After 2025’s year-over-year sales growth of up to 3.7% and bolstered by growing optimism entering 2026, there was a palatable change to the positive…

The Overall Sentiment Included:

Balanced Optimism: Retailers were no longer in crisis mode; confidence was returning after recent years of inflation, supply chain instability, and rapid tech adoption pressures.

Execution over experimentation: The focus shifted from flashy innovation slides to operational basics that deliver results today.

Pragmatic adoption of AI: Agentic AI  – as you’ll read more about below – was seen as transformative, but retailers acknowledged they must be smart about applying it in a way that will prioritize trust, yield value, and be consistent with their brand identity.

Disciplined strategy: Leaders emphasized deliberate planning, scalable execution, and aligning technology with operations rather than reactive tactics.

The hottest topics at NRF 2026 were dominated — overwhelmingly — by agentic AI, autonomous retail operations, and immersive consumer experiences. Based on session density, exhibitor focus, keynote coverage, and media volume, the list below reflects the Top 10 Themes discussed at the show, ranked by prominence and frequency across sources.

1. AGENTIC AI & UNIVERSAL COMMERCE PROTOCOL (UCP)
The #1 topic by far and described as “the defining retail technology of 2026”
Google, Walmart, Shopify, and others pushed the new Universal Commerce Protocol to standardize how AI agents transact, and interact with retail systems.
Retailers showcased AI agents that autonomously: build carts, compare prices, execute purchases, manage returns, personalize recommendations and other such pragmatic benefits.

2. AI-DRIVEN PERSONALIZATION & CONSUMER EXPERIENCE
– Shift from operational AI (2025) to consumer-facing AI in 2026.
– AI as a personal stylist, personal shopper, and real-time concierge.
– Ralph Lauren, Walmart, URBN, and others demonstrated AI-powered shopping journeys and conversational commerce.

3. AUTONOMOUS STORE OPERATIONS & AI-POWERED RETAIL OS
– Microsoft, as one example, unveiled agent-driven retail operating systems that unify planning, merchandising, supply chain, and store operations.
– “Commerce anywhere” infrastructure with real-time decisioning and autonomous workflows.

4. FRICTIONLESS CHECKOUT & COMPUTER VISION
– Major demos from several industry stalwarts.
– AI-powered self-checkout, autonomous returns, and loss prevention using computer vision and RFID.
– “Just Walk Out” tech updates with smaller footprint and faster deployment.

5. RFID EVERYWHERE: INVENTORY, FITTING ROOMS, LOSS PREVENTION
After years as a somewhat peripheral solution with promise, RFID surged as a foundational technology for:
– Real-time inventory visibility
– Smart fitting rooms
– Frictionless checkout
– Shrink reduction
– Several vendors showcased large-scale deployments.

6. IMMERSIVE IN‑STORE EXPERIENCES (PHYGITAL RETAIL)
– “Shoppertainment,” included interactive displays, and experiential store formats.
– Samsung’s 3D spatial signage and Vusion’s e-paper displays drew heavy attention.
– Retailers focused on blending physical + digital… “phygital”…  to increase loyalty.

7. SUPPLY CHAIN AUTOMATION, PREDICTIVE FORECASTING & RESILIENCE
– AI-driven demand forecasting, automated replenishment, and dynamic routing.
– Strong tie-in to “instant commerce” expectations and global trade volatility.

8. RETAIL MEDIA NETWORKS & IN‑STORE DIGITAL ADVERTISING
– Multiple hardware device leaders showcased in‑store media networks using digital shelf labels and screens.
– Retailers emphasized monetizing store traffic with programmatic ad placements.

9. SUSTAINABILITY, CIRCULAR RETAIL & ENERGY EFFICIENCY
– Upcycling, reverse logistics, and low-power digital signage (e-paper) were major themes.
– Retailers showcased sustainability as both a cost-saving and brand-value strategy.

10. WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION & HUMAN + AI COLLABORATION
Sessions focused on:
– Empowering associates with AI tools
– Reducing labor friction
– Training via gamification
– REI, Home Depot, and Wayfair were among a group of retailers who discussed preparing teams for an agentic AI future.

SUMMARY
The future of retail belongs to frontier organizations that can sense, decide, and act in real time. With agentic commerce enabled by Dynamics 365, retailers gain the foundation to move faster with confidence, aligning strategy, execution, and customer experience through intelligent agents that operate seamlessly across every channel.