Future of Retail
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Whether you want to revisit a specific keynote or catch up on a panel, all sessions are now available to watch on-demand via the agenda page.
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The FT Future of Retail Summit has closed for another year but we'll be back again next year on 5 October 2027. Thank you to all those who attended in-person and online, to our incredible line-up of speakers and sponsors who all greatly contributed to the success of the event.
As the retail industry faces an increasingly complex and dynamic trading environment impacted by ongoing inflation and geopolitical tensions. Consumer spending power and retailer profitability continues to be affected, whilst technology is evolving alongside AI, omnichannel innovation and the demand for more sustainable practices. Retailers must find new ways to engage with increasingly discerning customers while also ensuring their business models are adaptable, resilient, and forward-thinking.
To tackle these challenges, old and new, the Future of Retail Summit gathered the most influential players in the European retail sector for a day of insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and deep dives into the innovations that are transforming retail.
2026 speakers included:
Why Attend?
Discuss & Debate
Discuss new approaches and strategies designed to help win market share, maximise efficiency and deliver more profit
Network
Explore and develop your views with senior-level peers, journalists and experts on what is needed to drive future success
Learn
Hear the latest intelligence around the consumer trends, companies, data & analytics, and the technologies driving the global retail industry
Key themes include:
AI & Automation
Retailers are examining the reality of AI beyond experimentation to see where AI can drive margins and where to stop investing. As AI-powered searches and generative engines become the new storefront, Generative Engine Optimisation is now a commercial priority for retailers.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is now a board-level issue for retailers, with organised criminal gangs targeting the sector. Leaders must assess their incident-response readiness, cyber insurance strategy and CISO and CEO alignment in order to ensure business continuity and margin protection.
Social commerce
As social media platforms such as TikTok Shop and Instagram shopping introduce in-app storefront, retailers are now assessing who owns the customer relationship, platform dependency risk and loss of first-party data.
Revisit every session on your own schedule
THE
ON DEMAND PASS
Watch on-demand from the comfort of your home or office
£359 + VAT
Supporting Partners
Speaking Opportunities
Rebecca Roper
rebecca.roper@ft.com
Sponsorship Opportunities
Josiah Allen
josiah.allen@ft.com
Delegate Services
Billy Warville
william.warville@ft.com