31st EDITION: As Europe’s retail property industry prepares to meet in Cannes on 3–4 November, the conversation is moving beyond filling vacant units. From changing high streets to the growing influence of retail parks, MAPIC 2026 puts the future of physical retail destinations firmly on the agenda.
The relationship between retail, property and consumers continues to evolve. For investors and property owners, securing the right tenant remains essential. But the wider challenge is understanding what makes a location relevant to the people who shop, work, live and spend time there.
For retailers, physical expansion is equally selective. Location, accessibility, surrounding businesses, customer demographics and the wider experience of a destination all influence where brands choose to invest.
Against this backdrop, MAPIC returns to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on 3–4 November 2026, bringing together the international retail and property communities. The organiser expects around 4,000 participants, including 1,800 retail representatives, from 75 countries.
As a MAPIC 2026 media partner, Europe Real Estate will be following the conversations, companies and projects shaping the next chapter of European retail property.
High streets: A renewed focus on city centres
One of the central developments at MAPIC 2026 is its dedicated high-street initiative, designed to connect cities, property owners, brokers and expanding retailers.
The programme will feature European city-centre opportunities alongside dedicated presentations and networking.
For local authorities and property owners, the challenge extends beyond bringing individual retailers into vacant premises. The combination of retail, hospitality, services, culture and public space increasingly forms part of the discussion about creating more relevant and resilient urban destinations.
A key question for MAPIC is how cities and property owners can collaborate with retailers to create commercially viable locations that also respond to local communities.
Retail parks: The next phase of growth
MAPIC is also introducing a dedicated Retail Park Summit, reflecting renewed attention to this segment of the property market.
For investors, developers and occupiers, the discussion extends to tenant mix, accessibility, changing consumer behaviour and the role retail parks can play within a wider regional retail network.
The evolution of these assets also raises questions about how food, leisure and additional services can broaden a destination's appeal while maintaining its commercial efficiency.
Beyond transactions: The influence of a destination
MAPIC's 2026 conference theme, Developing with Intent, Growing through Influence, draws attention to differentiation and more selective retail development.
Technology, social media and changing consumer expectations are influencing how people discover brands and decide which physical destinations deserve their time.
This raises an important question for retail property owners: how should the performance of a destination be measured beyond occupancy, rent and immediate retail sales?
Customer engagement, programming, collaboration between tenants and the ability to create a recognisable destination are additional dimensions worth examining.
For property owners and retailers alike, the opportunity is to explore how physical environments can support commercial activity while building longer-term relationships with customers.
Following the ideas, investments and people shaping the industry
Europe Real Estate covers the commercial property industry across European markets, bringing together news, developments, investment activity and perspectives from the companies and people shaping the built environment.
During MAPIC 2026, we will be looking at how the industry is responding to changes in retail demand, evolving investment priorities and the development of destinations that bring together retail, leisure, hospitality and other uses.
We welcome conversations with investors, developers, asset managers, retailers, cities and industry specialists with relevant projects, research and perspectives to share.
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MAPIC 2026 | 3–4 November | Palais des Festivals, Cannes
Event information: https://www.mapic.com/
