• From 12 to 15 November, the 3rd Physical Activity and Sports Fair will occupy an area of 34,000 square metres around Plaza de la Música and the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium
• Admission will be free, and the fair aims to showcase the strength of the sports sector in the Canary Islands, support its development as an industry and introduce new disciplines to the public

Gran Canaria, 15 October 2026. ExpoDeca 2026 will transform Plaza de la Música in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the surrounding area into a major space for sport from 12 to 15 November. With more than 270 outdoor sports activities across 52 disciplines and an area of almost 34,000 square metres, the third edition of the Canary Islands Physical Activity and Sports Fair will offer activities for all audiences, with a special focus on water and beach sports.

Minerva Alonso, Councillor for Economic Development, Industry, Trade and Crafts at the Island Council of Gran Canaria, and Poli Suárez, Regional Minister for Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, presented the programme this Thursday. The fair will bring together around 161 organisations, including exhibitors, federations and clubs. The programme will also feature 34 talks, presentations and professional meetings, as well as official competitions, exhibitions and educational activities.

ExpoDeca reaches its third edition with the aim of further consolidating the event as a leading meeting point for the sports industry in the Canary Islands, showcasing the strength of the sector, supporting its growth as an industry and giving the public the opportunity to discover and practise new disciplines. The first edition in Gran Canaria, held at Infecar in 2024, welcomed 17,465 visitors, while the 2025 edition in Tenerife reached 24,866 visitors.

During the presentation, Poli Suárez highlighted that ExpoDeca “has secured an important place in the sports calendar of the Canary Islands in a very short time” and stressed the opportunities offered by the Las Canteras area to bring the event closer to the public. Among the main new features, he noted that, for the first time, all sports activities will take place outdoors, with a programme combining disciplines from previous editions with new proposals.

“We want there to be options for all tastes and all ages,” said the Regional Minister, who highlighted that the fair offers an opportunity to discover the work of clubs, federations and athletes first-hand, while also encouraging people to try new sports. In this context, he recalled that “sport means health and education, and it is also a very important economic activity for the Canary Islands”.

He also pointed out that sport represents approximately 4.5% of GDP in the Canary Islands, with an annual economic impact of more than €5.7 billion and close to 30,000 direct jobs and a further 60,000 indirect jobs. These figures, he said, reflect the importance of continuing to support a sector that generates opportunities and is playing an increasingly significant role in the economy of the archipelago.

For her part, Minerva Alonso highlighted the capacity of Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria, to place its experience, expertise and team at the service of strategic projects promoted by other public administrations.

The Island Councillor stressed that the organisation of ExpoDeca reflects the value of institutional cooperation and coordination between public and private stakeholders in developing a region-wide initiative that is open to the public and capable of generating new opportunities for collaboration within the sports sector.

Something for everyone

The ExpoDeca 2026 programme —with completely free admission— will give visitors the opportunity to try a wide range of disciplines, combining well-established sports with activities that are less familiar to audiences in the Canary Islands. Alongside sports such as football, basketball, handball, badminton, climbing, volleyball, canoeing, athletics, fencing, padel, sailing, cycling, field hockey and Nordic walking, there will also be beach tennis and mini tennis.

There will also be zip-line activities, as well as adapted table tennis and hiking. A broad representation of traditional sports and games from the Canary Islands will also be included, such as Canary wrestling, bola canaria, juego del palo, salto del pastor and vela latina sailing.

New additions include less familiar disciplines such as rugby, baseball, calisthenics, skateboarding, air sports and agility. The proximity of the coast will also strengthen the presence of water and beach sports, with activities including swimming, surfing, canoeing, sailing and bodyboarding.

ExpoDeca, however, is not limited to activities for visitors. The fair will also host official competitions and major sporting events. These include the Canary Islands Government Cup finals in kickboxing and Muay Thai and the Hyatlón Ambar Tour, one of the headline events on the hybrid racing circuit. It will take place from 13 to 15 November as one of four events on the calendar and has already attracted 700 registered participants.

Another major event will be the Gran Canaria Challenge, which will celebrate its fourth edition on 14 and 15 November. The competition currently has 560 registered participants and will feature several categories, with challenges involving strength, endurance, coordination and skill. The programme will also include the Canary Islands Urban Dance Championship, bringing together academies from across the islands.

ExpoDeca will extend across six locations around Las Canteras, with Plaza de la Música serving as the main venue for sports activities. Plaza del Espigón, Parque de El Rincón and the Manuel Naranjo Sosa Football 7 pitch will host further sporting activities, while the coastline will provide the setting for activities linked to the marine environment.

Admission to ExpoDeca will be free. Its participatory format will allow visitors to combine the practice of different sports with a visit to the exhibition area and the opportunity to discover products and services offered by the sports sector in the Canary Islands.

Visits from educational centres

Educational centres will once again play a prominent role in ExpoDeca. During the first two days, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 November, students will have the opportunity to discover different sports and learn first-hand about the possibilities offered by physical activity.

The organisation has already confirmed the participation of almost one hundred educational centres, with one month still to go before the fair begins. Registration remains open for centres wishing to take part in the scheduled activities. This educational dimension supports one of the main objectives of the fair: encouraging healthy lifestyles from an early age and facilitating direct contact with clubs, federations and athletes.

Sports management

The programme will also include activities that broaden the ExpoDeca experience beyond sporting practice. These include the “Legends of Sport” exhibition, bringing together around 200 historic objects associated with major sporting moments and figures. The exhibition will be open from 5 November at Centro Comercial Las Arenas.

The fair will also coincide with the Congress of the Spanish Federation of Sports Management Associations (FAGDE), taking place on 12 and 13 November and focusing on sports management, as well as the 2026 Canary Islands Sports Awards ceremony.

These events will be joined by the Spanish Sport Conferences, with the participation of the Spanish Sports Association (ADESP), and the Professional Associations Forum, further expanding opportunities for dialogue and exchange between the different stakeholders in the sector. The fair will also include an area dedicated to the sports industry, with the participation of the Cluster, to give greater visibility to companies and professionals linked to this field and promote new opportunities for collaboration.

The Alfredo Kraus Auditorium will serve as the main venue for knowledge-sharing and professional exchange, with 34 sessions including talks, presentations and professional meetings throughout the programme. Topics will include sports management, health, equality and inclusion, among other issues of interest to the sector.

ExpoDeca 2026 is promoted by the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Regional Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, and organised by the Island Council of Gran Canaria, through Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria. The fair is sponsored by Centro Comercial Las Arenas, Fundación DISA, Provital, Fred. Olsen Express, Binter, Tirma, Firgas, Ahembo, Ybarra, Citroën and Gofio La Piña.

Updated information on ExpoDeca 2026, its programme and scheduled activities is available on the official website: www.expodeca.es.