Strategic Intelligence: Retail and Apparel Predictions 2026

This report identifies the top eight retail-related themes that will impact the retail and apparel industries in 2026. For each theme, we offer a set of predictions, identify winners and losers, and point you to further reading. In 2026, the major themes impacting the retail and apparel sectors will be: agentic AI, cost of living pressures, cybersecurity and instore security, supply chain resilience, the ongoing rise of resale, polarization, the rise in adoption of GLP-1 medication, health and wellness.

Key Highlights

• Delivery is a major battleground for online retailers, with companies competing to offer customers the quickest, safest, cheapest, and most convenient fulfillment options.

Report Scope

• The analyst provides detailed insight into the top themes in Retail & Apparel for 2026. The report provides an overview of the topics of agentic AI, cost of living pressures, cybersecurity and instore security, supply chain resilience, the ongoing rise of resale, polarization, the rise in adoption of GLP-1 medication, health and wellness.

Reasons to Buy

• Understand the important themes in 2026 and beyond, allowing you to grasp a wider view of changes in consumer behaviour and how it will impact your markets.
• Explore how emerging themes in retail are allowing industry leaders to evolve, so you can better position yourself for long-term success.
• An easy-to-use framework for tracking themes across all companies in all sectors.
• Gain a deeper understanding of the different sectors of retail through unique analysis
• Companies who invest in the right themes become success stories; those who miss the big themes end up as failures.