Leaders in the retail sector are tackling some of the industry’s most impactful issues and trends during the 2025 conference season.
From finding the best ways to leverage AI to digging into the future of omnichannel retail, the events come as retailers navigate a strong but uncertain economy.
The conferences run from two to four days and boast notable speakers, work sessions, panels, keynotes, receptions and innovation labs to test new technologies and to get an early look at products entering the industry.
Retail Dive has curated a list of the most notable retail conferences in 2025 to keep on your radar in the months ahead.
Top Retail Conferences for 2025
NRF: Retail’s Big Show
Jan. 11-14
Javits Convention Center, New York
This four-day event attracts 5,000 brands and nearly 40,000 attendees from around the globe. The event boasts its ability to help attendees “build valuable partnerships that will propel your sales — and your career — forward.” The 2025 speaker lineup includes executives from Target, Walmart, Shopify, Starbucks and more.
ICR Conference
Jan. 13-15
JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Resort, Orlando, Florida
The invitation-only event brings together about 2,600 corporate management teams, private equity investors, institutional investors, sell-side analysts, media and sponsors for three days of presentations, panels and receptions. Past attendees have included Bark, J. Jill, Crocs and American Eagle.
RILA Retail CEO Forum
Jan. 25-28
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida
Retail CEOs gather in a private, group setting “to experience the power of collaboration,” according to RILA’s website.
Programs include harnessing the power of AI, reflections on leadership, shaping organizational culture, and insights into international retail trends and strategies.
ETail
Feb. 24-27
JW Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Springs, California
ETail bills itself as a leading industry conference. Launched in 1999, eTail now runs 16 conferences worldwide and calls itself the place where “the top minds in retail meet, collaborate and learn about what’s disrupting the industry today,” according to its website. Executives from Pacsun, L’Oreal and The North Face round out the attendee list.
Los Angeles E-Commerce Summit
March 5
Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles E-commerce Summit is a boutique event that features retailers, brands, merchants and solution providers for a one-day event. It has panel discussions, presentations and one-on-one meetings on subjects including customer experience, payment, shipping and loyalty.
Speakers include Alexandria Collis, senior director of operations and Princess Polly; Holly Schick, director of site operations at J.C. Penney; Justin Brown, chief supply chain officer at Dollar Shave Club; and Sheiva Solaimani, director of social at Fabletics.
Shoptalk Spring
March 25-27
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
Shoptalk addresses “the entire retail ecosystem, focusing predominantly on the North American market,” according to its website. In addition to its main-stage spotlight talks and multitrack session options, the conference team is launching a new event for 2025. The New Market event “[brings] a fresh perspective to the attention industry” within the context of fierce competition for consumers’ attention by retailers
ETail Asia
May 14-15
Equarius Hotel, Sentosa, Singapore
Billed as “Asia’s premier e-commerce and digital marketing retail summit,” eTail Asia is expecting a robust and growing roster of speakers from companies such as Tiffany & Co., LVMH and Coupang.
Shoptalk Europe
June 2-4
Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain
More than 4,000 “industry players” are expected to join in this event where attendees will address “digital transformation in retail for the evolving European market.”
Confirmed speakers include Sergio Azzolari, CEO of Roberto Cavalli; Britt Olsen, chief commercial officer of On; and Yann Le Bozec, Croc’s vice president of marketing for Crocs, Row and Hey Dude International.
CommerceNext
June 24-26
New York Hilton Midtown, New York
CommerceNext brings together digital, marketing and technology retail leaders, according to its website.
The conference is expecting over 150 industry speakers, over 2,700 retailers and tech companies and more than 75 sessions that cover a range of subjects including modernizing traditional marketing, AI use-cases in e-commerce and omnichannel retail.
While the 2025 agenda and speakers list has not yet been released, former attendees include executives from Walmart, J. Crew and Sephora. Organizers promise an exciting 2025 experience of about 2,500 attendees who can expect to hear from industry leaders, make connections with innovative tech companies, and attend sessions with actionable insights.
Shoptalk Fall
Sept. 17-19
Chicago, Illinois
Organizers said attendees can expect to experience innovative brands with the same opportunity as the conference in Las Vegas to make thousands of connections. The event is curated to appeal to Shoptalk retail sectors like apparel and accessories, home and furniture and has increased representation from luxury and high-end beauty.
Attendees include over 3,000 senior decision-makers, over 1,800 companies and more than 150 speakers.
Retail Innovation Conference & Expo
TBD
Technology and innovation are the focus points for RICE. The conference features cutting-edge technology, speakers and networking opportunities.
