ShopTalk Fall 2026 Side Events: Nashville Guide

ShopTalk Fall 2026 runs September 29 through October 1 at Music City Center in Nashville. The official program is only part of the week. Around it, retailers, brands, platforms, agencies and technology companies are hosting dinners, mixers, store tours, happy hours and parties across the city.

There is no single public calendar for all of them, and many of the most useful events are invite-only or require approval. So we pulled the current list together in one place, then added the partners we think are worth prioritizing if you are looking for useful conversations about commerce, marketing, customer experience, advertising, fulfillment and AI.

This list is a working guide. Event details, access rules and venues can change, so confirm with the host before making plans. All times are Central Time.

The must-see partner list

If you are building your ShopTalk schedule, these are the partners worth prioritizing for conversations about commerce, marketing, customer experience, advertising, fulfillment and AI. Each one is included for a specific reason, from improving customer relationships to making growth more measurable.

1. Avenue Z

Why make time: Avenue Z brings PR, search and AI visibility, social media, influencer marketing and performance creative into one growth conversation. For brands trying to build category leadership, the useful question is not only how to get attention, but how to make the brand discoverable, credible and memorable across media, search and AI-generated answers.

2. Shopify

Why make time: Shopify is central to the commerce infrastructure conversation, from enterprise and B2B commerce to the partner ecosystem built around merchants. It is a worthwhile stop for retailers thinking about how their commerce stack, customer experience and growth channels need to work together.

3. Rokt

Why make time: Rokt is worth prioritizing for anyone thinking about what happens after a transaction. Its presence creates a natural conversation about commerce media, relevant offers, monetization and how brands can use high-intent moments without making the customer experience feel noisy.

4. AppLovin / Axon

Why make time: AppLovin and Axon belong on the list for marketers watching the convergence of AI, performance advertising and measurable growth. The most useful conversation will be about how automated decisioning and creative optimization can improve acquisition while still protecting brand quality.

5. Attentive

Why make time: Attentive is a strong stop for teams focused on owned customer relationships. The conversation should go beyond SMS and email execution to cover lifecycle strategy, personalization, retention and the role of AI in making customer communications more useful.

6. Azoma

Why make time: Azoma is one to flag if you want a conversation outside the biggest, most visible platforms. Smaller specialist partners can be useful sounding boards for focused growth problems, especially when a brand needs a focused answer rather than another broad technology overview.

7. Kustomer

Why make time: Kustomer is relevant to anyone connecting customer service with retention and revenue. Customer experience is no longer a post-purchase silo. It shapes loyalty, repeat purchase, reputation and the signals brands use to improve the rest of the journey.

8. PDQ

Why make time: PDQ is worth a stop for teams looking at the operational side of commerce. The best questions will be about how brands reduce friction behind the scenes so customers experience faster, clearer and more dependable service.

9. Redo

Why make time: Redo belongs on the route for brands looking at returns as more than a cost center. Returns affect margin, customer trust and the likelihood of a second purchase, which makes the post-purchase experience a meaningful part of growth strategy.

10. ShipBob

Why make time: ShipBob is a useful conversation for brands working through fulfillment, inventory and the operational demands of scaling. The strategic question is how fulfillment can support faster delivery and better customer experience without creating unnecessary complexity as the business grows.

The full ShopTalk Fall 2026 side-event list

Monday, September 28: Pre-show events

Monday is the busiest pre-show night, and several events begin before the official show floor opens. If you want access to the smaller dinners and executive gatherings, arriving a day early is worth considering.

11:30 a.m. | DTC Golf Club at Vanderbilt Legends Club. Hosted by Walker Stroud and Brandon Maskell. A pre-show networking event for ecommerce and DTC leaders. Access is through the event invitation.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | B2B Exchange Pre-Day Summit. Venue to be announced. Hosted by ShopTalk with Master B2B, with Andy Hoar and Brian Beck. An official pre-day summit for B2B executives. Access: Invite only.
2 to 6 p.m. | Shopwalks pre-conference store tours. Stops include Ranger Station, the Draper James flagship and Kendra Scott Yellow Rose. Hosted by ShopTalk. Places are limited. Access: Apply to join.
5 to 8 p.m. | ShopTalk Fall Kickoff Mixer. Soho House Nashville, The Garden, 500 Houston Street. Hosted by Bold Metrics, Dema, RunDTC, Rise AI and Dynamic Yield. Expect a large opening-night gathering with a live band, hosted bar and food. Access: Invite only and approval required.
6 to 9 p.m. | Nashville Retail Leaders Reception. Address released after approval. Hosted by RTM Nexus. A curated gathering for senior retail and consumer brand leaders. Access: Approval required, with registration and employment verification.

Tuesday, September 29: Mixers, dinners and parties

The show floor opens Tuesday, and the evening schedule is packed. Several events overlap, so choose between smaller conversations and larger networking rooms before the week begins.

8 to 10 a.m. | B2B Coffee & Commerce. The Iconic Diner, private dining floor. Hosted by Domaine and Algolia. A breakfast for B2B leaders before the show opens. Access: Apply to attend.
4 to 5 p.m. | RETHINK Retail Happy Hour. Booth F73 at Music City Center. Hosted by RETHINK Retail with Fulfillment IQ and Centric Software. This is one of the easiest events to attend because it takes place on the show floor. Access: Open to any ShopTalk badge holder.
5 to 7 p.m. | Marketing Professionals Networking Mixer. Venue and final details to be confirmed. Hosted by the American Marketing Association Nashville. Access: Registration required.
6 p.m. | The Yellow Rose Social. Kendra Scott, hosted by the CX Mixer team. Hosted by parcelLab, Seel, Kustomer, Wyllo and Attentive. A customer experience-focused social gathering. Access: Registration and host confirmation required.
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Hometown Hats & Hits. Ole Red private rooftop, Lower Broadway. Hosted by Cloudinary, Domaine, Klaviyo and Syndigo. A rooftop gathering with drinks and a Broadway setting. Access: Invite only and approval required.
6 to 9 p.m. | The ShopTalk Fall Bash. JBJ’s on Broadway, rooftop takeover. Hosted by Shoplift with Redo, QCK, Channable, Recharge, Zipify Apps and Falcons Labs. A large ecommerce party that typically fills quickly. Access: Invitation by direct message.
6 to 9 p.m. | After Hours with Billy Reid. Billy Reid store, 1200 Villa Place, Unit 403. Hosted by OffScreen and Treet Co., with Bold Metrics, FlavorCloud, Tie, Teamwork Commerce, GoodDay and dtcmvp. The evening includes a store experience, a guest voucher and raffles. Access: Approval required.
6 to 9 p.m. | Shopify B2B Executive Dinner. Address released on registration. Hosted by Uncap and Shopify. A small dinner for B2B executives, with approximately twelve seats. Access: Approval required and confirmed by email.
8:30 to 10:30 p.m. | ShopTalk Fall Afterparty. JBJ’s Nashville, fourth floor, 405 Broadway. Hosted by RunDTC with OneStock, Shopify, Yotpo, ESW, Avalara, Bold Metrics, Signifyd, Akeneo and ShopVision. A large afterparty for brands and retailers. Access: Invite only.
Time to be announced | The CX Mixer. Venue to be announced. Hosted by parcelLab. Registration details were still pending at the time of drafting. Access: Watch for the signup link.

Wednesday, September 30: Dinners, networking and the official party

Wednesday is the best night for smaller dinners and hosted conversations. It is also the night of ShopTalk’s official Honky Tonk Party, which requires a badge.

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | The Recovery Club. Rooftop venue to be announced. Hosted by Shoplift with Anatta, dtcmvp, Northbeam, Redo and Listrak. A morning-after rooftop brunch following Tuesday night’s parties. Access: Invitation by direct message.
4 to 6 p.m. | ShopTalk Fall Ecommerce Founders at Topgolf Nashville. Topgolf Nashville. A networking event for ecommerce founders. Access: Registration required.
5 to 7:30 p.m. | A Night at Bourbon Steak. Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, 201 8th Avenue South, 34th floor. Hosted by Bold Metrics. Seats are limited. Access: RSVP required.
5 to 9 p.m. | Shop Talk DTC Dinner. Venue released after RSVP. Hosted by Patrol and 1800DTC. A smaller dinner for founders and operators. Access: RSVP required.
6 p.m. | Nashville Nexus Networking Meet Up. Nashville venue to be confirmed. Hosted by RTM Nexus. The most straightforward option on the list for anyone who wants open networking. Access: Paid entry, currently listed at $40.
6 to 8:30 p.m. | A Sip & Shop at Mejuri. Mejuri boutique in 12 South. Hosted by Domaine, Constructor, Kustomer and Swap. Drinks and networking in the Mejuri store. Access: Invite only.
6:30 to 8 p.m. | Supper Club Sessions. The Supper Club at The Twelve Thirty Club, 550 Broadway. Hosted by Shoplift with Avex E-commerce and Dataships. A highly limited dinner with approximately sixteen seats. Access: Approval required.
6:30 p.m. | Barrel & Build: ShopTalk Fall Executive After Hours. Nashville venue to be confirmed. Hosted by Orium, commercetools, Stripe and The Social Executive Network. An executive-focused after-hours gathering. Access: Registration and host confirmation required.
6 to 8 p.m. | Media and Business Networking. Nashville venue to be confirmed. Hosted by Strive Networking. A broader networking option for media and business professionals. Access: Registration required.
6:30 to 8 p.m. | Shopwalks Behind the Scenes Happy Hour. Favorite Daughter Nashville, accessed through the Jack Daniel’s General Store. Hosted by ShopTalk. The event leads into the official evening party. Access: Apply to join and ShopTalk attendance required.
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Speakeasy @ ShopTalk Fall. Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery. Hosted by Incisiv with Manhattan Associates and Talkdesk. A more senior retail and CPG gathering than the larger Broadway events. Access: Invite only.
8:30 to 10:30 p.m. | ShopTalk Fall Honky Tonk Party. Category 10, Luke Combs honky-tonk, downtown Nashville. Hosted by ShopTalk. The official party of the week. Access: A ShopTalk badge is required.

Thursday, October 1: Closing store tours

Thursday’s only listed side event is the final Shopwalks program. It is a useful way to end the week with a closer look at Nashville retail and brand experiences.

1:30 to 4 p.m. | Shopwalks closing tours. Stops include Tecovas, Gibson Garage and HART Jewelry Boutique. Hosted by ShopTalk. Access: Apply to join.

How to build a side-event schedule

The best schedule is not the one with the most events. Start with the outcome you want from Nashville, then choose events that support it.

Choose one primary objective. That might be meeting retail decision-makers, finding technology partners, developing media relationships or gathering ideas for a customer experience program.
Mix formats. Pair one larger mixer with one smaller dinner or hosted conversation. The larger event helps you expand your network. The smaller room gives you more time to understand what people are actually working on.
Leave room to move. Nashville venues are spread across downtown, 12 South and other neighborhoods. Build in travel time rather than stacking back-to-back RSVPs across the city.
Treat access as part of the plan. A badge may cover an official event, but it will not replace an invite, approval or RSVP for most private gatherings. Confirm the entry requirements before committing to a route.
Follow up while the context is fresh. Save one useful detail from each conversation and send a specific follow-up within a few days. That is more effective than collecting a large number of contacts with no next step.

The most limited events are the small dinners and hosted tables, so apply early. Recheck the time, venue and entry instructions before you travel.

What to prioritize if your calendar is full

If you only have time for a few events, prioritize the conversations you most want to have. For senior retail and brand networking, start with the Nashville Retail Leaders Reception, Shopify B2B Executive Dinner, Bourbon Steak and Speakeasy @ ShopTalk Fall. If you’re focused on broader partner and platform networking, consider the Kickoff Mixer, Hometown Hats & Hits, the ShopTalk Fall Bash, and the RunDTC Afterparty. For customer experience and retention, the Yellow Rose Social, The CX Mixer, A Sip & Shop at Mejuri, and the Kustomer conversation should be high on your list. Founders and operators may get the most value from the DTC Golf Club, Shop Talk DTC Dinner, Topgolf founders event, and Supper ClubSessions. For retail inspiration, apply for the Shopwalks tours, and if you’re looking for the largest official gathering, use your badge for the Honky Tonk Party.

Useful planning links

Meet Avenue Z in Nashville

Avenue Z will be in Nashville for ShopTalk Fall, with the team focused on partner conversations, brand connections and the role of PR, search and AI in building category leadership.

If you are working through a visibility challenge, preparing for a product or brand launch, or trying to understand how your company appears in search and AI-generated answers, get in touch with Avenue Z.

Frequently asked questions

When and where is ShopTalk Fall 2026?

ShopTalk Fall 2026 runs September 29 through October 1 at Music City Center in Nashville. The official pre-show program begins Monday, September 28.

How many side events are happening?

The working list currently includes 28 events and gatherings across Monday through Thursday. New events and updated access details may be added as hosts confirm them.

Do I need a ShopTalk badge?

For official ShopTalk events, yes. Most vendor-hosted events use invitations, approval forms, direct outreach or separate registration instead.

Is there an official side-event calendar?

ShopTalk publishes its official program, but vendor-hosted dinners, mixers and parties are spread across separate event pages, host websites and direct invitations. This guide is intended to make those details easier to track in one place.

How can I add an event to the list?

Send the event name, host, date, time, venue, access instructions and registration link to the editorial team. We will update the guide as details are confirmed.

What should I do before making plans?

Confirm the time, venue and entry requirements directly with the host. This is especially important for invite-only dinners, approval-based receptions and events where the address is released only after registration.

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ShopTalk Fall 2026 Side Events: The Complete Nashville Guide

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