Retail Fest is more than a conference, its the most fun you can have at work. Check out the schedule of events for
Retail Fest 2026!
Maropost Success Summit
Tuesday 5th May, 8.30am – 1.30pm
Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Exclusive Preview for Customers: Discover the future of Neto, Retail Express, and other Maropost products. Connect directly with our product experts, partners, and experienced users for a valuable experience.
Register HERE
Ecom Workshops – 5 to choose from!
Tuesday 5th May, 8.30am – 11.30am
Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Included in your conference ticket, these free Ecommerce workshops will cover everything from Ecom business accounting to Mastering Hyper-personalisation through to doubling your profit in under 2 years.
Don’t miss these complimentary workshops included in your Retail Fest ticket!
View the workshops here: https://retailglobal.com.au/workshops/
Welcome Reception
Tuesday 5th May – 5.30pm – 7pm
Hall 1, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Its time to get your networking on, join us for a drink as we catch up with old and new friends. And, don’t forget to ask the exhibitors your burning questions!
Sponsored Event – Pink Flamingo Cabaret Show
Tuesday 5th of May – 7PM
Pink Flamingo, Broadbeach
Kick off the week in style at Pink Flamingo, for an exclusive night of drinks, networking, and disco vibes, thanks to Lexer, Athos Commerce, Attentive, Instant, Megantic and Swym. The event starts at 7 PM straight after opening networking drinks for Retail Fest, where guests will enjoy a vibrant atmosphere, great company, food & beverages and an incredible cabaret show! Expression of interest is now open – please note spots are limited to only retailers and sponsors.
Expression of interest: https://luma.com/tb5led0w
SHE-com Ladies Lounge
All exhibition opening hours!
Your go-to retreat for relaxation, inspiration, and a little cheeky fun.
Take a breather from the Retail Fest buzz and step into the SHE-com Ladies Lounge. This is your space to pause, reset, and reconnect with other incredible female founders and e-commerce brand builders.
Whether you’re craving a quiet moment with a refreshment, looking to spark an authentic convo, or ready to jump into one of our fun surprise activities, we’ve got you covered. Expect comfy vibes, real chats, and a few playful extras designed to lift your energy and help you connect with women who just get it.
Where Retail Operators Connect Before Retail Fest
Ever had a question and didn’t know who to ask?
Or walked into a conference knowing you should meet people, but not knowing where to start?
Join the Retail Community, it’s free.
What started as a simple drinks chat at Retail Fest has grown into a network of thousands of operators, founders, and retail leaders helping each other in real time.
This is where conversations happen before, during, and after the event. Plan meetups, share insights, and connect with people who actually get what you do.
Tap into focused conversations across AI, cross-border, digital marketing, marketplaces and more, with operators actually doing the work.
There’s a reason this community has grown organically to thousands of members. Find out why.
Run or Walk with Pace Athletic and Prosper Digital
Wednesday 6th May – 7.30am
Departing Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club
For those not looking to network long into the night, how about networking early in the morning. Join the team at Pace Athletic and Prosper Digital for a morning run or walk around Broadbeach. Departing Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club for a gentle 5km run around the beautiful Gold Coast coastline. Pace Athletic will have their truck full of running shoes and gear ready to try on!
Icebaths at Kurrawa
Wednesday 6th May – 7.30am
On the Beach outside of Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club
KOUD began with a shared obsession: pushing limits, finding clarity, and unlocking potential.
As lifelong advocates of ice baths, Ash and Zac saw an opportunity to create something extraordinary – a product that blends performance, resilience, and design in a way no one else could. Join us down at the beach post walk or run at the beach!
MailChimp Lunch and Learn
Wednesday 6th May – 12.55PM – 2.10PM!
Gold Coast Convention Centre
Anthony Capano shares how leading ecommerce brands drive revenue in 2026 by focusing on the fundamentals—trust, conversion, customer value, and retention—while aligning brand, experience, and lifecycle marketing to build sustainable growth. Enjoy a relaxed lunch while hearing practical tips, real-world success stories.
Expression of interest now open HERE
Instant Lunch and Learn
Wednesday 6th May – 12.55PM – 2.10PM!
Gold Coast Convention Centre
Join Jemma Fox, Chantel Barley and Esteban Calvo to learn how to scale your eCommerce brand without chaos- focusing on strong foundations, balancing brand and performance, and simplifying your tech stack to better convert the traffic you already have. Enjoy a relaxed lunch while hearing practical tips, real-world success stories.
Expression of interest now open HERE
Retail Community 1st Birthday Party
Wednesday 6th May – 8PM – late
Nineteen at the Star
Join retailers, brands and industry friends for a relaxed night of drinks, conversations and celebrating the community.
🎂 Birthday cake cutting at 9pm
🥂 Free Drinks till Midnight
🎶 DJ and Drummer till 2am
🌆 Great Views of the GC all night
Open to Retail Fest delegates and the wider retail community.
Feel free to bring colleagues, retail friends or industry partners.
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/retail-community-1st-birthday
SHE-Founders Cocktail Evening
Wednesday 6th May – 6.30PM – 9PM
The Island Gold Coast
An evening designed exclusively for established and scaling female founders in e-commerce, because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for your business and yourself is be in the right room.
Join over 100 remarkable women at Level 11 of The Island Hotel, Surfers Paradise, for an evening of meaningful conversation, real connection, and complimentary drinks and bites, with a view to match.
Spaces are limited and first-come, first-served. Secure your spot and come fill your cup.
This event is strictly for established and scaling D2C (product brand) female founders.
Secure your spot here: https://luma.com/sya97tpc
Retail Fest After Dark: Topgolf Gold Coast
Wednesday 6th May – 7PM – 9PM
Top Golf
Join Maropost, Clearer.io, Triple Whale & CrescoData for a 2 hour golf experience. We’re teeing off at 7:00PM, bringing together leading retailers and partners for a relaxed night of swings, drinks, and meaningful connections — away from the conference floor.
Buses will be leaving the Convention Centre at 6:15 PM sharp.
Together you’ll be with over 50 retailers, with golf bays, food on arrival, and a bar tab to keep things flowing! Please note, spots are limited and will be capped at 2 people per company.
Register HERE
SHE-com Ladies Whats App Group
Are you a woman in e-commerce and want to find your Retail Fest besties before the event even starts? Join the SHE-com Retail Fest 2026 WhatsApp group.
SHE-com is the world’s fastest growing community for women in e-commerce and a proud partner of Retail Fest 2026. They have created this group so no woman has to navigate Retail Fest alone. Jump in to plan coffee catch-ups, share Ubers, meet new friends, and make your Retail Fest experience even more fun and connected.