Barcelona, September 2026 — Professional sport is adopting new technologies at an unprecedented pace, from artificial intelligence and wearable devices to biometrics and advanced performance data. But as the number of available solutions continues to increase, so does the need to understand which technologies can deliver genuine value.
That is the focus of PERFORM SportsTech, a new global platform designed to connect professional sport with science, technology and innovation while helping decision-makers assess emerging solutions through evidence and practical experience.
Operated by Kenes Group, PERFORM will run throughout the year, providing a combination of events, editorial content and expert discussions focused on the application of technology in high-performance sport.
The platform is intended to help clubs, federations, performance teams and other organisations navigate an increasingly crowded market and make more informed decisions about technologies affecting athlete performance, health and longevity.
“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,” says Ori Lahav, CEO of Kenes Group and PERFORM SportsTech.
First PERFORM event to take place in Barcelona
The new platform will officially launch in Barcelona on 26 and 27 November 2026, when professionals from across sport, performance science, medicine, technology and innovation will meet for the first major PERFORM gathering.
The event will establish the foundations for a year-round platform focused on the practical role that technology and scientific evidence can play in elite athlete performance.
A number of industry figures have already been confirmed for the Barcelona launch. They include 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.
More information concerning the launch programme, format and participants will be released shortly.
From new technology to measurable impact
The role of technology in professional sport has expanded considerably. Wearables can monitor athlete data, artificial intelligence can support analysis, and biometric and biomechanical technologies are being incorporated into training, recovery and health management.
However, the growth of the sector has also created a challenge for those responsible for selecting and implementing new solutions.
Clubs, federations and performance departments now have access to a large and fragmented range of products and services. Distinguishing between technologies with meaningful applications and those whose effectiveness remains uncertain can therefore be difficult.
Another issue is the distance that can sometimes exist between scientific research and its practical use within elite sporting environments.
PERFORM has been designed around this particular challenge. Its objective is to make emerging technology easier to understand from the perspective of the people who have to use it.
The platform’s editorial approach is summed up by the phrase “Signal over noise, practical over theoretical.”
Rather than treating novelty as the main measure of value, PERFORM will examine how technologies are being used, what evidence is available and what has happened when solutions have been implemented in real sporting environments.
Its “validated technology” approach will consider available research, examples from elite sport, expert review and lessons learned through implementation.
PERFORM will not certify technologies or replace established academic validation procedures. Instead, it aims to offer professionals additional context around what has been tested, what has been measured, which results have been recorded and how relevant a particular technology may be in a high-performance setting.
A meeting point for sport, science and technology
The platform will bring together a broad range of professionals working within the performance and health side of sport.
This includes high-performance managers, performance teams, sports medicine leaders, injury prevention and return-to-play specialists, elite coaches, sports scientists and performance analysts.
They will form part of the same ecosystem as professional clubs, federations, leagues, Olympic programmes, research centres, universities, SportsTech start-ups, investors and technology companies.
The intention is to encourage greater interaction between scientific knowledge, technological development and the professionals responsible for putting those developments into practice.
Performance is also about prevention and longevity
PERFORM will take a broad approach to the meaning of sporting performance.
For professional athletes, achieving competitive success is closely linked to maintaining health, preventing injuries and supporting long-term careers. As a result, the platform will explore technology and innovation across a wide range of areas.
These will include injury prevention, rehabilitation, recovery, biomechanics, training-load management, sports medicine, performance science, data, artificial intelligence and wearable technologies.
The philosophy behind this approach is reflected in PERFORM’s tagline:
“Built for Performance. Driven by Prevention.”
A global platform operating throughout the year
The Barcelona launch is not intended to be a standalone event. PERFORM will continue its activities throughout the year through an ongoing programme of content and expert discussion.
The platform will publish weekly blog articles, in-depth analysis, applied case studies and interviews, alongside a regular newsletter and a dedicated podcast.
The podcast will be hosted by Dr Steve Ingham and will feature conversations with prominent professionals in performance, science and technology. Planned guests include Martin Buchheit, Nicky Keay, Marco Cardinale, Emilie Thienot and Jo Clubb.
A further surprise guest will also take part in an episode recorded live during the Barcelona launch event.
The annual Summit will serve as the main face-to-face gathering for the PERFORM community, while its editorial programme and podcast will allow the discussion to continue between events.
By combining these different formats, PERFORM SportsTech is being positioned as a year-round resource for professionals seeking to understand how new technologies can be applied effectively across elite sport.
The initiative will officially begin with its Barcelona event on 26 and 27 November 2026, bringing together the people and organisations involved in shaping the next generation of sports performance, health and technology.
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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