Future of Retail

Name: Future of Retail
Start: 2026-10-06 09:00
End: 2026-10-06 19:00
Location: London

6 October 2026

Keeping retail at the forefront of innovation

In-Person & Digital | Convene 200 Aldersgate, London | #FTRetail

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400+

Attendees In-Person and Digitally

35+

Speakers

3.5M+

Social media reach

76%

C-suite delegates

The FT Future of Retail Summit returns in 2026 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 returns to London. Gathering the most influential players in the European retail sector, this event will be a day of insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and deep dives into the innovations that are transforming retail.

Our sponsors

Associate Sponsor

Networking Drinks Reception Sponsor

THE EARLY BIRD

RETAILERS IN-PERSON PASS

Gain access to in-person sessions and networking drinks. Network and connect with your peers.

Early Bird pricing ends 31st July.

£700 ~~£800~~ + VAT

THE EARLY BIRD

NON-RETAILERS IN-PERSON PASS

Gain access to in-person sessions and networking drinks. Network and connect with your peers.

Early Bird pricing ends 31st July.

£1,820 ~~£2,320~~ + VAT

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.