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Photo courtesy of Outside Days.
Photo courtesy of Outside Days.
Outside Days drives $42.15 million economic impact in Denver
ColoradoBiz Staff //August 26, 2026//
In Brief:
- Outside Days generated $42.15 million economic impact
- Event attendance exceeded 40,000 in Denver
- Colorado agencies contributed $900,000 in support
- Career fair featured 34 national brands and 700 participants
DENVER — Outside Days generated an estimated $42.15 million in economic activity in Colorado in 2026, according to event organizers.
The total increased 17% from 2025 and 163% from the festival’s first year in 2024. Organizers said the event has generated nearly $100 million in economic activity over three years.
Outside Interactive Inc., the state of Colorado and Visit Denver launched Outside Days in 2024. The Denver event expanded from three days to four in 2026 and attracted more than 40,000 attendees. About 30% came from outside Colorado.
“Outside Days has become much more than an event. It’s a powerful economic driver for Colorado,” Outside founder and CEO Robin Thurston said.
The event included concerts, films, discussions with athletes, an industry conference and a career fair. Performers included Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket and Cage the Elephant.
The career fair brought together 34 national brands and 700 participants, including 521 job seekers. Outside Ignite, a competition for outdoor industry startups, offered a $100,000 prize.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and the Colorado Economic Development Commission have provided about $900,000 to support the event since its launch.
The Colorado Tourism Office also sponsored water refill stations that organizers said dispensed about 43,000 gallons and avoided the use of more than 326,000 plastic bottles.
Outside Days will return to Denver’s Auraria Campus in 2027.
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