The Agenda Built for the AI Era, Not Retrofitted to It.

Most retail events treat AI as a topic. We treat it as the question. RetailClub is built for leaders thinking about AI across every dimension at once: the business you run, the team you lead, the customers you serve, and the economic and societal forces remaking the industry.

September 22-24, 2026
Huntington Beach, CA

Sept 22-24, 2026 | Huntington Beach, CA

The Agenda Built for the AI Era, Not Retrofitted to It.

RETAIL'S ONLY AI-NATIVE COMMUNITY

RetailCLub AI Festival Themes

RetailClub is designed for the full AI conversation, not a bolted-on or sanitized one. These themes explore the harder questions retail and brand leaders need to ask about business models, the future of work, and what happens when AI starts to move the foundations of the industry.

Agentic Commerce & the AI-Powered Customer Experience

The Rise of Agentic Commerce
The Future of Search and Discovery
Transforming the End-to-End Customer Experience with AI
Harnessing AI-Powered Customer Insights for Growth

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Technology, Data & Infrastructure for an AI-Native Future

Future-Proofing the Tech Stack for an AI-Native Future
Building a Strong Data Foundation for AI Success
Evaluating the AI Vendor Landscape

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Organizational Readiness & Professional Development

Scaling an Enterprise AI Strategy
Instilling an AI-First Culture
AI for Every Professional: Developing Real-World Skills and Capabilities

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AI-Driven Value Creation Across the Retail Organization

Augmenting the Role of the Merchant with AI
The Intelligent Supply Chain
Brand Strategy and Differentiation in an AI Era
The AI-Enabled Store

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AI’s Impact on the Economy, Work & Society

The New AI Economy
AI and the Great Tech Shakeup
Agentic AI and the Future of Work

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2026 RetailClub AI Festival Agenda

Choose how you spend three days fully outdoors, moving between stage sessions, hands-on workshops, live demos, and expert-led group discussions. There’s no single path through the AI shift retail is facing. Your three days shouldn’t pretend there is.

Tue, Sept 22 – Thu, Sept 24

Badge Pick-Up

Badge pick-up will be available at the Vista Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. A badge is always required on the Boardwalk – don’t forget!

Tue, Sept 22 – Thu, Sept 24

Content

We have a no-pay-to-play content model, which means every speaker is chosen on merit. That leads to no fluff, no overcrowded panels, just real conversations, real connections, and real value.

Tue, Sept 22

Welcome Beachside Bash

Relax, unwind, and connect with the RetailClub AI Festival community. Enjoy an evening of tasty bites, delicious cocktails, and music as the sun sets on the beautiful pacific ocean.

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM PT

Tues, Sept 22 – Thurs, Sept 24

Closing Night Sunset Party

Join us for an unforgettable night of music, libations and electryfing performances against a stunning beach sunset. Take in the sounds, the sea, and the sunset at the Ocean Stage.

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM PT

Session formats

Stage Content

Stage content features forward-looking presentations and candid conversations that explore how AI is set to reshape every facet of retail. Stage speakers are senior executives and innovators who bring real-world experience—not scripted pitches—to spark meaningful discussions on today’s AI disruption and tomorrow’s possibilities.

Level Up Content

Each session focuses on tangible learning to hone your skills and build your personal capital for an AI-first world. From demos and training on AI tools, to workshops that sharpen your leadership skills, sales pitch, or go-to-market strategy, you’ll leave with frameworks and new competencies you can apply immediately.

AI Current

Each session features live demonstrations of cutting-edge technology, real-world AI implementations, and working prototypes. Technologists, retailers and brands take you behind the scenes to show you exactly how they’re using AI to drive growth, create efficiencies, and deliver a phenomenal customer experience.