The K5 Conference 2026: “Do you play not to lose or do you play to win?”
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Editorial TeamPublished on
On June 23 and 24, the annual K5 FUTURE RETAIL CONFERENCE took place at ESTREL Berlin. 5,000 attendees took part in the K5 Conference 2026, making this summit of (digital) commerce the most successful K5 FUTURE RETAIL CONFERENCE to date. (Ad)
Across a total of six stages – including the Future Retail Stage and the Deep Dive Stage, as well as the AI Auditorium for the first time – more than 250 speakers offered deep insights into the strategies, structures, hurdles, and success formulas of retail today and tomorrow. After last year’s focus on adapting to new rules of the game, the K5 FUTURE RETAIL CONFERENCE 2026 centered entirely on the motto “Into Action” and the question of when, where, and how retail – and the people behind it – must take action and show courage in order to hold their ground, and above all win, in a fast-moving and volatile industry under new and challenging conditions.
Quote / Verena Schlüpmann, CEO, K5We're living through a time when technology is opening up more possibilities than ever before. The real challenge, therefore, isn't access to information – it's the ability to lead yourself, find orientation, and make the right decisions. That's exactly what K5 brings people together for: new perspectives, honest exchange, and the courage to move into action. Because clarity doesn't come before action. Clarity always comes through action.
More than 200 exhibitors and partners were part of this year’s K5 Conference, presenting their innovations, tools, and solutions for retailers and brands across 14,000 square meters. Heartfelt thanks go especially to this year’s Platinum and Premium partners – Salesforce, Shopify, Akeneo, commercetools, SCAYLE, Mirakl, PayPal, Emporix, and Reply – for their dedicated and active support.
#LearnFromTheBest
Following the welcome address by Sven Rittau and Verena Schlüpmann, K5 initiator Jochen Krisch drew a packed house with “STORE: State of Online Retail 2026” alongside the K5 Theses 2026. Joining him this year were Kristina Mertens (everstox), Stefan Wenzel, Karo Junker de Neui (Etribes, Kassenzone), Alexander Graf (Kassenzone), and Nele Odzuck (TikTok). They delivered well-founded, often pointed and provocative assessments of the current state and future of online and offline retail: Wild Card Theses host Nele Odzuck sees personality as the new competitive advantage for brands in agentic commerce, Stefan Wenzel is convinced that it’s not technology but 10% of your people who will build 100% of your future, and Karo Junker de Neui identifies habit control as the KPI of the future.
On the Future Retail Stage, renowned and experienced keynote speakers and panel guests such as Dr. Boris Ewenstein (OTTO), Ruth Oberrauch (Oberalp Group), David Schröder (Zalando), Tobias Seemann (adidas), and Dr. Saskia Meier-Andrae (eBay Germany) were crowd magnets who guaranteed fully packed rows of seats on both conference days.
Quote / Sven Rittau, CEO, K5"Do you play not to lose or do you play to win?" This question served as the wake-up call running through the entire 2026 edition of K5. What ambition do we bring to the table – as a brand, retailer, manufacturer, platform, or marketplace? And how do we stay relevant tomorrow in a hyper-dynamic environment? Two days in Berlin sought exactly those answers – and above all, found the right questions. Because whoever wants to win stops merely avoiding mistakes and starts boldly shaping what comes next. #intoaction
The Deep Dive Stage was also a visitor favorite, packed with program highlights. Hosted and curated by, among others, Yara Molthan (Etribes), Marcel Brindöpke (Commerce Advisory Network), and Michael vom Sondern (Commerce Advisory Network), this stage provided the perfect setting for keynotes, fireside chats, and panel talks spanning topics from transformation to mental health. Speakers such as Philip Clas (TEVEO), Matthias Wlaka (bonprix), Claudia Frese (momox), and Andrea Lederer (Weleda) captivated audiences here.
The 10 startup pitches – Retail Tech on Day 1 and D2C on Day 2 – gave the innovative, bold, and driven minds of the German startup scene, including Greta Garkisch (Co-Founder, BiMA) and Andrea Schneller (CEO, koorvi), not only a big stage and a well-deserved moment in the spotlight, but also honest, well-grounded feedback from the stage jury members Sherin Maruhn, Carsten Puschmann, Kristina Schreiner, and Felix Harms.
A premiere at the K5 Conference generated particular excitement: the AI Auditorium. Hosted by Esther Schwan (K5), Paul Krauss (Team One), and Verena Lindner (K5), it moved artificial intelligence out of buzzword territory and into focus. In panel discussions featuring voices from every corner of retail – including Katharina Bülowius (REWE), Vanessa Stützle (LUQOM), Jonas Rashedi (FALKE), and Marius Keckeisen (BLACKROLL) – the conversation centered on the hard-hitting reality behind the hype.
Across more than 70 masterclasses, attendees were also able to develop their skills in smaller groups on topics such as data management, B2B, marketing, expansion, and omnichannel – hands-on, interactive, and with a clear focus on real-world use cases from (digital) retail.
#MeetTheBest
Alongside the extensive program across six stages, the K5 FUTURE RETAIL CONFERENCE 2026 also showcased one of K5’s true strengths: its wide range of networking formats. Speed Networking, Guided Tours, the Female Circle Aperó, the KickOff Night powered by Unzer, the K5 Connect Party powered by Novalnet, table tennis tournaments powered by m.a.c IT Solutions, and many other formats were fully embraced across both days – to learn from one another, exchange ideas, make new connections, reconnect with familiar faces, and celebrate.
#BelongToTheBest
At the K5 Conference 2026, service providers, solution vendors, and agencies in digital commerce from the DACH region once again had reason to celebrate: with the K5 COMMERCE AWARD, powered by Henning Heesen & Company, outstanding achievements in commerce were honored for the fourth time. Award participants from across the DACH region competed in 10 different categories. Following an exciting public vote and the final decision by an experienced expert jury, the prestigious and highly coveted award was presented on the first evening of the K5 FUTURE RETAIL CONFERENCE 2026, hosted by Verena Schlüpmann and Bella Wondra.
The next K5 FUTURE RETAIL CONFERENCE will take place on June 22–23, 2027, at ESTREL Berlin.
