Unlocking Tomorrow’s Retail: Your Definitive Guide to NRF Retail’s Big Show (Expo Hall), New York, USA!

New York City – the pulsating heart of global commerce, a city that sets trends, embraces innovation, and continuously reinvents itself. It’s here, amidst the dazzling energy of Manhattan, that the entire world of retail converges for its most influential annual event: NRF Retail’s Big Show. While the event encompasses a robust conference with inspiring keynotes and educational sessions, it’s the Expo Hall component that truly brings the future of retail to life. This isn’t merely a trade exhibition; it’s a colossal marketplace of ideas, a strategic incubator designed to ignite transformation, foster collaboration, and unveil the revolutionary technologies, solutions, and services that are reshaping how retailers engage with consumers across every channel imaginable. Imagine stepping onto an immense show floor, buzzing with the hum of AI-driven analytics, the glow of interactive displays, and the energy of tens of thousands of retail leaders, tech innovators, and solution providers. You’re surrounded by everything from cutting-edge point-of-sale systems and advanced supply chain optimization tools to immersive customer experience platforms and the latest in sustainable retail practices. This is your unparalleled opportunity to discover groundbreaking solutions, explore transformative business strategies, dissect the freshest consumer trends, and cultivate invaluable connections that will revolutionize your operations, elevate your brand, and captivate your customers in an ever-evolving retail landscape. For CEOs, technology leaders, marketing executives, store operations managers, supply chain professionals, and anyone deeply invested in the art and science of connecting products with people, NRF Retail’s Big Show’s Expo Hall is not merely an option—it’s an essential annual pilgrimage for staying ahead of the curve, finding profound inspiration, and cultivating unparalleled growth in today’s fiercely competitive and dynamic global marketplace.

The retail industry is a relentless innovator, constantly adapting to shifting consumer behaviors, technological advancements, and economic pressures. Consumers demand seamless omnichannel experiences, personalized interactions, ethical sourcing, and instant gratification. Simultaneously, retailers are striving for greater efficiency, reduced operational costs, enhanced data security, and the integration of artificial intelligence and automation into every facet of their business. NRF Retail’s Big Show stands as the crucial nexus point for these transformations, connecting solution providers with retailers, unveiling critical market intelligence, and fostering the collaborative relationships that drive the industry forward. It’s where small e-commerce startups find scalable logistics solutions, established department stores discover innovative ways to enhance in-store experiences, and cutting-edge technologies for fraud prevention and customer engagement are showcased. If you’re looking to streamline your operations, enhance customer loyalty, implement state-of-the-art technology, understand evolving purchasing patterns, or simply immerse yourself in the passionate and forward-thinking community of retail professionals, attending NRF Retail’s Big Show offers an unmatched opportunity to learn, discover, and propel your business to unprecedented heights.

The Epicenter of Retail Evolution: Venue and Time

NRF Retail’s Big Show strategically selects one of North America’s most expansive and technologically advanced convention facilities, ensuring a truly impactful and efficient experience for all attendees.

New York’s Premier Exhibition Space: The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center NRF Retail’s Big Show is consistently held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, New York, USA. The official address for the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is 429 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10001. As one of the largest and most prominent convention centers in the United States, the Javits Center offers immense, flexible exhibition space, numerous meeting rooms, and advanced technological capabilities. It boasts a stunning design, including a large green roof and rooftop farm, and provides a modern and comfortable environment for a show of this scale. Its location on the far west side of Manhattan offers convenient access from all major New York City airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International) and is well-served by public transportation, including subway lines and bus routes. The Javits Center’s robust infrastructure and capacity make it the ideal venue for an event of NRF Retail’s Big Show’s magnitude and global importance to the retail industry.

An Annual Pulse on the Industry: The Schedule NRF Retail’s Big Show is an annual event, consistently taking place in January of each year. This early-year timing is strategic, allowing retail leaders to gather, assess the previous year’s trends, and plan their investments and strategies for the upcoming year, capitalizing on the innovations showcased.

For 2026, NRF Retail’s Big Show is scheduled to run from Sunday, January 11 – Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

The event typically spans three intensive days for the Expo Hall, with additional conference programming often starting a day earlier, and a meticulously designed schedule to maximize education, discovery, and networking opportunities:

• Expo Hall Hours: The massive exhibition floor, featuring over 1,000 exhibitors, will be open for discovery during these hours:
  • Monday, January 12: Typically 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
  • Tuesday, January 13: Typically 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
  • Wednesday, January 14: Typically 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST (shorter hours on the final day for move-out for the conference component, though the main Expo Hall usually closes on Tuesday). Always check the official NRF website for the precise 2026 schedule closer to the date, as timings can have minor adjustments.
• Conference Programming: While the Expo Hall is the focus, it’s vital to note that it’s part of a larger conference. An “All-Access Pass” typically grants entry to keynote sessions, featured sessions, and various stages located within the conference area, which often run concurrently with or extend beyond the Expo Hall hours. These sessions cover a wide array of critical topics.
• Specialized Zones & Stages within the Expo: To enhance the visitor experience and facilitate targeted discovery, the Expo Hall is organized into various zones and features:
  • Innovation Lab: Showcasing groundbreaking technologies from startups and established players, often with immersive demonstrations of AI, robotics, AR/VR, and more.
  • Startup Hub: Dedicated to emerging retail tech companies, providing a platform for fresh ideas and disruptive solutions.
  • Food Retail Innovation Zone: Focused specifically on technology and solutions for the grocery and foodservice retail sectors, often with live activations.
  • AI Stage: A new addition, featuring curated sessions and demonstrations offering a deep dive into the transformative role of AI, robotics, and emerging technologies in retail.
  • Exhibitor Big Ideas: Sessions presented by exhibitors, offering product demos and case studies directly on the show floor.
• Networking Events: The entire event is designed for active networking. The NRF Opening Party (often held Saturday evening before the show opens) and Retail’s Big Concert provide vibrant settings for connecting with peers and industry leaders. Numerous lounges and meeting spaces are also available for informal discussions.
• Retail Store Tours: Guided walking tours of cutting-edge retail spaces in New York City, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how leading brands are implementing new strategies and technologies in real-world environments. (These are typically an additional fee).

This comprehensive and strategically planned schedule ensures that every attendee, from a small business owner to a large multinational corporation executive, finds immense value in terms of cutting-edge content, groundbreaking product discovery, and crucial connections to propel their retail business to new heights.

From Storefront to Supply Chain: Key Product and Service Categories

The NRF Retail’s Big Show Expo Hall showcases an incredibly comprehensive range of products, services, and solutions that cater to virtually every aspect of the modern retail operation, serving all segments from fashion and grocery to specialty and e-commerce. It’s truly a one-stop shop for everything a retailer needs to thrive. Key categories typically featured include:

• Retail Technology & Software: This is a dominant category, reflecting the industry’s digital transformation.
  • Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems: Traditional, mobile, cloud-based POS hardware and software.
  • E-commerce Platforms & Solutions: Omnichannel commerce, website development, online marketplaces, headless commerce.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Customer loyalty programs, personalization engines, customer data platforms (CDP).
  • Retail Analytics & Business Intelligence: Data processing, forecasting, in-store analytics, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth analytics, predictive analytics.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML): AI recommendations, virtual humans for customer service, computer vision, generative AI for marketing and design, robotics, agentic AI.
  • Inventory Management & Optimization: Inventory control systems, electronic shelf labels, endless aisle solutions, real-time inventory visibility.
  • Payment Solutions: Frictionless payments, mobile payments, payment processing, fraud detection and prevention.
  • Marketing & Customer Engagement: Content/social media management, digital experience design, personalization, retail media networks, digital signage, in-store marketing.
  • Workforce Management: HR solutions, task management, scheduling, training.
• Supply Chain & Fulfillment:
  • Warehouse Management Systems (WMS): Robotics, automation, drones for fulfillment centers.
  • Delivery & Returns Solutions: Last-mile delivery, reverse logistics.
  • Distribution & Warehousing: Fulfillment services, cross-docking.
  • Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency.
• In-Store Experience & Operations:
  • Digital Signage & Interactive Displays: Kiosks, smart mirrors, interactive dressing rooms.
  • Loss Prevention & Security: Fraud protection, security systems equipment, asset protection.
  • Store Design & Fixtures: Visual merchandising, shelving, lighting.
  • Sustainability Solutions: Energy management, waste reduction, sustainable packaging, ethical sourcing.
  • Robotics & Automation: In-store robots for cleaning, inventory, customer assistance.
• Hardware & Peripherals:
  • Scanners, printers, cash drawers, keyboards, displays, IoT devices, wearables.
• Business Services:
  • Consulting services (strategy, IT, operations), systems integration, cybersecurity, audit and compliance, financial services.

This unparalleled diversity ensures that any professional, from a small boutique owner to a global retail conglomerate executive, can find the products, technologies, and services necessary to innovate, optimize, and drive success in the dynamic world of retail.

The Global Gathering of Retail Giants: Visitor and Exhibitor Count

NRF Retail’s Big Show consistently attracts an incredibly large and highly qualified audience, solidifying its status as the world’s leading annual retail event.

• Visitor Count: NRF Retail’s Big Show draws a massive and engaged audience from nearly every segment of the global retail industry. For 2025, the event is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees, including retail professionals and decision-makers from more than 90 countries. The visitor profile is exceptionally diverse and highly influential, including:
  • CEOs, Presidents, and C-level Executives
  • VPs of IT, E-commerce, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Innovation
  • Store Owners and Managers
  • Merchandising and Buying Leaders
  • Heads of Product Development and R&D
  • Solution Providers and Technology Developers
  • Investors and Analysts
  • Academics and Researchers A significant portion of attendees are decision-makers or have purchasing influence, making it an incredibly effective environment for business transactions and strategic partnerships.
• Exhibitor Count: The Expo Hall at NRF Retail’s Big Show is colossal and filled with a vast array of companies showcasing their innovations. For 2025, the show is expected to feature over 1,000 exhibitors demonstrating their latest retail technologies, solutions, and services. These exhibitors will occupy extensive space across the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. This includes both long-standing industry giants (e.g., Microsoft, Salesforce, SAP, Oracle) and a significant number of new and emerging companies bringing fresh perspectives and disruptive technologies to the market. Exhibitors represent:
  • Leading developers of retail software and hardware.
  • Global providers of e-commerce and omnichannel solutions.
  • Pioneers in AI, robotics, and advanced analytics.
  • Companies offering payment, security, and loss prevention technologies.
  • Providers of supply chain, logistics, and fulfillment services.
  • Consulting and strategic advisory firms.

The high concentration of key decision-makers and buyers, combined with the immense scale of the exhibition and its truly comprehensive representation of the retail technology ecosystem, makes NRF Retail’s Big Show an incredibly efficient and productive environment for business development, market intelligence, and forging powerful industry connections.

The Retail Advantage: Benefits and Perks of Attending

Attending NRF Retail’s Big Show (Expo Hall) is not merely a visit; it’s a strategic investment that delivers unparalleled returns for any professional deeply involved in the retail industry.

• Unparalleled Innovation on Display: This is where the future of retail is showcased. You’ll witness the latest advancements in AI, robotics, customer engagement, supply chain optimization, and sustainable retail practices, often through live demonstrations and interactive experiences in zones like the Innovation Lab.
• Direct Sourcing from Global Leaders: Connect face-to-face with over 1,000 leading technology providers, solution developers, and service suppliers from around the world. This direct interaction is invaluable for sourcing new tools, comparing vendor options, negotiating deals, and building lasting partnerships across the entire retail value chain.
• Targeted Learning & Expert Insights: While the Expo Hall is the focus, it provides access to “Exhibitor Big Ideas” sessions directly on the floor. An All-Access Pass opens doors to hundreds of additional conference sessions, including compelling keynotes and in-depth discussions on critical topics like customer experience, personalization, sustainability, and the role of data.
• Strategic Sourcing & Competitive Options: With thousands of solutions under one roof, you can efficiently shop, compare, and evaluate a comprehensive range of products and services tailored to your specific retail needs. This direct comparison ensures you make the most informed purchasing decisions for your business.
• Uncover Emerging Trends & Consumer Behavior: Gain invaluable insights into the latest market trends, evolving consumer demands (e.g., seamless omnichannel, personalized journeys), and shifts in technology that are impacting the retail landscape. This knowledge is critical for new strategy development and staying competitive.
• Specialized Zones for Focused Discovery: Easily navigate the massive Expo floor by focusing on specialized zones like the Innovation Lab, Startup Hub, Food Retail Innovation Zone, and the AI Stage, ensuring you quickly find solutions relevant to your specific challenges.
• Unmatched Networking with Industry Peers: Connect with over 40,000 professionals, including C-level executives, retail leaders, and decision-makers from diverse retail segments globally. This unparalleled networking opportunity can lead to new collaborations, mentorship, and significant business growth, allowing you to learn from peers and forge invaluable relationships.
• Real-World Application with Retail Store Tours: Opt for a guided tour of cutting-edge retail spaces in NYC, offering practical insights into how leading brands are implementing new technologies and strategies in live environments.
• Significant Return on Investment: The insights gained, connections made, and potential deals secured at NRF Retail’s Big Show often far outweigh the cost of attendance, making it a highly profitable investment for advancing your career and business.

Your New York Sanctuary: Nearby Hotels and Convenient Accommodation

Given NRF Retail’s Big Show’s location at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Manhattan’s West Side, New York City offers a vast array of hotel options, from luxurious to more budget-friendly, with varying degrees of convenience to the convention center.

• Hotels within Closest Proximity to the Javits Center: These offer the most convenient access, often within walking distance or a very short ride. This area is generally known as Hell’s Kitchen or the far West Side.
  • Hyatt House Chelsea / Hyatt Place Chelsea: Good options slightly south of the Javits Center.
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South: Close proximity to Javits.
  • Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square South: Also very near the Javits Center.
  • Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Midtown West: Offers convenient access.
  • SpringHill Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South: Good option for business travelers.
• Times Square / Midtown West Hotels (Walkable or Short Ride): Many popular hotels are located in the broader Times Square and Midtown West areas. While not directly adjacent to Javits, they are often a comfortable walk (15-25 minutes) or a very short taxi/ride-share away. The A, C, E subway lines also serve this area, connecting to stops near Javits.
  • The New Yorker Hotel, A Wyndham Hotel.
  • Pod Times Square.
  • Arlo Midtown.
  • DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square South.
  • The Moxy NYC Times Square.
• Hotels with Subway Access (Further Afield but Convenient): Given New York City’s extensive subway system, staying further afield but near a subway line (especially the 7 train to Hudson Yards or the A/C/E trains to 34th St-Penn Station/Port Authority, which are walkable to Javits) can also be a viable option, potentially offering more competitive rates.
• Official Housing Partner: The National Retail Federation (NRF) typically partners with an official housing agency. It is highly recommended to book your hotel through the official NRF housing link provided on their website. This often guarantees discounted rates exclusively for NRF attendees, ensures secure booking, and provides access to a wide selection of pre-negotiated hotels with convenient distances to the Javits Center. Be extremely cautious of unsolicited calls or emails from unofficial housing providers.

Given the immense scale and popularity of NRF Retail’s Big Show, coupled with New York City’s status as a major global destination, booking your accommodation as early as possible is absolutely crucial to secure your preferred location and rate. The official housing block fills up quickly!

The Investment in Transformation: Understanding the Cost to Attend

Attending NRF Retail’s Big Show is a significant investment that provides unparalleled access to industry insights, networking, and product discovery, essential for navigating the complex retail landscape. Here’s a general understanding of the expected registration costs for the 2026 event:

• Expo Pass:
  • This pass grants access to the massive Expo Hall, the “Exhibitor Big Ideas” sessions, the Innovation Lab, Startup Hub, and other specialized Expo-floor features.
  • For retailers, this pass is often free or very low cost if registered early (e.g., $0-$75 USD). This is a common strategy by NRF to maximize retailer attendance.
  • For non-retailers (e.g., solution providers, consultants, press, analysts), the Expo Pass can be significantly more, typically in the range of $500 – $800+ USD, depending on registration timing (early bird vs. standard/on-site).
• All-Access Pass:
  • This is the most comprehensive pass, including everything in the Expo Pass plus access to all keynote sessions, featured sessions, educational tracks, and often includes access to the NRF Digital Pass for on-demand content post-event.
  • For retailers, an All-Access Pass is considerably discounted, often in the range of $900 – $1,200+ USD for early bird, increasing closer to the event.
  • For non-retailers, an All-Access Pass is the most expensive option, often in the range of $1,900 – $2,500+ USD for early bird, increasing significantly for standard and on-site registration.
• Add-On Experiences:
  • Retail Store Tours: These guided tours of NYC retail spaces are an additional fee, typically around $180 USD per tour. They are generally available to retailers only.
  • NRF Big Party/Concert: While sometimes included in certain pass types or free with an All-Access Pass, specific premium events might have an additional cost or require advance sign-up.
  • VIP Experience: For 2025, a VIP add-on was introduced for an extra fee, offering elevated perks and networking opportunities for a limited number of attendees. This may continue for 2026.
• Exhibitor Booth Space:
  • For companies looking to exhibit, booth costs vary significantly based on size and location. A standard 10×10 sq ft booth can range from $5,000 – $10,000+ USD, with larger or premium locations being considerably more expensive. Exhibitors are also allocated a certain number of complimentary badges based on booth size, with additional badges available for purchase.

These fees generally cover access to the show itself and the experiences offered within the convention center. Attendees should also budget separately for personal travel (flights, local transportation), accommodation in New York City (which can be significant), and dining expenses. For the unparalleled opportunity to explore the latest innovations, connect with key decision-makers, and gain critical knowledge to drive success in the dynamic global retail industry, the return on this investment is substantial and often critical for maintaining a competitive edge and fostering long-term growth.

Ignite Your Retail Revolution: Your Journey to NRF Retail’s Big Show Begins Here!

NRF Retail’s Big Show, particularly its sprawling Expo Hall component in New York City, is more than just a trade show; it’s the definitive annual forum for the global retail industry. It’s a powerful, high-octane convergence of groundbreaking technology, strategic insights, and essential business connections that shape the very future of how consumers interact with brands and how products make their way to market. It’s where the most advanced solutions are unveiled, where new customer engagement models are debated, and where vital partnerships are forged that propel the entire industry forward. Whether you’re a visionary CEO charting your company’s next decade, a technology leader seeking the perfect AI solution, a store manager looking to optimize operations, or simply a passionate professional committed to excellence in the world of retail, attending NRF Retail’s Big Show is an indispensable experience that will ignite your passion, broaden your market knowledge, and empower you to lead in this highly dynamic and transformative field. Don’t just watch the retail revolution; be a part of it, innovate relentlessly, and achieve unparalleled success!

To learn more about NRF Retail’s Big Show (Expo Hall), explore the full schedule, and plan your attendance for this must-attend industry event, visit: nrfbigshow.nrf.com