EXPOnline 2026: Special guest sparks excitement

With EXPOnline 2026, the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol once again provided a digital platform for fresh ideas from the Sports, Culture & Event Management degree program.

The livestream was hosted by students from the EXPOnline project group, who guided the audience through the program in a structured manner, prepared interviews with the project teams, and thus provided a clear framework for the individual presentations. Building on this, students presented their projects in a professional YouTube livestream, sharing stories of challenges and “aha” moments—in a lively and personal way.

Three practical projects were the focus of the 2025–26 winter semester because they reflect the breadth of the degree program and the industries:

• Kuftrail: A race organized by students for trail running on Kufstein’s Stadtberg with two distances (7 or 14 km). The second edition, scheduled for spring 2026, is part of the Unisport Austria Championships and will be organized as a green event.
• Kufstein Short Film Festival: Under this banner, the group championed cultural diversity and social perspectives. At the Kultur Quartier Kufstein, they presented international short films that highlighted underrepresented voices and themes—complemented by a charitable component and measures that were awarded the Green Event Tirol certificate.
• Castle Cup: This student-organized indoor soccer tournament, which also served as a major event, was all about sports. It is aimed at students and young adults and combines athletic competition with a professionally organized supporting program. The high demand and the fact that all team spots were booked well in advance underscore the project’s success.

EXCHANGE, STORYTELLING, AND A CELEBRITY GUEST

A particular highlight of EXPOnline 2026 was the conversation with Heiko Herrlich, a former German national team player and Bundesliga coach. Drawing on his experiences in professional soccer, he demonstrated why success is about more than just technique, tactics, and athleticism: personality and mental strength are crucial—especially when faced with setbacks, pressure, and high-stress situations. Herrlich made it clear that a sustainable career requires hard work, resilience, self-reflection, and a willingness to constantly develop.

“EXPOnline 2026 has once again demonstrated the level of dedication, creativity, and professionalism behind the student projects. For us as the organizing team, it was a valuable experience to implement and further develop this digital event,” summarizes project manager Simon Boccolari.

Links:

• EXPOnline | Event Series
• Sports, Culture & Event Management | ft

This article was written by students in the part-time bachelor's degree program in Sports, Culture & Event Management as part of their practical project.