Retail in 2026: Awards, Change and What Comes Next

Last week, the Trafford Centre brought together more than 200 fantastic retailers, restaurants, and leisure brands for its annual Retailer Awards, and Modern Networks was proud to be part of it.

We were delighted to sponsor the Specialist Retailer of the Year Award, which this year went to the brilliant team at LEGO. Huge congratulations to them for their creativity, innovation, and continued commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.

It was a fantastic evening at the Hilton Manchester, complete with dinner, entertainment, and the chance to celebrate the dedication, energy, and passion that make the Trafford Centre such a standout retail destination.

A Night That Shows What Retail Can Do

The awards reminded us how strong the retail sector is when people and places work well together. We saw teams celebrate big wins, share stories and show pride in their work. This kind of energy is one reason retail spaces remain important in commercial real estate. When places feel active and well-run, they attract customers. When they have support behind the scenes, they can keep things moving. We were pleased to play our role as a sponsor and to support the sector at a time when it continues to change fast.

The Market Is Busy, but Not Equal

2026 looks like it will be another year of mixed fortunes for retail. Some retail sites perform well, with low vacancy rates around 6.1%. Many prime shopping centres are close to full because demand is high. At the same time, weaker sites struggle with more empty units and slow leasing. The gap between strong and weak locations keeps growing. This matters across commercial property. It means landlords and managing agents need to understand what makes top sites stand out and why others fall behind. Digital readiness, day-to-day reliability and real tenant support now play a bigger part in retail success.

Retail Is Becoming a Platform, Not Just a Place

It was William Shakespeare who wrote, “All the world’s a stage.” And today, we are seeing more centres shift toward a “retail as a platform” model. They no longer act as simple spaces to lease. Instead, they act as hubs or stages for events, brands and digital tools. Management teams now curate the mix of tenant businesses more carefully. This moves the sector further into experience-led retail. Vacancies in well-located retail parks stay low at around 6.8%, which shows how selective tenants are. They expect resilient Wi-Fi, reliable networks and the ability to run digital services without disruption. When they don’t get that, they look elsewhere.

Tech Shapes Daily Retail Life

The rise of automation and AI tools is changing how shops work each day. More stores use self-checkout systems, digital payments and smart stock tools. These systems need stable networks and low-latency links. They also need support when things go wrong. A recent Savills report says that pressure to cut costs is speeding up the use of these tools. This means more stores need digital upgrades. Across commercial real estate, we see the same pattern. Strong digital foundations help sites work well. Weak digital infrastructure causes delays and makes work harder for both retailers and management teams.

Why This Matters for Commercial Real Estate

Retail parks, shopping centres, and mixed-use sites are more dependent on robust digital infrastructure each year. In 2026, rising tenant expectations and daily digital needs significantly influence asset value. Strong networks, good cyber hygiene, and reliable systems are essential for buildings to operate effectively and create the supportive environments that tenants desire. Conversely, weak or outdated systems make properties more challenging to lease and manage. This trend is evident throughout the commercial property sector. Tenants want spaces that are functional from day one; they expect their workspaces to enhance their operations rather than hinder them.

How We Help Sites Stay Ready

Modern Networks supports shopping centres, retail parks and many other sites across commercial real estate. We help keep digital infrastructure reliable. We support retailers, tenants and the management teams who run large estates. We fix issues fast, so they do not disrupt trade. We help centres stay online, stay secure and stay ready for the future. Our work underpins the everyday experience people have on site, even if they never see it. When things work well, we know we are doing our job.

Looking Ahead

The Trafford Centre Retailer Awards showed the strength and spirit of the sector. The retail trends for 2026 show how much the market is shifting. Sites that invest in strong digital foundations will stay competitive. Sites that do not will fall further behind. We look forward to supporting more retail destinations as they prepare for what comes next.

Contact Us

If you want to talk about how to improve the digital foundations of your site, we are here to help.