Global Retail Trends Almanac 2026

If you like what you have seen on our website, but want more detail on what’s happening globally in the fast changing world of retail, our Global Retail Trends Almanac report is an ideal way to keep your business up to speed.

Formatted as both a report and an immersive workshop presentation, our Almanac is a detailed deep dive into 30 of the best new stores around the world, covering food, fashion, beauty, tech and home.

This is the ultimate resource for retail inspiration, whether you are a retailer, agency, marketeer or developer.

Trends in the retail landscape – The Push for Posh Returns

Physical Retail continues to evolve at a remarkable pace, and the past year has seen a host of innovative and immersive store openings.

From flagships redefining brand storytelling, to cutting-edge sustainable concepts, quirky pop ups, and new brands with a passionate sense of purpose, the physical store remains the ultimate tool to inspire and delight customers.

What is particularly striking is that long established, global brands are leading the way in retail innovation, with a massive investment in unique spaces that celebrate heritage, craft and creativity, as well as a move into hospitality.

Zara, M&S, Banana Republic, Crate & Barrel and IKEA are doing their best and most creative work right now and it is reigniting the trend we call ‘The Push for Posh’, where the mass market drives the creation of new premium experiences.

This trend is continuing to accelerate into 2026.

Global Retail Trends Almanac 2026

Our Global Retail Trends 2026 Almanac PDF report is a huge visual benchmark of 30 new and significant retail stores from across the world.

Arranged alphabetically, the report is 292 pages of glorious colour imagery and clear analysis.

The 30 chosen case studies aim to give a rounded picture of innovation in store design, visual merchandising and communication across a variety of retail sectors; from food to fashion, beauty to home, technology to pop up.

The report also covers technology innovation, food service and hospitality, as well as ethical and sustainable innovation.

The report deliberately includes a spread of premium, mass, discounter and independent retailers in order to demonstrate that trends are both global and apply across the price point spectrum.

Download the brochure for a full list of the stores featured.

Celebrating designers, agencies and photographers

Global Retail Trends Almanac is also a celebration of the incredible creativity and hard work of internal teams and external architects and designers.

Agencies and photographers are credited in each case study wherever appropriate, so that you know who to contact if you would like to commission them for you.

Retail Trends Workshop

If you would like a more immersive way to get your team inspired, the Almanac is also available as an interactive workshop, presented by Matthew, either online, at your office, or as part of a retail safari.

We will bring the examples from the report to life in an interactive storytelling presentation that analyses the underlying trends and learnings.

The workshop comes with a copy of the presentation and if we come to your office you are also welcome to film.

Urban Retail Safaris – London, Paris, New York & Seoul

If this report has whetted your appetite why not join us on a journey to see retail trends in action on an Echochamber Retail Safari?

If you would like to see innovation in the best retail then we are running Retail Safaris in London, Paris, New York, Berlin, Madrid, Amsterdam and Seoul this year.

Each city tour is an immersive and action packed journey around the best retail in the city, covering both retail store innovation as well as city ecosystem planning.

We begin the day with an immersive and inspiring global trends presentation to set the scene for the themes of the day.