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As the c-store industry enters 2026, retailers, suppliers and other industry executives have begun setting their event schedules for the year ahead. This notably includes NACS’s wide variety of forums and the NACS Show — the biggest convenience store conference in the U.S. 

But NACS’s events aren’t the only ones worth attending. Conferences from notable vendors like McLane and Core-Mark, as well as focused events like Convenience Retailing University and the National Restaurant Show, can help convenience retailers network and learn strategies to improve all facets of their businesses.

Here’s a rundown of the c-store industry conferences to keep on your radar for 2026.

Conexxus Annual Conference

Jan. 25-29
Live! By Loews in Arlington, Texas

The industry’s 2026 forums kick off with the technology and innovation-focused Conexxus conference. This annual event offers nearly a week of panels, keynotes, working groups and more. 

Past events have covered topics like artificial intelligence, edge computing and innovation in the c-store industry. 

NACS Leadership Forum

Feb. 10-12
The Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, Florida

This event brings together prominent leaders of retailers and suppliers, focusing on networking and working with industry peers to tackle emerging industry challenges. 

Topics on the 2026 agenda include using artificial intelligence to improve operations and the customer experience, strengthening company culture and discussing how forecourts can improve stores’ financial performances.

Core-Mark Expo Midwest

Feb. 11
The Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana

Core-Mark Expo Midwest is the first of five regional events hosted across the U.S. by Core-Mark, the largest marketer of consumer goods in North America. Foodservice topics are the stars of these shows, offering retailers a chance to network and learn about new products and innovations.

Core-Mark’s other regional expos include Expo Northeast on Feb. 18 in Connecticut, Expo Southeast on March 19 in North Carolina, Expo South on March 26 in New Mexico and Expo West on April 15-16 in California.  

Convenience Retailing University

Feb. 24-26
Marriott Downtown Austin in Austin, Texas

CSP’s category-management-focused form, CRU, offers c-store retailers a chance to explore innovation and best practices in areas like M&A, workforce management and technology. 

Speakers at the three-day event in 2026 include Kevin Smart, CEO of TXB, and Mendy Meriweather, principal and vice president of foodservice for consultancy NexChapter.

NACS State of the Industry Summit

April 14-16
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois

NACS unveils its annual “State of the Industry” report at this event each year. Attendees can access insights from retailers and industry experts on potential pitfalls and ways to optimize their businesses.

The 2026 summit will include leaders from Wawa, St. Romain Oil Company, OPIS and Coen Oil Company.

​National Restaurant Association Show

May 16-19
McCormick Place in Chicago

The NRA Show focuses on the restaurant world, but as foodservice becomes more and more central to c-stores’ value proposition, this massive expo can offer inspiration, insights and innovation for convenience retailers .

Attendees can sit in on educational tracks covering menu optimization, food marketing, workforce management and more, or find the next big idea amid the over 2,000 expected exhibitors in more than 90 categories.

Outlook Leadership Conference

Aug. 4-6
Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

CSP’s Outlook Leadership Conference gives c-store retailers three days to unpack some of the biggest trends and top challenges within the industry. The 2025 forum featured education sessions on c-store tech strategies, engaging younger consumers in the workforce, coffee trends and flavor-focused foodservice innovation.

McLane Engage

Aug. 25-27
Location TBD

This invitation-only event held by McLane, one of the top c-store distributors in the U.S., brings together over 100 exhibitors for three days of networking, education sessions and new product launches.

While the company has not updated its website with additional details on the 2026 expo, the 2025 show shared the latest updates to McLane’s products and held sessions on topics like workforce trends and foodservice pairing strategies. 

The NACS Show

Oct. 6-9
Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas

The c-store industry’s biggest annual show heads back to Las Vegas in 2026. Every year, the NACS Show attracts more than 23,000 industry leaders from around the globe, who gather for educational workshops, for buying and selling opportunities and to eat as much jerky as humanly possible.

Speakers at the 2026 show include Jay Ellingson, chief operating officer of Kwik Trip; Brian Ferguson, chief marketing officer for EG America; and Elizabeth Hoffer, vice president of Weigel’s.

C-Store TEC

Oct. 26-28
Westin Chicago Lombard in Chicago

CSP’s C-Store TEC forum is back in 2026 to help convenience retailers learn about new technologies and strategies they can use to evolve their businesses.

The lineup for the 2026 show includes top tech leaders from retailers including 7-Eleven, Refuel Operating Company, RaceTrac, Circle K and Royal Farms, discussing topics like AI, store modernization and retail media.

NACS Innovation Leadership Program

Nov. 1-5
MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, Massachusetts

NACS’ five-day, innovation-specific program helps c-store retailers learn research-based management frameworks. It also gives them the chance to participate in hands-on applications that will help them improve their businesses.

Main topics include building an innovative culture, recognizing and overcoming mental hurdles, leveraging design thinking and developing digital business models.