Interactive Advertising Bureau
09 October 2026

That's a Wrap! Retail Media Impact Summit 2026 Brings Over 200 Industry Leaders Together in Amsterdam

What a day! On 7th October, over 200 senior leaders from across Europe's Retail and Commerce Media ecosystem came together at Felix Meritis in Amsterdam for the sold-out second edition of IAB Europe's Retail Media Impact Summit.

Organised by IAB Europe in collaboration with VIA, the Summit brought together leading retailers, brands, agencies and technology providers for a full day of insights, practical discussions, collaboration and networking.

Under the theme Beyond the Boom: The Next Chapter of Retail Media Growth, this year's event explored what comes next for a market that continues to grow at pace, with a focus on stronger measurement, transparency, greater accountability, new opportunities and the collaboration needed to support long-term success.

From Insight to Action: Highlights from the Agenda

Hosted by Jason Wescott, Global Head of Commerce Solutions at WPP Media and Chair of IAB Europe's Retail & Commerce Media Committee, alongside Retail Media expert Deli Bom, the Summit featured a packed programme of keynotes, expert panels, interactive workshops and audience-led discussions.

The day opened with our Chief Economist, Daniel Knapp, unveiling new insights that lift the hood on Retail Media performance across Europe, before moving into practical examples of measurement and effectiveness from Colgate-Palmolive and VML. A panel featuring leaders from Unilever, Henkel and HEINEKEN brought the advertiser perspective to the forefront, exploring what brands really need from Retail Media investment.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees explored some of the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the industry, including:

  • AI and agentic commerce: Cutting through the hype to explore practical applications, opportunities and what comes next. Live audience polls and Q&As cut through the hype to show where retail and commerce media really stand on AI adoption.
  • Retail Media growth and commercial value: Real-world examples from Debenhams, MediaMarkt Benelux and others on scaling Retail Media Networks, unlocking non-endemic demand and delivering business impact.
  • Data, measurement and effectiveness: Exploring how retailers and brands can use data more effectively, demonstrate value and build greater confidence in Retail Media investment.
  • Off-site Retail Media and shoppable advertising: Examining new opportunities to extend campaigns beyond retailers' owned environments.
  • Travel Media and industry standards: Exploring emerging opportunities beyond traditional Retail Media and the importance of consistent measurement and certification.

The day concluded with a discussion on IAB Europe's Retail Media Certification Programme, which independently verifies businesses' compliance with our Retail Media Measurement Standards to drive greater transparency, consistency and confidence in Retail Media measurement. The session brought together certified businesses, industry partners and independent auditors to share practical experiences of the certification process and the value of adopting common industry standards.

Across the agenda, one message was clear: the opportunity for Retail and Commerce Media remains significant, but unlocking its full potential will require collaboration, innovation and a continued commitment to measurable results.

More Than a Conference: The Power of Connecting

While the discussions on stage provided plenty of food for thought, some of the most valuable moments happened beyond the main programme.

From interactive workshops and audience participation to conversations over coffee, lunch and the closing cocktail reception, the Summit created opportunities for attendees to exchange experiences, challenge ideas, build new relationships and reconnect with industry peers from across Europe.

Bringing together different perspectives from across the Retail and Commerce Media ecosystem is at the heart of the Summit. With over 200 industry professionals in one place, this year's event once again demonstrated the importance of coming together to learn from one another, tackle shared challenges and turn conversations into action.

Relive the Highlights!

From inspiring discussions to brilliant networking moments, take a look back at some of the highlights from the Retail Media Impact Summit 2026 in our highlights video.

A Huge Thank You!

A huge thank you to our speakers, moderators, sponsors, partners and everyone who joined us in Amsterdam and helped make the second edition of the Retail Media Impact Summit such a success.

A special thank you to VIA for collaborating with us once again, and to our fantastic sponsors for their invaluable support in bringing the event to life:

  • Headline Sponsors: Koddi, Moloco, Particular Audience and Zitcha.
  • Showcase Sponsors: MediaMarktSaturn, Equativ, Mirakl Ads and LiveRamp.
  • Supporting Sponsors: Advertima, PubMatic and Empathy Lab.
  • Evening Networking Sponsor: Apadmi.

We're incredibly grateful for your support and commitment to bringing the Retail and Commerce Media industry together.

And, of course, thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to the discussions and made the day such a success. We're already looking forward to seeing you again in 2027!

Interested in Partnering with Us in 2027?

Following another sold-out Summit, we're looking ahead to the next edition of the Retail Media Impact Summit.

If your organisation is interested in partnering with us in 2027 and connecting with senior leaders from across Europe's Retail and Commerce Media ecosystem, we'd love to hear from you.

Fill in our partnership form, and we'll be in touch.

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