Barcelona, September 2026 — The rapidly expanding use of artificial intelligence, wearable technology and performance data in professional sport is creating new opportunities for athletes and organisations, but it is also raising an increasingly important question: which solutions are actually delivering results?
A new international platform, PERFORM SportsTech, is being launched with the objective of helping the professional sports industry navigate this increasingly complex technology landscape.
Driven and operated by Kenes Group, PERFORM will connect sport, science, technology and innovation through a global, year-round platform designed to turn emerging ideas and technologies into practical knowledge for those working in elite sport.
Rather than focusing simply on the latest technological developments, the platform will examine how solutions perform in real-world environments and what evidence exists to support their use.
“Professional sport does not need more technology for technology’s sake. It needs trusted evidence, practical insight and better connections between the people building solutions and those responsible for athlete performance and health. PERFORM is creating that global meeting point – bringing the whole professional sport and performance ecosystem together to separate signal from noise and turn innovation into measurable impact for athletes,” said Ori Lahav, CEO of Kenes Group and PERFORM SportsTech.
Barcelona launch will bring together sports and technology leaders
PERFORM SportsTech will officially launch in Barcelona on 26 and 27 November 2026.
The inaugural gathering will bring together professionals from professional sport, performance science, sports medicine, technology and innovation, creating an international meeting point for discussions about the future of athlete performance and health.
Among the participants already confirmed are Marc Bertomeu, Co-Founder and COO of NextStage Arenas; Jordi Bertomeu, independent consultant and Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Euroleague Basketball; Dr Antonio Tramullas, Director of Sports Medicine and Performance at Sevilla FC; Guy Aharon, CEO and Co-Founder of Playermaker; Holly Ransom, CEO of Emergent Global; and Dr Steve Ingham, Director and Performance Scientist at Supporting Champions, as well as a writer, speaker and podcaster.
The organisers will provide further information about the programme, format and additional participants ahead of the event.
Professional sport faces a growing technology challenge
Technology is becoming increasingly integrated into elite sporting environments. Wearables, artificial intelligence, biometrics, biomechanics, data analytics and recovery technologies are all being used to support training, health management and athlete performance.
At the same time, the number of available technologies and providers has grown significantly. This has made it more difficult for clubs, federations and performance departments to distinguish between solutions that offer genuine value and those that have yet to demonstrate their effectiveness in practice.
There is also an ongoing challenge in translating scientific research into practical applications within professional sport.
PERFORM has been created to address this gap by bringing evidence, technology and professional experience closer together.
Its editorial philosophy is expressed through the principle “Signal over noise, practical over theoretical.”
The platform will assess technology according to its potential application rather than simply its novelty. Its “validated technology” approach will consider available evidence, examples from elite sport, expert opinions and lessons learned through implementation.
PERFORM will not provide formal technology certification or replace academic research and validation. Instead, its role will be to provide additional context, helping sports professionals understand what has been tested, what has been measured and what results have been observed in real-world settings.
Connecting professionals across the SportsTech sector
One of the platform’s central objectives is to connect the people directly responsible for athlete performance and health with the wider technology ecosystem.
The PERFORM community will include high-performance managers, sports scientists, performance analysts, elite coaches, sports medicine specialists and professionals working in injury prevention and return-to-play.
They will interact with representatives from clubs, federations, leagues and Olympic programmes, as well as research centres, universities, SportsTech start-ups, investors and technology companies.
The organisers say this multidisciplinary approach is intended to help scientific knowledge and technological innovation reach the professionals who can apply them in practical sporting environments.
Looking beyond performance to athlete health and longevity
PERFORM’s definition of sporting performance extends beyond results on the field or track.
The platform will also examine how technology can contribute to injury prevention, rehabilitation, recovery and the long-term health of athletes.
Its content and activities will cover subjects including biomechanics, training-load management, sports medicine, performance science, data analytics, artificial intelligence and wearable technology, alongside injury prevention and recovery.
This broader philosophy is reflected in the platform’s tagline:
“Built for Performance. Driven by Prevention.”
PERFORM will operate throughout the year
The Barcelona launch is only the first stage of the initiative. PERFORM is being developed as a year-round platform rather than a one-off conference.
Alongside its annual Summit, the project will produce regular editorial content including weekly articles, detailed analysis, applied case studies, interviews and a newsletter.
A dedicated podcast will also form part of the programme. Hosted by Dr Steve Ingham, it will feature discussions with prominent figures from the worlds of performance, science and technology.
The first group of guests will include Martin Buchheit, Nicky Keay, Marco Cardinale, Emilie Thienot and Jo Clubb. A further surprise guest will also participate in an episode recorded live during the Barcelona launch.
Through its events, editorial content and podcast, PERFORM aims to maintain an active international conversation about the technologies shaping professional sport and the evidence behind them.
The Barcelona meeting on 26 and 27 November 2026 will therefore serve as the starting point for a wider global platform connecting sports organisations, technology companies, researchers and performance professionals.
PERFORM SportsTech – Web & Social Media
Media Contacts
Alèxia París
+34 649 036 920
alexia.paris@newlink-group.com
Claudia Masfaré
+34 620 087 360
claudia.masfarne@newlink-group.com
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