TFWA World Conference 2026

The conference opened with a state of the industry address by TFWA President Sarah Branquinho. At a time of economic uncertainty, evolving traveller expectations and profound shifts in global commerce, she reflected on the industry’s current position and the opportunities emerging for duty free and travel retail in a rapidly changing world.

The opening session welcomed economist and bestselling author David McWilliams for an exploration of the geopolitical and economic realities reshaping international business. As globalization enters a new and more fragmented phase, the session examined the impact of shifting trade dynamics, political instability and economic nationalism on industries built around openness and mobility. For travel retail, these changes are more than background noise—they are forces actively reshaping the ecosystem in which the industry operates.

The programme then turned to the future of travel itself as Gilles Roucolle, Managing Partner and Head of Industries at Oliver Wyman and author of Transformations in Mobility, explored how airports and transport hubs are evolving in response to technological innovation, sustainability and changing traveller expectations. As mobility becomes smarter, more connected and increasingly experience-driven, the session considered how commercial spaces may transform—and what this means for the future relationship between travellers, brands and destinations.

The conference closed by shifting focus from systems and spaces to something more deeply human. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Charles Duhigg explored the forces shaping human performance, communication and behaviour—and how these shifts are influencing the consumer of the future. At a time when attention, habits and decision-making are increasingly shaped by technology and constant connectivity, understanding why people behave the way they do has become essential for the industry seeking more meaningful relationships with travellers. In many ways, the session brought the conference full circle: reminding delegates that beyond geopolitics, mobility and infrastructure, the future of travel retail will ultimately be shaped by human behaviour itself.

As the world continues to shift, travel retail faces a defining moment of reinvention and opportunity. The 2026 TFWA World Conference offered delegates a chance to reflect on an industry in transition—and the ideas, leadership and innovation that will determine where it goes next.