The region’s premier retail event unveils ‘The Next Now’ theme as 11,000+ professionals gather to explore the innovations transforming commerce across Apac.
Asia Pacific stands at the epicentre of retail’s most dramatic transformation. With a rapidly expanding middle class projected to reach 3.5 billion consumers within the next decade, the region is not just adapting to change – it’s driving it. This coming June, retail leaders from across the globe will converge in Singapore for NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific, the event that has quickly become the industry’s most essential gathering.
Following two highly successful years, NRF 2026 Apac returns to Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre from June 2-4, 2026, bringing together over 11,000 retail professionals from 80 nationalities for three days of transformative learning, discovery, and networking.
The Next Now: Understanding retail’s defining moment
This year’s theme, ‘The Next Now,’ captures the urgency and opportunity facing Apac retailers today. It’s not just about preparing for the future – it’s about the innovations, strategies, and decisions being made right now that will define the next decade of commerce.
“Apac retail is evolving faster than anywhere else in the world,” said Samuel Kim, vice chairman and group CEO of Lotte Retail. “NRF 2026 Apac celebrates that dynamism – it’s where ideas become action, and where the next wave of retail transformation begins.”
Exploring the forces reshaping retail
Spanning 23,000sqm across two floors, the three-day event features 11 keynote sessions from global C-suite leaders, 18 breakout sessions, and 12 invite-only roundtables covering 15 critical topics.
Agentic AI and commerce explores the latest iteration of artificial intelligence – moving beyond prompts to fully autonomous agents that can reason, plan, and act on behalf of users.
Hyperexperientialism investigates the return of emotionally immersive branding as Apac experiences a renaissance in retail construction, with megamalls and new flagship stores becoming destinations for retail tourism.
Cross-border commerce addresses the cultural, linguistic, and legal complexities that create both barriers and opportunities for retailers expanding across the diverse Apac landscape.
Other sessions dive deep into retail media’s explosive growth, AI’s organisational impact, digital convergence, monetisation strategies, omnichannel gaps, customer trust, and understanding the future Apac consumer.
Innovation on full display
The 2026 edition introduces several exciting new features while expanding proven favorites.
The Foodservice Innovation Zone makes its debut, exploring the fusion of food and retail experiences captivating consumers across the region.
The Innovators Showcase returns 40 percent bigger, featuring 42 of the world’s top retail innovations – all completely refreshed for 2026 with no repeats from previous years.
The new NRF Apac Partner Lounge creates an exclusive zone connecting retailers with ecosystem partners, accelerators, and market-entry experts, while Country Pavilions representing Vietnam, Australia, Korea, France, China, and Singapore showcase regional innovations.
Networking that drives business forward
Beyond content sessions, NRF 2026 Apac offers expanded networking opportunities – from curated meet-ups and exclusive lounges to daily happy hours designed to transform conversations into lasting business connections.
The prestigious NRF Apac CEO Club, an invite-only forum limited to retail CEOs, returns to offer an intimate environment for top leaders to exchange insights and forge regional partnerships.
A powerhouse advisory board
Guiding the event’s strategic direction is an advisory board featuring retail leaders such as Nandita Sinha (Myntra), Eva Baquedano (Loewe), Jonathan Burks (Coupang), and Vipul Chawla (FairPrice Group) – underscoring Apac’s emergence as the world’s retail innovation hub. With registration now open, retailers can secure their place at the event defining the future of commerce across Asia Pacific.
- For more information, visit nrfbigshowapac.nrf.com.
