The retail calendar has a rhythm: NRF in January, Shoptalk in March, the summer executive retreats, then Groceryshop and Shoptalk Fall in the back half. These are the shows I attend, speak at, or send clients to, in calendar order. Dates below are the next scheduled edition as of September 2026 and will drift; the organizer’s site is always the final word.
January
NRF Big Show. Mid-January, Javits Center, New York, every year. The biggest retail show in the world and the one everyone attends, whether they admit it or not. Three days, 40,000 people, and the year’s narrative gets set here. I closed the 2026 show with the keynote on the AI-native consumer. Next: January 10 to 12, 2027, New York.
February
eTail West. Late February, JW Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Desert, California. The original e-commerce practitioner conference, still heavy on operators sharing what worked. Good for mid-market retailers and DTC brands. Next: late February 2027, Palm Desert (dates not yet posted).
March
Shoptalk Spring. Late March, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, every year. The show that reset the conference model: big stages, curated meetings, and a hosted-retailer program that gets the buyers in the room. The best place to see every vendor in the industry in three days. Next: March 22 to 24, 2027, Las Vegas.
April
NACDS Annual Meeting. Late April, The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ executive meeting. Small, senior, and the place where drug chains and their suppliers do business. Invitation and membership driven. Next: April 18 to 20, 2027, Palm Beach.
June
Future Stores. Early June, location varies (Los Angeles the last two years). Store operations and in-store technology, for the people who run physical retail rather than the people who talk about it. Next: June 2027, location and dates not yet posted.
CommerceNext Growth Show. Mid to late June, New York, every year. Marketing and growth for e-commerce brands, run by people who ran e-commerce marketing. Moving to the Javits Center in 2027 after years at the New York Hilton. Next: June 8 to 9, 2027, Javits Center, New York.
July
NRF Nexus. Mid to late July, resort setting. The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs since 2026, after years at Terranea in California. NRF’s invitation-only executive retreat: a few hundred senior leaders, no expo floor, and the best conversations of the year. I’ve presented and moderated panels here; it’s the show I’d pick if I could only go to one. Next: July 2027, dates not yet posted.
August
eTail East. Mid-August, Boston, every year. eTail West’s East Coast sibling. Same operator focus, and a good excuse to be in Boston in August. Next: August 2027, Boston (dates not yet posted).
NACDS Total Store Expo. Mid-August, rotating cities. The chain drug channel’s trade show: the full store, front end to pharmacy, with the suppliers who fill it. Next: August 14 to 16, 2027, San Diego.
September
Groceryshop. Late September, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, every year. Shoptalk’s grocery and CPG sibling. If you sell food, beverage, or anything in a grocery store, this is your show, and the retail media conversations here are the most advanced in the industry. Next: September 22 to 24, 2026, Las Vegas.
RetailClub. Late September, Huntington Beach, California. Launched in 2026. The new one. An outdoor, beachside festival about AI in retail from the founders of Shoptalk and Groceryshop, with structured networking and a hosted program for retailers and brands. First edition runs the same week as Groceryshop, so pick one. Scot and I will be there in full force this year. Next: September 22 to 24, 2026, Huntington Beach.
Shoptalk Fall. Late September or early October. Chicago for its first two years, Nashville starting in 2026. The second Shoptalk of the year, smaller and more focused than Spring, with a heavier tilt toward brands and marketing. Next: September 29 to October 1, 2026, Music City Center, Nashville.
October
NACS Show. Early to mid-October, rotating among Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Chicago. The convenience store industry’s show (NACS is the National Association of Convenience Stores). Convenience is the most underrated channel in retail, and this is where you see why. Next: October 6 to 9, 2026, Las Vegas; October 5 to 8, 2027, Atlanta.
Consumer Brands CPG Summit. Mid-October, Park Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad, California. The Consumer Brands Association’s executive summit for CPG leadership. I’ve spoken here; it’s the CPG C-suite in one room. Next: October 12 to 14, 2026, Carlsbad.