Leading representatives of the Travel Retail industry – including airports, travel retail and duty free operators, airlines, international brands and technology companies – will gather on 28–29 October 2026 for Travel Retail Forum 2026. Organised by the Central & Eastern European Travel Retail Association (CEETRA), the event will take place in Gdańsk and Sopot, with Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport serving as the Host Airport.
The Travel Retail sector has been undergoing significant transformation in recent years. Rising passenger expectations, rapid technological development, digitalisation, changing consumer behaviour and the growing importance of customer experience are reshaping the way airports and their commercial partners approach retail and non-aeronautical business.
Responding to these challenges, Travel Retail Forum has become one of the leading industry events in Central and Eastern Europe. Organised by CEETRA for several years, the Forum continues to strengthen its position as a key platform for knowledge exchange and business networking within the region. The most recent edition was held in Budapest, bringing together airports, travel retail operators, global brands and business partners from across Central and Eastern Europe. The 2026 edition in Gdańsk and Sopot will mark another important milestone in the Forum’s continued growth.
The Forum will welcome airport executives, commercial directors, Travel Retail and Duty Free operators, international brand owners, airlines, technology providers and industry organisations from across Europe. The organisers aim to create a platform where participants will not only share their experience but also work together on practical solutions and discuss the future development of the industry.
Conference Highlights
The conference programme will focus on the key topics shaping the future of the Travel Retail industry, including:
- Travel Retail market analysis in Central and Eastern Europe,
- changing passenger purchasing behaviour,
- artificial intelligence and new technologies in airport retail,
- development of non-aeronautical revenues,
- the future of commercial airport spaces,
- the growing importance of cooperation between airports, tourism organisations and commercial partners.
One of the new elements of this year’s programme will be a dedicated session exploring the relationship between Travel Retail and tourism. The organisers aim to demonstrate that the development of tourism and airport commercial business are now closely interconnected, and that cooperation with destinations and tourism organisations represents one of the most promising opportunities for future industry growth.
“Our ambition is to create an event that becomes the region’s leading platform for open discussion about the future of Travel Retail. Rather than another conference based solely on presentations, we want to offer a place where airports, operators, brands, technology companies and industry organisations can exchange knowledge, experience and practical solutions,” say the organisers of Travel Retail Forum 2026.
Travel Retail Forum 2026 Programme
This year’s edition represents another step in the development of the Forum, which has, over the past several years, become one of the most important meeting points for the Travel Retail community across Central and Eastern Europe.
On 28 October, participants will have the opportunity to join an Airport Experience Tour at Gdańsk Airport, offering behind-the-scenes insight into selected commercial concepts, operational solutions and passenger experience initiatives. The day will conclude with an evening networking dinner, providing an ideal setting for business meetings and relationship building.
The main conference programme will take place on 29 October at the Sheraton Sopot Hotel, featuring keynote presentations, expert sessions and panel discussions addressing the most important trends, challenges and opportunities facing the Travel Retail industry.
The detailed conference agenda, speaker line-up and registration information will be announced in the coming days.
About Travel Retail Forum
Travel Retail Forum is an annual industry event organised by the Central & Eastern European Travel Retail Association (CEETRA). Over the past several years, it has become one of the leading meeting platforms for the Travel Retail community in Central and Eastern Europe. Each edition is hosted in a different country, showcasing local airports, destinations and commercial best practices while bringing together decision-makers from across the region.
The previous edition was held in Budapest, attracting airport representatives, retail operators, international brands and industry partners from across Europe. The 2026 edition in Gdańsk and Sopot is expected to be the largest in the Forum’s history, both in terms of its conference programme and the number of international participants and partners.
About CEETRA
The Central & Eastern European Travel Retail Association (CEETRA) is an organisation bringing together representatives of the Travel Retail sector across Central and Eastern Europe. Its mission is to support the development of the market by facilitating knowledge exchange, strengthening cooperation between airports, retailers, brands, airlines and technology partners, and initiating projects that address the key challenges and opportunities facing the Travel Retail industry.
