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Across the world of sportfishing, July means one thing – ICAST. For nearly seven decades, the annual sportfishing trade show presented by the American Sportfishing Association has marked a pivotal moment in the year.
Approximately halfway through each calendar year, thousands of tackle buyers, manufacturers and stakeholders gather in Orlando, Florida to feast on a smorgasbord of brand new products.
In that pursuit, ICAST attendees are treated to nearly a full week’s worth of engaging breakout events. For most, the trade show is more than a place to browse new products. It’s also a place to network at events like fishing tournaments, golf scrambles, fundraisers, dinners, keynote addresses and on-the-water demonstrations.
This year – as the global sportfishing industry navigates supply chain challenges and inflation – ICAST is set to deliver a moment of clarity and stability. Within its halls, some of the brightest and most ambitious entrepreneurs and strategists in sportfishing will convene.
Last year, attendees from 75 nations totaling almost 13,000 individuals gathered in Orlando for ICAST 2025. And at ICAST 2026, show organisers are placing a renewed emphasis on helping business owners thrive in today’s economic landscape.
An all-new event called Meet the Market serves as a kind of ‘speed dating’ event for tackle buyers. Before entering the event, each participant receives a personalised itinerary of one-on-one meetings designed to maximise opportunities to discover new products and establish business connections throughout the rest of the week. By the time the show doors officially open, every Meet the Market attendee should have a head start on finding potential business partners who align with their specific needs.
Also new for this year, ICAST will host a second pre-show event, the Retailer Leadership Breakfast. On Thursday morning, July 16th, a panel of seasoned executives will share their real-world experiences, strategies, candid insights and new opportunities shaping the marketplace this year. The panel will discuss how to navigate economic pressures and shifting consumer behavior as well as identify growth opportunities.
Throughout the show, attendees at ICAST 2026 will be able to attend all-new ICASTLive! seminars to hear from experts on topics such as the global supply chain and the role of artificial intelligence in the tackle industry. They’ll also be able to absorb new product demonstrations, browse a service provider pavilion filled with business solutions in the realms of marketing support and eCommerce, and conduct business in an all-new retailer lounge. A host of time-tested favourite events are also set to return at ICAST 2026. Think ICAST On the Water Demo Day, the New Product Showcase Preview Reception, State of the Industry Awards, ICAST Cup bass fishing tournament, and Lunkers & Bunkers combination fishing and golf scramble.
Thanks to more than 100 special incentives offered only to in-person buyers, the trade show remains the best place to secure business deals on new products. But for attendees, a trip to ICAST offers more than a boost to the immediate bottom line. It also offers a chance to forge business relationships with manufacturers and business partners that can weather the tides of change. And in an increasingly digital world, where building real-world connections is becoming more challenging each year, the industry’s largest trade show still delivers one of the best returns on investment in the fishing tackle industry.
In the coming weeks, videos, images and articles from ICAST 2026 will proliferate across the internet. By August, industry insiders fresh off the show floor, as well as many who could not attend, will be voting on the 2026 Angler’s Choice Award, and the trade show’s lifecycle will begin anew. For now, however, all eyes will be on Orlando. For more information on ICAST, visit ICASTFishing.org and keep an eye on ICAST social media accounts.
