In October, the Nordic region's leading retail companies will meet to address who is shaping customer relationships in the face of artificial intelligence and global platforms.
The Nordic Summit 2026 will bring together around 100 leaders from Nordic retail companies in Tromsø in late October. The event is organised by Nordic Initiative, an organisation whose members include the largest Nordic retailers, and is now being held for the third year running.
“The goal is to create a Davos for Nordic retail, where leaders can exchange experience and ideas across industries and borders in an intimate setting. Right now, how to remain relevant, competitive and close to the customer in a world shaped by AI, global platforms and rising geopolitical uncertainty is on the agenda in every retail company's management team and boardroom. That is why this is such an important and relevant topic to address,” says Iren Tranvåg, CEO of Nordic Initiative.
The organisation has grown to become the leading collaboration platform for Nordic retailers. What sets Nordic Summit apart from other events is that participants do not just discuss relevant topics, but also see how leading Nordic and European companies, together with global players, are developing and testing concrete solutions and use cases.
“The Nordics are internationally recognised for high digital maturity, rapid adoption and a strong focus on creating seamless customer experiences. That makes the region an exciting arena for developing the retail of the future. At the same time, we are seeing growing interest from European companies and institutions that want to learn from Nordic experience and help shape the future of retail together with us,” says Tranvåg.
Throughout the year, Nordic Initiative holds smaller gatherings on individual topics, and each autumn brings leaders and European experts together at the larger Nordic Summit event. Among other things, the organisation has worked to define standards for payment infrastructure and other technology.
“At these gatherings, joint initiatives are developed in areas where companies do not compete, but can collaborate across the Nordics. It is our members who define the areas that form the building blocks of their future competitiveness. These include agentic commerce, loyalty, retail media, preparedness and payments,” explains Tranvåg.
The Summit brings together several high-profile experts alongside leaders from retail companies, including Birgitta Söderlund-Rietz, Global Product Owner Payments at H&M and a member of the Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB). From the international stage, participants will meet David Birch, one of Europe's leading voices on payments and digital identity, and Eric Tak from the European Central Bank. From Norway, participants include special adviser at NHO Idar Kreutzer, who will offer perspectives on the industry's strategic challenges and the Nordic region's role in European business.
