What it is
Retail Technology Show is the largest retail technology event in the UK. The 2027 edition takes place at ExCeL London on April 21 and 22. The 2026 show drew 15,000 retail professionals, with 125 speakers across six conference tracks and visitors from retailers such as Tesco, Boots, M&S, Next and John Lewis.
The expo floor covers payments, POS, ecommerce platforms, supply chain, loss prevention, cyber security, customer experience and retail AI. Around it there are networking events, a retailers lounge and themed areas such as an innovation trail. The show won Best UK Trade Show at the 2026 AEO Awards.
Why it matters for smaller online stores
- Free entry for retailers and brands makes it one of the most affordable big shows in Europe.
- It is the best place to see UK retail tech in one day, from checkout and payments to returns and fraud prevention.
- Senior UK retail leaders speak openly about what worked, which is useful for any store selling to UK customers.
Who should go
- Online stores selling to the UK or planning to
- Retailers with both a web store and physical shops looking at POS, payments and stock systems
- Ecommerce managers who want a broad view of retail tech in one trip
How to get the most out of it
- Register as a retailer or brand to get the free pass, and do it before the show to skip the queue.
- Use the innovation trail to find newer vendors quickly instead of walking every aisle.
- Two days is enough to cover the floor. Spend day one on talks and day two on vendor meetings.