WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 brings together the e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence ecosystems under one roof. Positioned as MENA and Türkiye’s largest e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence event, the organization will be held at Yenikapı Event Area between June 11-13, 2026. The event will bring together industry professionals, brands, entrepreneurs, technology companies, marketplaces, investors and digital commerce leaders on a global scale. WORLDEF CEO Ömer Nart said, “As WORLDEF, we aim to establish a strong trade and cooperation bridge between Türkiye and the MENA region. Within this framework, Istanbul is becoming one of the global meeting points of digital commerce.”
Organized under the leadership of WORLDEF, the global e-commerce and retail platform, “WORLDEF Istanbul 2026” brings together more than 30,000 visitors from over 50 countries and more than 240 companies. More than 200 speakers will take part across three different stages at the event. Offering a comprehensive platform where the trends, technologies and business opportunities shaping the future of the digital commerce and retail world will be discussed, the event will be one of the strongest gatherings in the region in terms of knowledge sharing, networking, new collaborations, brand visibility and international growth opportunities.
The future of digital commerce will be discussed in WORLDEF Istanbul 2026
WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 will address the transformation taking place in the world of e-commerce and retail with a focus on artificial intelligence, digital marketing, logistics, payment systems, marketplace strategies, cross-border trade, customer experience, data-driven growth and next-generation technologies. Throughout the event, leading names in the industry will share with participants the growth journeys of brands, changing consumer behaviors, global trade dynamics and the future of the digital economy. By combining conference and exhibition concepts, WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 stands out as a strategic event that enables brands to expand into new markets, technology providers to meet the right customers, investors to discover emerging ventures and industry professionals to build global connections.
Ömer Nart: Istanbul is becoming one of the global meeting points of digital commerce
WORLDEF CEO Ömer Nart said that WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 is not only an event, but also a global meeting point that shapes the future of the e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence ecosystems. Nart said, “Today, digital commerce is transforming into a much more integrated structure in which brands, technology companies, marketplaces, logistics and payment systems providers grow together. As WORLDEF, we aim to establish a strong trade and cooperation bridge between Türkiye and the MENA region at the center of this transformation. Within this framework, Istanbul is becoming one of the global meeting points of digital commerce.”
Ömer Nart noted the following: “With the ECOM BRANDS 100 award ceremony to be held as part of the event, we will make visible the brands that demonstrate real success in the e-commerce and retail world, while with the ECOM TOP VOICES competition, we will bring the sector’s new thought leaders to the stage. When Istanbul’s strategic location, Türkiye’s production and trade power, the rapidly growing digital economy of the MENA region and the transformation created by artificial intelligence in the business world come together, we believe that WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 represents not only today, but also the trade vision of the future. We invite all industry stakeholders to be part of this major gathering.”
Success in e-commerce and retail will be rewarded with ECOM BRANDS 100
The ECOM BRANDS 100 award ceremony, to be held as part of the event, will reward brands that create real volume in the e-commerce and retail ecosystem. Designed with the motto “Celebrating Excellence in E-Commerce and Retail,” ECOM BRANDS 100 aims to make visible not only brands with high recognition, but also brands that are growing, scaling and demonstrating real performance in digital commerce.
With an evaluation approach based on data rather than perception, ECOM BRANDS 100 will highlight brands that generate strong sales volume in the e-commerce and retail world, show effective growth in digital channels and contribute to the development of the sector. The award ceremony will offer an important area of prestige in terms of representing brands’ success in digital commerce on an international stage.
The top 10 names of the ECOM TOP VOICES competition will take the WORLDEF stage
One of the notable program highlights of WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 will be the winners of the “ECOM TOP VOICES” competition. Among participants who stand out with their strong ideas, experiences and field-driven insights in the fields of e-commerce, retail, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, the top 10 ranking individuals will have the opportunity to speak on the WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 stage. ECOM TOP VOICES will contribute to the visibility of new voices, experts, entrepreneurs and thought leaders in the sector on a global platform. The competition aims to bring together with the sector not only experienced speakers, but also next-generation leaders who offer strong perspectives on the future of digital commerce.
A strategic platform for global networking and new collaborations
WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 will bring together e-commerce and retail professionals from different regions of the world in Istanbul, creating a strong foundation for global collaborations. Participants will have the opportunity to establish direct contact with brands, marketplaces, payment systems, logistics companies, technology providers, investors and service providers. While building digital commerce bridges between the MENA region and Türkiye, the event will position Istanbul as one of the important centers of the global e-commerce ecosystem. WORLDEF Istanbul 2026 will offer its participants not only the opportunity to follow trends, but also the opportunity to be directly involved in the transformation of the sector.
WORLDEF’s next event will be in Antalya
WORLDEF’s next event will be the “WORLDEF PRIME Matchmaking Summit,” to be held in Antalya between December 8-10, 2026. Bringing together e-commerce and retail professionals from all around the world, the summit is positioned as a special matchmaking platform that aims to establish important connections among decision-makers, brand executives, investors, technology providers and industry leaders. The organization, which will be held at Kremlin Palace in Antalya, will host industry representatives from more than 50 countries. The one-to-one meetings and strategic sessions to be held throughout the event will contribute to the expansion of global e-commerce networks.