IRDC 2026

Presented annually by Visual Merchandising Store Design (VMSD) magazine, this one-of-a-kind conference comprises two full days of education and design dialogue centered on the latest best practices, emerging opportunities, and fresh strategies for engaging shoppers, maximizing resources, and rethinking the retail experience.

IRDC is recognized as the premier educational and networking event for the store design and visual merchandising communities.

Make plans now to join your retail design peers in fall 2026 — with location details to be announced soon! Here’s just some of the benefits you’ll enjoy:

• Dive into a program of unexpected, high-quality educational content and fresh perspectives that will spark actionable ideas and provide takeaways and tools to share with your team.
  
  
• Glean insights from industry experts on navigating retail in the new decade.
  
  
• The opportunity to tap into your fellow attendees’ vast and diverse expertise by engaging with like-minded people and ignite your professional passion for retail design.
  
  
• Learn from a variety of networking opportunities—roundtable discussions, interactive sessions, and receptions. Add your voice to these conversations through; listen as others share their story of success and how they overcame obstacles and challenges.
  
  
• Get out from behind your screen! Gain fresh perspectives and inspiration from your fellow attendees. Discover new opportunities to take back to your team. Brainstorm on the fly and learn from your peers and the influencers and leaders surrounding you.
  
  
• A packed agenda incorporates time for attendees to explore the host city, offering easy access to a walkable downtown full of renowned restaurants, historic architecture, art, and shopping.
  
  
  
• A program created specifically for retail designers responsible for creating the in-store experience will explore the most critical issues facing retail today, but through a filter that is new and thought-provoking.  Leave IRDC re-energized and looking forward.
  
  

IRDC ATTENDANCE POLICY:
IRDC is for executive store planners, visual merchandisers, retail designers and sponsors only.  If you are a manufacturer or supplier, you must be a sponsor to attend. Please contact Emily Kasmenn at [email protected] or learn more here.

IRDC CO-LOCATES WITH SHOP! IDEATION 2026!

IRDC will again be co-located with Shop! Ideation 2026, taking place just ahead of IRDC. Industry suppliers, manufacturers, P-O-P producers, as well as retailers, designers, and brand owners will come together for multiple days of education, collaboration, and networking.

Beyond engaging general sessions and interactive panel presentations, attendees will be able to participate in the highly anticipated Retail Challenge, an all-day, hands-on design challenge. Check out this recap of last year’s action-packed Retail Challenge here. Interested in participating in both amazing conferences? Review the Shop! Ideation agenda and register at www.shop-ideation.org