Sport × Impact Forum 2026 in Hamburg

15 June 2026

Photo: SJ Weber

SJ Weber had the opportunity to attend the Sport × Impact Forum 2026 in Hamburg on 9 and 10 June. The event brought together stakeholders from the fields of sport, civil society, foundations, academia, and practice to discuss the impact that sport has on society.

SJ Weber found the forum especially valuable as it very clearly illustrated how the field of sport and social development is increasingly seeing itself as a multi-stakeholder area. Again and again, the discussions showed that, rather than being an isolated topic, sustainable impact in sport is founded on the interplay of various stakeholders, perspectives, and resources.

The discussions focused largely on the question as to how ambitious sustainability and impact goals can actually be translated into concrete structures, programs, and quantifiable change. It was precisely here that the importance of dialogue between practitioners and academics became clear.

The forum also served as a very good opportunity for SJ Weber to discuss some of their current research topics directly with practitioners and to gain new insights for their work. The networking opportunities at the event were also particularly rewarding, as they led to numerous new connections and very open, in-depth discussions with stakeholders from various fields. What particularly stood was the impression that dialogue among the various stakeholders in the field is not merely complementary, but central to the further development of sustainability in sport.