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The IFA Retail Leaders Summit is an exclusive, invite-only event welcoming over 100 C-level and senior retail executives.
Apply to attend
Become a sponsor
Thursday, 3 September 2026
Palais, Messe Berlin – North Entrance
The IFA Retail Leaders Summit is an exclusive, invite-only event welcoming over 100 C-level and senior retail executives.
Apply to attend
Become a sponsor
Thursday, 3 September 2026
Palais, Messe Berlin – North Entrance

IFA Retail Leaders Summit

Shaping the future of commerce

At the IFA Retail Leaders Summit, the movers and shakers of the global retail industry come together with senior executives from the world’s leading home & consumer tech brands. They’re joined by respected industry analysts and pioneering technology leaders – all ready to share insights, spark ideas, and shape the future of connected commerce.

Key objectives of the IFA Retail Leaders Summit

Driving collaboration, sparking insight, and delivering strategic impact across retail, technology, and consumer innovation.
C-level collaboration & innovation

Fostering peer-to-peer collaboration among the brightest minds in retail and tech.

Matchmaking & facilitating business

To support new connections between international retailers, manufacturers, and groundbreaking tech providers.

Who will be invited?

All attendees will be senior decision makers and thought leaders within their organisation.
Leaders

· Presidents

· CEOs

· Managing Directors

Heads of Department

· Heads of Procurement / Sales / Category Management

· Heads of Retail Operations

· Heads of Supply Chain, Delivery & Fulfillment

· Heads of Technology, AI & Smart Retail

· Heads of Marketing & Go-To-Market (Omnichannel strategy)

Key Advisors & Enablers

· Senior Industry Analysts

· Technology Evangelists

· eCommerce / Social Commerce experts

· Delivery, Logistics and Supply Chain partners

What makes IFA’s Retail Leaders Summit unique?

As the world’s leading platform for home & consumer tech, the IFA Retail Leaders Summit brings together more senior retailers, industry executives and key opinion leaders than any other event.

This invite-only programme is carefully curated to meet the specific needs of senior retail and tech leaders. Each guest receives a personalised agenda, including high-level content, focused roundtables and strategic 1:1 meetings, designed to maximise time and impact.

IFA attracts 14,000+ international retailers
IFA attracts 1,800+ home & consumer tech brands
IFA attracts political, regulatory & economic leaders
Join the IFA Retail Leaders Summit.
Apply to attend
Apply to sponsor

What to expect?

Valuable connections with the world’s most forward-thinking retailers, leading manufacturers and bold tech innovators.
Round table discussions
Join the conversation on the hottest topics in retail and tech alongside peers and the industry’s sharpest minds. Designed for honest, peer-led discussion, these sessions run under the Chatham House Rule - creating a trusted space for open, candid conversations you wouldn’t normally get.
Round table discussions
Visionary keynotes & presentations
Hear directly from C-level and senior executives as they share their vision for the future of retail and technology.
Visionary keynotes & presentations
VIP tours & invitations
Enjoy exclusive VIP experiences at IFA, from private gala dinners and behind-the-scenes tours to premium access at the IFA Sommergarten music festival.
VIP tours & invitations
Networking & 1:1 meetings
Meet the people and companies that will elevate your professional network and your next big opportunity.
Networking & 1:1 meetings
Visionary keynotes & presentations
Hear directly from C-level and senior executives as they share their vision for the future of retail and technology.
Visionary keynotes & presentations
Networking & 1:1 meetings
Meet the people and companies that will elevate your professional network and your next big opportunity.
Networking & 1:1 meetings
Round table discussions
Join the conversation on the hottest topics in retail and tech alongside peers and the industry’s sharpest minds. Designed for honest, peer-led discussion, these sessions run under the Chatham House Rule - creating a trusted space for open, candid conversations you wouldn’t normally get.
Round table discussions
VIP tours & invitations
Enjoy exclusive VIP experiences at IFA, from private gala dinners and behind-the-scenes tours to premium access at the IFA Sommergarten music festival.
VIP tours & invitations

Connecting the global retail landscape in home & consumer tech

IFA strategic retail partners in 2026:
IFA draws more retailers and buying groups than any other event in the sector:
Join the IFA Retail Leaders Summit.
Apply to attend
Apply to sponsor

IFA Retail Leaders Summit 2026

Programme Outline
Theme: The Next Retail Advantage – Omnichannel, AI and the Future of Fulfilment
Sep 3, 2026
08:45 - 18:30
Palais, Messe Berlin
08:45
Welcome & Opening Insights

A brief welcome and introduction to the key themes shaping the retail landscape.

  • Key trends shaping retail transformation
  • What to expect from the day
08:50
Economic Outlook & Market Context

Key data and macroeconomic insights to frame the day’s discussions.

  • Market performance and outlook
  • Key economic pressures and opportunities
09:10
Retail 2030: The New Economics of Omnichannel Growth

An executive overview of how rising delivery expectations, AI, and platform competition are reshaping retail economics and operating models.

  • Shift to profitable omnichannel models
  • Rising cost-to-serve and delivery expectations
  • AI as a driver of efficiency and scale
Read more
09:30
Winning the Next Retail Cycle: Growth, Profitability and Platform Competition

An executive panel exploring how retailers and brands are navigating economic pressure, platform competition, and rising customer expectations—while building profitable, omnichannel growth models for the next phase of retail.

  • Managing cost and margin pressure
  • Competing in a platform-led market
  • Integrating omnichannel for growth
Read more
10:00
The Omnichannel Equation: Building Win-Win Growth

How brands and retailers can collaborate across pricing, data, and fulfilment to drive sustainable, shared growth.

  • Aligning pricing and promotion strategies
  • Improving data and inventory visibility
  • Strengthening joint commercial models
Read more
10:30
AI-Led Retail: From Forecasting to Autonomous Operations

How AI is moving from pilot to scale—transforming forecasting, pricing, operations, and productivity across the retail value chain.

  • AI-driven forecasting and inventory
  • Automation of pricing and merchandising
  • Scaling AI across the organisation
Read more
10:50
Coffee Break & 121 Meetings
11:30
Executive Roundtables

Interactive discussions focused on strategic priorities, AI adoption, unified commerce, and fulfilment network design.

  • CEO priorities and retail strategy
  • AI investment and use cases
  • Unified commerce and fulfilment models
Read more
12:30
Lunch & 121 Meetings
13:30
From Click to Doorstep: The New Retail Battleground

An operational deep dive into delivery expectations, cost pressures, and the realities of executing seamless omnichannel experiences.

  • Delivery speed vs cost trade-offs
  • Operational complexity of omnichannel
  • Technology and fulfilment convergence
Read more
13:50
Designing the Intelligent Omnichannel Enterprise

How unified commerce and AI enable real-time decision-making across inventory, pricing, fulfilment, and customer experience.

  • Unified commerce platforms
  • Real-time decisioning across channels
  • Data and organisational alignment
Read more
14:10
The Future of Fulfilment: Turning Delivery into Advantage

How retailers can use fulfilment and last-mile strategy to differentiate, improve loyalty, and drive growth.

  • Delivery as a brand differentiator
  • Owning vs partnering in last-mile
  • Fulfilment and customer experience
Read more
14:40
Building the Intelligent Commerce Engine

How leading retailers are scaling AI and data to power real-time, end-to-end commercial decision-making.

  • AI use cases across retail operations
  • Real-time pricing and inventory decisions
  • Building scalable data foundations
Read more
15:00
Re-Engineering Delivery, Fulfilment and Returns

Strategies to optimise cost-to-serve, improve efficiency, and turn returns into a value driver.

  • Network and inventory optimisation
  • Automation and AI in fulfilment
  • Smarter returns and reverse logistics
15:30
Afternoon Break & 121 Meetings
16:30
Sundowner Roundtables

Focused peer discussions on last-mile strategy, AI-driven commerce, fulfilment efficiency, and in-store innovation.

  • Last-mile optimisation strategies
  • AI, marketplaces and retail media
  • Automation and in-store innovation
Read more
17:30
Closing Remarks & Networking Reception

Frequently asked questions

  • 1. Who can attend?
    Attendance is by invitation only and reserved for C-level executives, Heads of Department, and Senior Directors. If you meet the criteria, you can apply for your place via this link – please note, places are limited.
  • 2. Where will the event take place?
    The Retail Leaders Summit will be hosted in the iconic Palais building at Messe Berlin. Access is via the North Entrance.
  • 3. Will the event follow Chatham House Rules?
    Yes – after the opening keynote and panel (which are open to press and media), the summit will switch to Chatham House Rules from 10:30 onward. This ensures all comments made by senior leaders remain off the record and confidential.
Highlights from the IFA Retail Leaders Summit 2025
See how global retail and tech leaders came together at IFA Berlin to shape the future of connected commerce. From AI-driven insights to bold strategies in omnichannel and sustainability, this exclusive summit delivered fresh thinking, valuable connections and real impact.

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