How NRF’s Big Show Is Changing: AI Stage, Q&As & 40,000 Retail Pros

This year, NRF is turning the dial up on everything: AI, interactivity, speakers and scaling a 40,000‑person global audience.

In this episode, I sit down with Jill from NRF to unpack how the team is bringing the 2026 global theme “The Next Now” to life at the Big Show in the US – and why this could be one of the strongest speaker lineups yet.

We dig into how what’s next is already here for retail – from AI‑driven shopping journeys to a new generation of talent that expects to participate in content rather than sit through one‑to‑many lectures. Jill shares how NRF has re‑engineered parts of the show to serve that next generation without losing what long‑time attendees love.

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🔗 References:

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00:00 – Intro: the Big Show is 38 days away

00:00:35 – Welcoming Jill back & post‑Thanksgiving catch‑up

00:00:56 – Why the show happens after Christmas & representing retailers

00:01:17 – Why this year’s speaker lineup feels different

00:01:37 – Theme “The Next Now” and the 2026 global framing

00:01:58 – One global theme, local flavors & 100+ countries at the Big Show

00:02:18 – AI, generative shopping engines & hockey‑stick tech change

00:02:40 – Next‑gen retail talent replacing the old guard

00:03:03 – What younger audiences want: conversation, not lectures

00:03:22 – Designing content for the up‑and‑coming generation

00:03:44 – Host reflection: last year’s opener & new‑world expectations

00:04:14 – The challenge of serving 4–5,000 people in one room

00:04:35 – You can’t please everyone, but you can make them learn

00:04:55 – What’s new #1: the dedicated AI Stage in the River Pavilion

00:05:17 – General AI vs generative AI content & expert roundtables

00:10:09 – Opening tradition: board chair interview & the 107th show

00:16:54 – 14 years of conversations and “see you in 38 days”

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