CSP and Informa Connect’s Retail Media Network (RMN) Forum, in partnership with consulting firm NexChapter, returns in May with a sharpened focus and growing momentum as the industry moves from experimentation to execution.
Now entering its next phase, RMN Forum has become more than an event. It is a working community of retailers, brands and partners committed to building retail media the right way. Over the course of three days, leaders from across convenience, small-format and adjacent retail sectors will come together to share real progress, challenge assumptions and define what drives impact.
This year’s agenda reflects a clear shift. Retail media is no longer a concept to explore. It is a capability to build, scale, and operationalize.
Agenda highlights
The forum will feature a highly anticipated session from Google, highlighting the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), data and measurement, and what they mean for the future of retail media. As agentic technologies and intelligent systems begin to shape how consumers discover and purchase, this session will provide a forward-looking view into how retailers and brands must adapt.
In addition, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) will take the stage to share progress on industry measurement standards and frameworks. As retail media continues to grow, the need for clarity and consistency in measurement has never been greater. This session will connect emerging standards to real-world retail activation, helping attendees understand what should be standardized and how to apply it in practice.
Across the agenda, attendees will hear directly from operators building retail media networks inside organizations like Love’s Travel Stops, Dollar General, Circle K and leading regional chains. Sessions will focus on joint business planning, merchandising alignment, scalable network design and the realities of executing in-store and omnichannel environments.
The forum will also include collaborative workshops and working sessions designed to move beyond ideas and into action. From defining near-term priorities to pressure-testing strategies, the experience is built to ensure attendees leave with clarity, not just inspiration.
“We built RMN Forum to be different,” said Art Sebastian, founder and CEO of NexChapter. “This is not about theory or sales pitches. It’s about bringing the right people together to share what’s working, where the gaps are and how we move forward as an industry.”
With limited attendance and a curated group of senior leaders, RMN Forum continues to sell out each year. Interest from both retailers and sponsors is already accelerating as the industry looks for practical guidance and meaningful connections.
Retail media is entering its next chapter. The question is not whether to participate, but how to do it right. RMN Forum is where that work happens.
Event details
Retail Media Network Forum 2026
May 4–6
The Drake Hotel, Chicago
Registration details, speaker announcements, and sponsorship information are available on the website: https://informaconnect.com/retail-media-network/
Retailers interested can reach out to Mike Marino at Michael.Marino@informa.com. Sponsors interested can reach out to Jeanie Hornung at Jeanie.Hornung@informa.com.
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