Retail Fest Gold Coast 2027

Retail Fest is the retail and e-commerce conference run by Retail Global, the organiser that also operates a free Retail Community group on WhatsApp with thousands of members. The 2027 edition takes place from 11 to 13 May at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, under the theme "2027 | RECONNECT". According to the organiser, that theme centres on adopting AI, simplifying operations and running leaner retail businesses. The audience is made up mainly of Australian retailers and e-commerce brand founders, alongside the solution providers and agencies that sell to them. The organiser cites more than 2,000 attendees and over 100 exhibitors. In a survey of earlier editions, 98% of respondents described the event as high quality and very useful, and 84% said they expected to do business with an exhibitor they had met there. The homepage lists keynotes, panels and breakouts among the session formats, and promotes three-hour practical workshops led by industry practitioners. An expo hall hosts the provider side, and a curated meeting service pairs retailers with vendors and agencies on a double opt-in basis. The 2027 schedule and speaker list have not been published yet; the organiser's what's-on page still shows the 2026 programme, which included free e-commerce workshops, a welcome reception, sponsored evening events and a SHE-com Ladies Lounge. Ticket pricing for 2027 is not confirmed. The homepage registration banner advertises free tickets, but this has not been stated for the new edition. The organiser's general ticket description, which is not tied to a specific year, mentions access to more than 100 speakers, seven content tracks, two networking receptions, lunch and the exhibition floor. Qualifying retailers can apply to a hosted programme that provides a complimentary ticket and an $800 travel credit in return for taking meetings with solution providers. The organiser has also arranged a 2027 attendee rate of $249 per night including GST at the Dorsett Hotel Gold Coast. For affiliates and media buyers the fit is e-commerce, not gambling or crypto. The room is full of online sellers who buy traffic, run marketing partnerships and assess agencies, so performance marketers, affiliate networks and agencies working with Australian retail brands can use the hosted meetings and expo floor to reach them directly. Affiliates working only outside retail will find little here for their verticals.