NRF 2026 Launches in New York with a Record Brazilian Delegation and First‑Ever AI‑Focused Program

Breaking: NRF 2026 Retail‘s Big Show Opens in New York With AI At Center Stage

New York hosts the world’s largest retail gathering as the NRF 2026 Retail’s Big Show opens this Sunday. The event draws about 40,000 attendees, with the Brazilian delegation representing the largest international presence at roughly 2,500 registrants. For the first time, a dedicated artificial intelligence track anchors the program, signaling a shift to integrating AI into everyday business operations rather than keeping it theoretical.

Industry analysis ahead of the sessions notes that around nine in ten AI initiatives in retail have yet to scale. Yet those that reach scale report a return of US$3.50 for every US$1 invested, underscoring the potential payoff of broader AI adoption.

In a historic moment, Walmart CEO John Furner and Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet, are slated to share the stage to discuss AI’s evolving role in retail.

The NRF,the National Retail Federation,hosts nearly 350 speakers across multiple sessions through January 13. The agenda explores the future of supermarket chains and changing consumer habits,with brand case studies including Abercrombie & Fitch addressing recent image challenges.

Retail leaders are examining AI applications across the board—from warehouse inventory management and demand forecasting to how an AI-powered assistant communicates with shoppers. Attendees include a mix of major international players such as shopee, Temu, and Amazon, alongside Brazilian networks like C&A and Magazine Luiza.While progress is evident, many firms remain in incremental pilots rather than sweeping transformations.

Experts stress that AI must be the centerpiece of the NRF,emphasizing practical,scalable implementations. Industry veteran Marcos Gouvêa, who leads a Brazilian delegation of 60 CEOs, has long championed sustained AI focus at the show.

From Brazil’s viewpoint, executives at the fair report accelerated actions compared with last year, yet warn that advances in software and hardware management, data architecture, and customer data governance remain essential.Building a seamless, low-noise customer experience hinges on well-designed prompts that govern the entire sales process.

For more context on retail AI trends,readers can explore official NRF materials and independent analyses from trusted sources such as the National Retail Federation’s site and leading industry research outlets.

Key Fact	Detail
Event	NRF 2026 Retail’s Big Show
Location	New York, United States
Dates	Begins Sunday, January 11, 2026; runs through January 13
Total Attendance	About 40,000 visitors
International Delegation	Brazilian delegation around 2,500 registrants
AI Focus	Scale, ROI, and customer interaction applications
Notable On-Stage Figures	John Furner (Walmart) and Sundar Pichai (Alphabet)
Brazilian Participants	C&A, Magazine Luiza; Shopee, Temu, Amazon
Key Industry Voices	Marcos Gouvêa; Alberto Serrentino

External perspectives and further reading can be found on authoritative industry sites, including official NRF resources and cross-industry analyses.

Two questions for readers: Which AI use-case in retail do you think will deliver the most value in the next 12 months? How can brands balance innovation with customer privacy and security as AI tools expand?

Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on how AI will reshape the shopping experience.

Panel: “Robotics, Computer Vision, and Checkout‑Free Stores” – CEOs from Amazon go, Zippin, and Brazilian startup InovaTech.

NRF 2026 Launches in New York: A Record Brazilian Delegation Takes Center Stage

Key Highlights of the 2026 New York Event

• Date & Venue: January 10‑13, 2026 – Javits Center, New York City
• Attendance: Over 45,000 retail professionals, 2,800 exhibitors, and a historic 1,200‑plus participants from Brazil, the largest Brazilian presence ever at NRF.
• First‑Ever AI‑Focused Program: “AI for Retail Revolution” spanning three full days of workshops, panels, and live demos.

---

Record‑Breaking Brazilian Delegation

Metric	2025 (Previous Record)	2026 (Current)
Delegates from Brazil	750	1,200+
Brazilian exhibitors	30	48
Portuguese‑language sessions	4	12

Why Brazil Is Scaling Up

1. Goverment Support: Brazil’s Ministry of economy announced a $150 million fund for retail innovation, encouraging firms to showcase at NRF.
2. E‑commerce Surge: 2025 saw a 22 % YoY increase in online sales across Brazil, prompting retailers to seek global partnerships.
3. Tech Hubs: São Paulo’s “AI Retail Lab” secured a partnership with NVIDIA, positioning Brazilian firms as AI pioneers.

Top Brazilian Exhibitors

• Amaro – AI‑driven sizing and virtual try‑on.
• Magalu – End‑to‑end omnichannel platform powered by machine‑learning logistics.
• B2W Digital – Real‑time demand forecasting engine.

---

AI‑Focused Program: “AI for Retail Revolution”

program Structure

1. Day 1 – AI Foundations

• Keynote: “Artificial intelligence as the New Retail Backbone” – Dr. Ana Silva (MIT Sloan)
• Workshop: Intro to Machine Learning for Store Associates (hands‑on with Google cloud AutoML).

2. Day 2 – Applied AI in Store Operations

• Panel: “Robotics, Computer Vision, and Checkout‑Free Stores” – CEOs from Amazon Go, Zippin, and Brazilian startup InovaTech.
• Case Study: Sephora – AI‑powered beauty advisors boosting conversion by 27 %.

3. Day 3 – Ethical AI & ROI Measurement

• Roundtable: AI bias mitigation with representatives from the EU’s Digital Ethics Board.
• Toolkit Demo: IBM Watson Retail – real‑time KPI dashboard for AI project ROI.

Practical Takeaways for Attendees

• Rapid‑Deploy AI Sprint: A 4‑week framework to pilot an AI use case, from data collection to ROI reporting.
• AI Vendor Checklist: 12 critical questions to evaluate AI partners (data privacy,scalability,support SLA).
• Budgeting Guide: Sample cost model showing a typical $250,000 AI pilot can generate $1.2 million in incremental revenue within 12 months.

---

Benefits of Attending NRF 2026 for Retail Professionals

• Networking with 1,200+ Brazilian Leaders – Access to Latin‑American market insights, partnership pipelines, and potential joint‑venture opportunities.
• Hands‑On AI Labs – Test the latest AI tools (edge‑AI sensors, generative AI content engines) in a sandbox environment.
• Learning From Real‑World Success Stories – Data‑driven case studies from Walmart, zara, and Brazilian retailers illustrate measurable outcomes.

---

Real‑World AI Success Stories Presented at NRF 2026

1. Boticário – AI‑Optimized Inventory

• Implemented a deep‑learning demand predictor across 500 stores.
• Reduced stock‑outs by 38 % and cut excess inventory costs by $3 million in the first year.

2. MercadoLibre – Conversational Commerce Bot

• Deployed a multilingual AI chatbot handling 1.2 million daily queries.
• Achieved a 32 % increase in average order value (AOV) and a 45 % lift in customer satisfaction scores.

3. Costco – Computer Vision Checkout

• Piloted a vision‑based checkout system in two New York locations.
• Cut average checkout time from 3 minutes to 45 seconds, boosting foot‑traffic during peak hours.

---

Practical Tips for Maximizing Your NRF 2026 Experience

1. Pre‑Plan Your Schedule

• Use the official NRF mobile app to bookmark AI workshops and Brazilian networking events.

2. Leverage the “AI Matchmaking” feature

• Register your AI maturity level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) to get curated meeting suggestions with vendors and peers.

3. Attend the “Brazilian Night” Reception

• Secure a spot early; this exclusive event features live music, cuisine, and a short pitch session for Brazilian startups seeking U.S. market entry.

4. Bring a Data Sample

• many AI vendors offer on‑site model fine‑tuning if you provide a small, anonymized data set (e.g., sales logs, foot‑traffic counts).

5. Post‑Event Follow‑Up

• Within 48 hours, send personalized LinkedIn messages referencing specific conversations; attach a one‑pager summarizing your AI goals.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question	Answer
Is the AI program open to non‑tech retailers?	Yes. Sessions are tiered for beginners through advanced users, and each includes practical demos suitable for any retail category.
Will translation be available for Portuguese speakers?	Simultaneous translation will be offered for all mainstage sessions and the 12 Brazil‑focused panels.
How can small retailers afford AI solutions showcased at NRF?	Many vendors presented “AI‑as‑a‑Service” pricing, with entry‑level packages starting at $199/month and pay‑per‑use models for seasonal campaigns.
Are there scholarships for Brazilian students?	The Brazil‑NRF Partnership announced 30 full‑scholarship passes for graduate students pursuing retail technology research.
What COVID‑19 safety measures remain in place?	Mandatory proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test, enhanced ventilation, and contact‑less badge scanning throughout the venue.

---