Programme: also available as download
29th IAKS Congress
Creating high-performing facilities for an active future
From 28 to 31 October 2025, Cologne becomes the global hub for innovation in sports and leisure facilities. The 29th IAKS Congress brings together international experts, visionary planners, and forward-thinking decision-makers to share groundbreaking insights and solutions that will shape the sports and leisure facilities industry - today and for generations to come.
This year’s programme is packed with high-impact topics and inspiring speakers, covering everything from net-zero strategies and circular design to the social return of investment (SROI) in recreational infrastructure.
International Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum
28-31 October 2025, Cologne
From 28 to 31 October 2025, the International Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum (ISWF) will provide visitors to aquanale with exciting content for both the public and private swimming pool market. In its 11th edition, the forum will focus on the topics of sustainability, decarbonisation, climate resilience and staff retention.
Experts from Germany and abroad will share their knowledge about energy-efficient swimming pools, climate-resilient bathing waters, current standards and forward-looking personnel policies.
Organisers: IAKS, bsw, BDS, IAB, DGfnB
Tuesday, 28 October 2025
(c) Scott Norsworthy
11:30 h – 13:00 h: Opening & Strategies towards net-zero sports and leisure facilities
13:30 h – 15:00 h: Reducing the embodied carbon
15:30 h – 17:00 h: The public value and SROI of physical activity and recreation infrastructure
17:00 h – 18:00 h: Happy hour for IAKS members and friends
18:00 h – 22:30 h: 2025 IOC IAKS Architecture Prize Gala
Wednesday, 29 October 2025
(c) David Matthiessen
10:15 h – 11:30 h: Economically sustainable facilities
11:45 h – 12:45 h: Who are we building for? Inclusiveness and circularity
13:30 h – 14:45 h: Successful public pools: Design, technical and operational concepts
15:15 h – 17:00 h: IAKS General Assembly (only for IAKS members)
17:00 h – 18:00 h: Happy hour for IAKS members and friends
19:00 h – 22:30 h: Nations’ night for IAKS members
Thursday, 30 October 2025
(c) Kilian + Kollegen Landschaftsarchitekten / Oliver Berkhausen
10:15 h – 11:15 h: Outdoor activity areas: Integrated planning and shared usage
11:30 h – 13:00 h: Changing the Narrative: Sustainability for the next generation of sports surface – It’s here already!
13:30 h – 14:30 h: Beyond the court: The sports hall for the future
14:45 h – 15:45 h: Future-proof models for ice arenas
16:00 h – 17:00 h: Stadia as drivers of social and environmental sustainability
17:00 h – 18:00 h: Happy hour for IAKS members and friends
Friday, 31 October 2025
Programme coming up soon
Facility tour in the run-up of aquanale
With stops in five cities from 26-27 October 2025, the 'IAKS Facility Tour - Pools' offers an immersive learning experience in the field of pools and aquatic facilities, showcasing a blend of four successful aquatic facilities (a cosy indoor swimming pool; an energy-sustainable community swimming complex, a thermal bath and spa on the river, and a combined pool and ice-skating rink), and also brings you up to date on the current construction project `Pool out of the box‘.
Learn more about the convenient travel package: