, and ForumClub concluded with 8,000 visitors, 150 companies, and 100 training sessions, providing visibility to the many facets of the leisure industry. The next edition of XLeisure is scheduled to take place at BolognaFiere from 11 to 13 February 2026.
Bologna, 17 February – The combination of the swimming pool and spa industry, outdoor design and leisure, fitness and wellness proved to be a winning formula. This was evident over the three days of XLeisure – the Sport and Recreation Factory, the innovative exhibition and congress format organised by Editrice Il Campo in collaboration with BolognaFiere.
“ForumPiscine, Outex, and ForumClub have found their most suitable and effective positioning within XLeisure, a platform designed to consolidate the growing interest in healthy and sustainable lifestyles, centred around well-being, physical activity, and outdoor living. At the same time, it continues to promote the many forms of indoor training, from gym-based workouts to aquatic exercise, as well as the increasingly popular outdoor spaces dedicated to relaxation and self-care,” said Federico Andrea and Roberto Maestrami, organisers of the event. “XLeisure attracts attention from diverse yet complementary sectors, fostering synergies and relationships between manufacturers, distributors, installers, and designers of cutting-edge solutions for the best and most efficient management of leisure time. Whether in residential contexts or public spaces, within hospitality structures or fitness centres, wellness areas, aquatic facilities, or sports complexes.”
The event’s 8,000 visitors were drawn by the opportunity to experience three exhibitions in one: ForumPiscine, the international exhibition for swimming pools and spas; Outex – Outdoor Experience; and ForumClub, the B2B showcase dedicated to fitness, wellness, and sports professionals. The XLeisure exhibition area, featuring 150 exhibitors – 15% of which hailed from Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Spain, Turkey, and the United States – welcomed a diverse audience of professionals, buyers, and private visitors from across Italy and beyond. Attendees were keen to discover the latest industry trends, with a particular focus on innovation, technology, design, and sustainability.
The two experiential areas were particularly well received: Mediterranean Jungle, created in collaboration with AIAPP – the Italian Association of Landscape Architecture and the Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Florence, and Outdoor Leisure 2025, curated by architect and landscape designer Marco Minari. Thanks to the expertise of students and professors from the Florence university, Mediterranean Jungle showcased an advanced concept of Mediterranean landscape, blending the needs of open-air tourist and hospitality spaces with environmentally sensitive design. Outdoor Leisure 2025, on the other hand, presented innovative solutions for outdoor spaces, featuring versatile fitness and play areas.
The Innovation Area also garnered significant interest, offering a dedicated space for the latest innovations, with a focus on 15 cutting-edge proposals addressing safety, sustainability, and advanced technologies from some of the event’s exhibitors.
The event also featured a rich conference programme, with 100 sessions across the three days. The ForumClub International Congress ran alongside in-depth discussions and workshops from ForumPiscine and Outex, organised in collaboration with industry associations and institutions. The presence of international organisations such as the US-based PHTA Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, as well as speakers from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, FIN – Italian Swimming Federation, Sport e Salute, Fondazione Sport City, and the Health City Institute, was particularly noteworthy. Active media partners included Mondo Balneare and Parksmania, which played a key role in organising conferences. Among the most highly appreciated sessions were the Pool Builders Days, introduced in this edition to highlight the role of pool builders and designers—key figures in the development of residential and commercial aquatic facilities. The event’s packed schedule also included 45 live shows, hosted directly by exhibitors.
ITALIAN POOL AWARD
The Italian Pool Award 2025 were presented during the XLeisure event, celebrating excellence in pool design across various categories. Indalo Piscine received the award for the best commercial outdoor pool, while Water & Wellness won in the residential outdoor category, also earning the AIAPP Special Recognition. The title of Best Biopool Project was awarded to Il Paluffo Eco Resort, and the Facebook Special Award went to Alpha Pools.
SPONSORS AND PATRONAGES
XLeisure, organised in collaboration with BolognaFiere, was supported by numerous institutions and associations, including AcquaNet, AIABN – Italian Association for Natural Bathing Waters, AIAPP – Italian Association of Landscape Architecture, ANIF – Eurowellness, Assopiscine – Italian Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness, CIWAS – Italian Confederation for Wellness and Sports Activities, Congepi – National Confederation of Pool Managers, FAITA – Federcamping, FIN – Italian Swimming Federation, MSA – Associated Sports Managers, Italian Permanent Parks, Unpisi – Environmental and Workplace Prevention Technicians, and Uni – Italian Standardisation Body, along with the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Metropolitan City of Bologna.
The 2025 Top Sponsors included Acquaclear, Balanced Body, Gerit, Hayward, Italian Pool, Myrtha Pools, Matrix, Siligroup, SportClubby, and Technogym, while sponsors included Align Pilates, CGT Alkor, Elmec, Euraqua, Griffon, Inpool, Lapi Chimici, Life Fitness, Mad Dogg Athletics, Polimpianti, PoolApp, and Team System.
Outdoor Leisure was realised in collaboration with GEA, Green Power Service, Un mondo comodo, Plus Collection (a brand of Euro3Plast), and Mirco Bonfatti Vivai. Mediterranean Jungle was supported by Mirco Bonfatti Vivai, 100ponteggi, Resca Piscine, Felli, Led Italy, Platek, CGT Alkor, and Un mondo comodo.
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