What to Expect at Commerce Live 2026: Keynotes, Trends, and More

Commerce is entering a new phase, and it’s not just about adopting new technology. It’s about understanding what actually works in modern digital commerce.

From agentic shopping experiences to automated procurement, the narrative around AI in commerce is moving fast. But beneath the headlines, most organisations are still dealing with the same core challenges: fragmented data, disconnected systems, and increasing operational complexity.

That’s exactly what Commerce Live 2026 is designed to address.

Taking place April 28–30 in Chicago, Commerce Live 2026 brings together industry leaders, practitioners, and visionaries to cut through the noise and focus on the strategies that drive scalable growth in modern commerce.

The conversations shaping commerce right now

The biggest shift happening in commerce isn’t just AI. It’s how AI-driven commerce interacts with everything beneath it.

Agentic commerce experiences are emerging quickly. AI can now search, recommend, and even transact on behalf of buyers. But the reality is more nuanced than the hype suggests. These experiences only work as well as the systems, data, and operations behind them.

That’s why the Commerce Live 2026 agenda focuses on themes like:

• Agentic commerce and AI readiness

• Data quality, governance, and activation

• Composable and extensible commerce architectures

• Operational complexity in B2B commerce environments

• Bridging customer experience with backend systems

Commerce Live isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about understanding which commerce trends matter and how to act on them.

Commerce Live 2026 keynote speakers you won’t want to miss

Two standout keynote speakers will anchor Commerce Live 2026, each bringing a distinct perspective on the future of AI-driven commerce.

Heather Hershey, IDC

Opening Keynote: Agentic Commerce: Signal, Noise, and What Actually Scales

Heather Hershey, Research Director for IDC’s Worldwide Digital Commerce practise, brings a deeply grounded, research-driven perspective to one of the most talked-about topics in AI-driven commerce.

Her keynote cuts through the noise around agentic AI to focus on a more important question: is your organisation actually ready for agentic commerce?

Drawing on IDC research and real-world enterprise challenges, Heather explores:

• Why agentic commerce isn’t about replacing existing digital commerce experiences

• How fragmented catalogues, inconsistent pricing, and system latency limit AI adoption

• Where agentic search and checkout create real efficiency — and where they introduce risk

• Why data quality and governance are the true enablers of AI-driven commerce

For manufacturers and distributors, this conversation is especially critical. When AI agents begin interpreting contracts, pricing rules, and fulfilment constraints, precision isn’t optional — it’s fundamental.

This keynote delivers a pragmatic view of what it takes to prepare for agentic commerce without overhauling your entire commerce tech stack.

Anders Sörman-Nilsson, Futurist and Founder of Thinque

Keynote: When AI Becomes the Buyer: What Really Changes in Commerce (and What Doesn’t)

If Heather’s session defines the operational reality of AI in commerce, Anders Sörman-Nilsson expands the lens to the broader future of buyer behaviour.

A globally recognised futurist who has advised brands like Apple, Google, and LEGO, Anders explores how AI is reshaping the buying journey — not just technologically, but across customer experience and behaviour.

In this keynote, he’ll examine:

• How AI agents are transforming discovery, decision-making, and transactions in digital commerce

• The role of emerging frameworks like agent communication protocols

• Why the biggest challenge isn’t new channels, but managing underlying commerce complexity

• What remains constant in commerce, even as technology evolves

His perspective is clear: AI doesn’t eliminate complexity — it exposes it.

For commerce leaders, this means rethinking how buyer journeys and customer experiences are designed when AI becomes an active participant in the process — and how to build on existing commerce investments rather than starting from scratch.

Commerce Live 2026 tracks designed for how commerce actually works

Commerce Live 2026 is structured around the real needs of the people building, scaling, and operating modern digital commerce.

That’s why this leading commerce event is organised by audience across three distinct days, giving you the opportunity to go deep on what matters most to you.

April 28: Partner and Developer Day

The event kicks off with a dedicated day for partners and developers, focused on the technical foundation of modern commerce platforms.

Expect deep dives into APIs, integrations, composable commerce architectures, and more. This is where developers and builders get hands-on insights into solving real implementation challenges and unlocking new commerce capabilities.

April 29: Main Event (Open to All Attendees)

Day two brings the full Commerce Live 2026 experience, with keynote sessions, breakout sessions, and cross-functional insights designed for the entire commerce ecosystem.

This is where commerce strategy meets execution. From AI-driven commerce and agentic commerce to data readiness and operational scalability, sessions are designed to help leaders connect the dots across teams, systems, and customer experiences.

April 30: Brand and Retailer Day

The final day shifts focus to brands and retailers, with content tailored to growth, customer experience, and digital transformation in commerce.

Expect sessions that explore how to deliver seamless buying journeys, optimise merchandising strategies, and scale commerce operations in increasingly complex environments. This is where commerce leaders can learn from peers and walk away with ideas they can apply immediately.

Each day is intentionally designed to deliver relevant, actionable insights — so whether you’re building, leading, or optimising commerce experiences, you’ll find content that meets you where you are.

Why attend Commerce Live 2026

Commerce isn’t slowing down.

The pace of change in digital commerce is accelerating, and the gap between organisations that can execute and those that can’t is widening. AI in commerce will continue to evolve. Buyer expectations will continue to rise. Complexity will continue to increase.

The difference is how prepared you are to handle it.

Commerce Live 2026 gives you the clarity, context, and practical guidance to move forward with confidence — not guesswork.

The final word

From research-backed insights to forward-looking perspectives on AI-driven commerce and customer experience, this event is built to help you understand what’s next — and what to do about it.

Join us at Commerce Live 2026, April 28–30 in Chicago, to hear from industry-leading keynote speakers, connect with peers, and walk away with a clearer path forward.

If you’re navigating the next era of digital commerce, this is where you need to be. Register today.