National Association of Wine Retailers Announces 2026 Summit Plans
November 18, 2025 (New York City, NY) — The National Association of Wine Retailers (NAWR) announced its plans for the Association’s 10th Annual Wine Retailer Summit. The two-day gathering of wine merchants, industry leaders, keynote speakers, media, and service and product providers to the retail tier will gather at the University Club of New York on May 27 and 28, 2026. The two-day summit will focus on the resilience of the wine retail tier and the task of building the future of wine retailing in the United States
Summit registration has just opened at: https://nawr.org/2026-summit/
WHAT: NAWR WINE RETAILER SUMMIT
WHEN: May 27-28, 2026
WHERE: New York City, New York
VENUE: University Club of New York
The NAWR Annual Summit brings together the most influential figures from every corner of the retail tier, creating a rare forum where competitive boundaries fade and candid dialogue takes center stage. While the program features panels, seminars, and structured discussions, its real value lies in the people in the room—owners, executives, and thought leaders who shape how wine reaches consumers. The Summit offers a setting where the issues that matter most to retailers are examined with both rigor and pragmatism.
A MORE INTIMATE INDUSTRY CONCLAVE PROMOTING CANDID EXCHANGE
“Among the attractions of the Summit is its intimate format. Attendance is limited, resulting in the Summit functioning as a modern industry conclave, a place where leaders can speak openly about market conditions, shifting consumer behavior, regulatory challenges, and the future of the three-tier system,” said Tom Wark, executive director of the NAWR. “These conversations—strategic, unvarnished, and often forward-looking—are what set the event apart. The Summit serves not only as an educational forum but as a pulse check on the entire retail tier, allowing attendees to leave with a sharper understanding of where the industry stands and where it is headed.”
The 2026 Summit will occur at the University Club of New York in Midtown Manhattan, an architectural icon in the city. During the evening of the first day of the Summit, many attendees will gather for the Summit’s annual BYOB Dinner to share wines and enjoy a meal together. This year, the BYOB Dinner will occur at Lafayette Restaurant.
The 2026′ Summit’s Platinum Sponsor is WeShip Express, a leading direct-to-consumer logistics provider for the alcohol beverage industry. The inexpensive Summit registration fees are made possible by WeShip Express and other sponsors of the Summit, and allow a wider group of attendees to take advantage of the Summit’s content and networking opportunities.
“The American wine retail tier is experiencing a market in transformation that provides an extraordinary opportunity for wine merchants who understand the shifts in consumer sentiment and expectations,” noted Wark. “Resilience and Market Building is the theme of the 2026 Summit and will guide its program, now under development. Our goal is to provide attendees with knowledge and tools to help them take advantage of new market realities.”
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WINE RETAILERS
NAWR was founded in 2007 with the expressed purpose of advocating on behalf of modern wine retailers and helping reform a staid regulatory structure devised nearly a century ago. NAWR and its members believe a modern retail tier ought to reflect the needs and desires of 21st-century consumers and merchants, rather than the fears of early 20th-century politicians. NAWR serves its members with ongoing dissemination of critical information and member benefits, while also utilizing lobbying, education, and litigation to bring fairness to the alcohol regulatory system. For more information, see https://www.nawr.org.
