Retail & Luxury: our top picks and key trends for 2026

As NRF 2026, the must-attend global retail event, wraps up in New York, our teams look back on another key moment in the European ecosystem: Tech for Retail 2025. At this event, Wavestone was on the ground alongside its clients, analyzing the trends and innovations reshaping the sector.

Over two days, our teams guided clients through the latest innovations at the show via:

• 48 personalized journeys
• 13 client accounts
• More than 100 employees supported in total

These immersions provided opportunities to engage with key market players and discover the solutions that are reinventing the retail experience. Several major themes stood out:

• The role of humans in the digital customer experience
• Analyzing non-purchase behavior as a new driver of performance
• New engagement levers through charitable giving
• Opportunities linked to traceability and transparency data

These insights echo the trends observed this week in New York: retail is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by innovation, data, and the pursuit of experiences that are increasingly useful, responsible, and personalized.

To dive deeper, download our one-pager featuring the trends and standout solutions from the show, handpicked by our teams for their potential, innovative edge, and tangible impact on the retail of tomorrow.