RetailSpaces Fall 2026: Reimagining Physical Retail in Palm Springs
For store development and design leaders navigating an increasingly complex retail landscape, RetailSpaces offers something rare: a retreat designed for genuine connection and actionable insight. The Fall 2026 edition takes place September 27–29, 2026, at the La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, California. The event is produced by Influence Group, a New York-based event organizer.
A Retreat, Not a Conference
RetailSpaces positions itself as the opposite of a traditional trade show. Rather than wandering vast exhibit halls, attendees participate in a two-and-a-half-day program set at a laid-back resort.
What sets the experience apart is its structure. There is no conventional expo floor. Instead, retailers can connect with over 80 top vendors through pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings—”focused conversations that get to the point,” as organizers describe. The agenda includes morning runs or walks, outdoor keynotes, comedy nights, and themed dinner parties.
Who Attends and Why
The event is intentionally exclusive. Attendance is by invitation only and complimentary for qualified retail executives—including the invitation, two nights’ accommodation, all meals, and access to the full program. This model ensures every person in the room is a decision-maker: Chief Development Officers, SVPs and VPs of Store Development, Design & Construction, and Real Estate leaders from major national chains and fast-growing brands.
Past participants represent a cross-section of retail, including apparel, grocery, specialty, convenience, and food & beverage. Notable past speakers include Jon Lovitz, Shea Jensen of Urban Outfitters, PJ du Toit of LEGO, and Tim Perks of Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The Agenda: Tackling Today’s Challenges
The Fall 2026 program tackles the issues store development leaders face daily: rising build costs, labor shortages, permitting delays that stretch from 30 to 150 days, and the impact of AI on design and site selection.
Sessions explore AI in retail construction, renovating vs. building new, data-driven retail design, cutting through permitting gridlock, designing for Gen Z, and sustainable store design. The goal is to provide practical takeaways that help leaders do their jobs better.
Looking Ahead: Spring 2026 in San Antonio
A Spring 2026 edition was held from March 29–31 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas. That event featured speakers including Brieane Olson (CEO, PacSun), Paul Calderon (VP Store Growth, Five Below), and Steve Tatham, the Executive Creative Director behind Universal’s Epic Universe.
RetailSpaces Fall 2026 is built for the leaders who shape physical retail, providing a space to step away from the daily grind and have the conversations that actually matter. For qualified retail executives, the invitation is complimentary—making it one of the most accessible high-level gatherings in the industry.