The top 10 retail conferences to attend in 2025

Retail conferences are the perfect way to gain valuable insights from retail experts and stay ahead of the curve — all while building industry connections and relationships. Want to transform your business and processes in 2025 — and close more sales?

Then mark your calendars for our top picks of this year’s retail conferences.

The must-attend retail conferences in North America

Shoptalk 2025

25th - 27th March, 2025

Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Shoptalk is one of the leading global events for retail marketing and e-commerce professionals. The 2025 conference is a perfect event to attend if you want to learn about the latest retail technology, emerging trends and business models, evolving customer needs, brand marketing, and more.

New this year is Shoptalk’s “The New Market,” which will connect media buyers, network, tech, agencies, and publishers to shape the future of the attention industry.

In the past, speakers have included Jon Alferness, EVP & Chief Product Officer at Walmart U.S., Lauren Morr, SVP, Digital Engineering & Architecture at Abercrombie & Fitch Co, Lisa Roath, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer at Target, and more.

It’s a can’t-miss conference that promises insights, perspectives, and networking on retail innovation you won’t find anywhere else.

audience in a conference room looking at a large screen

NRF ’25: Retail’s Big Show

12th - 14th January, 2025

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City, New York

Happening right at the start of the year in the heart of NYC, this is one of the best retail conferences to stay on top of industry trends, insights, and innovations for 2025.

With 175+ sessions, a Startup Hub to connect with new startups (or established leaders, if you are a startup), a massive Expo with 1,000+ exhibitors, Innovator showcases, and more, you’ll be able to hear from and connect with retail’s game-changing brands and leaders.

This year, session themes will focus on tech and innovation (including AI), brand marketing, customer experiences, merchandising and operations, supply chain logistics, talent, and more.

Etail 2025

24th - 27th February, 2025

JW Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Springs, California

One of the longest-running retail innovation conferences & expos (since 1999!), Etail is the perfect place to join industry leaders in retail, e-commerce, brand, and technology for insights, strategy, and planning for the future.

You’ll hear from leaders and experts in keynote sessions, panels, discussions, fireside chats, and more on topics such as customer loyalty, AI, performance marketing, brand and content strategies, unified commerce, optimizing UX and merchandising, and more!

There’s truly something here for everyone on your team.

Can’t make it to Palm Springs? Etail also hosts conferences in Boston, Toronto, and London.

Shoptalk Fall

17th - 19th October, 2025

McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA

The good news is that you won’t have to wait until next year for Shoptalk to return to the US if you miss the spring conference in March. Meeting the demand for retail meetups, networking, and education, Shoptalk is now hosting a fall event alongside their mainstage conference in spring.

Each day will start with big-picture insights, trends, and strategic discussions from retail leaders in the morning, then move to more tactical frameworks and action-packed takeaways in the afternoon. Join for “Shopwalks” that feature innovative in-store retail experiences.

Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the legendary “Meetup” networking, which matched 50,000+ meetings last year between buyers, sellers, peers, media buyers, and more.

Looking for a full list of tech events across North America in 2025? Explore our selection of the top tech conferences in the US & Canada.

Top retail conferences in Europe

World Retail Congress

12th - 14th May, 2025

Hilton Park Lane, London, United Kingdom

The return of the World Retail Congress in 2025 is set to bring together 800+ global retail leaders to address the latest trends, network, and discuss strategic plans for the future.

This year’s event's theme is focused on how to drive retail growth in today’s landscape. Session topics will center on four key elements of retail growth: consumers, teams, technology, and models. The conference presents an opportunity to connect with the global leaders actively shaping the future of retail.

Struggling to organize group travel for your team for an upcoming retail conference? Get expert tips and advice from our group travel booking guide to save time and stress!

IRX 2025

13th - 14th May, 2025

NEC Birmingham, Birmingham, England

IRX 2025is where e-commerce meets innovation.

This game-changing retail event experience in Birmingham is a dynamic exploration of the digital tools and innovations reshaping the landscape of modern commerce. The event brings together some of the brightest minds in e-commerce, retail industry experts, and other business executives for an insightful two-day learning experience.

It’s a jam-packed retail conference and trade show with keynote sessions and content, innovation showcases, networking, and roundtable discussions to deliver practical insights and big ideas to drive success in your retail future.

Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to meet with top-notch suppliers to discover the tools and technologies to grow your business.

Shoptalk Europe

2nd - 4th June, 2025

Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain

Shoptalk Europe brings together some of the world's biggest and most influential retailers. Top retail businesses and grocery stores will be at Shoptalk Europe, with more than 4,500 decision-makers from the world’s top brands, startups, and investors.

Much like the events in Shoptalk’s US ecosystem, Shoptalk Europe seeks to equip all attendees with the tools, skills, and connections they need to drive their business growth.

The organizers promise three days of fresh perspectives from influential retail leaders, complete with an Industry Party to top things off. Conferences don’t get much better than this, especially when they’re hosted in beautiful Barcelona.

More room in your calendar and budget for conferences this year? Check out some of the other top conferences happening in Europe in 2025:

11 Best Tech Conferences in Europe in 2025

14 Entrepreneurship Conferences in Europe in 2025

Top Trade Shows in Europe and Beyond in 2025

The best retail conferences in the Middle East

The Retail Summit 2025

11th - 12th November, 2025

Atlantis Dubai, Dubai, UAE

The Retail Summit (TRS) provides a space for a community of global industry leaders to collaboratively discuss and shape the future of retail. If you’re a retail professional, this is an opportunity to hear from world-class speakers on important topics.

The themes for 2025’s event will center on conscious commerce, brand narratives, tech evolution, and next-gen retail. Region-specific tracks will also deliver playbooks for expansion in different regions.

This year's event also promises more opportunities than ever to make meaningful connections. And guess what? There's also phenomenal entertainment planned at The Beach Party—so don't miss out!

Need to organize travel for your team for an upcoming conference? Check out our list of top 10 best group travel companies.

Seamless Middle East 2025

20th - 22nd May, 2025

Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UEA

The Seamless Middle East retail event in Dubai is a convergence of innovation and expertise. It’s a two-day conference featuring 800+ speakers and 25,000 attendees in digital marketing, e-commerce, and retail to shape the future of the retail sector.

You’ll hear from industry professionals and leaders at Santander, Revolut, L’Óreal, Vodafone, and many more discussing recent trends, market challenges, and developments shaping the industry.

This year’s themes will focus on digital commerce, payments, AI & CX, affiliate marketing, and a special CMO summit. The event will also host a networking lounge, a delegate and buyer program to meet solution providers, and even a networking app.

Retail Saudi 2025

13th - 14th May, 2025

The Arena Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Retail Saudi is your one-stop shop for insights, discussions, and networking among a Middle Eastern retail market. Visit the exhibition to get a taste of new innovations, cutting-edge technology and AI demos, and immersive shopping experiences; then dive into conference sessions, panel discussions, and workshops on everything from e-commerce, omnichannel solutions, sustainability, AI integration, regulatory equipment, and more.

Plus, enjoy networking opportunities with retailers, policymakers, tech companies, startups, investors, and stakeholders and other leaders in the Middle East retail landscape.

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Get ready to shape the future of your retail business by attending these top conferences

Ready for innovative insights that can drive your business forward? Get your tickets sooner rather than later to make sure you’re not left behind.

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