The Global Platform for Retail, Leisure & Destination Development
Bringing together senior decision-makers from across Europe, GCC, Asia and the Americas, RLI Connect Global creates a highly curated environment where global markets align, partnerships are formed and strategy is translated into execution.
RLI Connect Global, in consultation with Invest Newcastle and in association with Strategic Partners Cenomi Centers and Sands Retail, will take place in Newcastle, UK from 22–24 September 2026.
* An invitation-only RLI Golf Experience Day for Partners, Speakers, VIP Guests and Government Officials will take place on the 21 September, while the main event will commence on Tuesday 22 September with the RLI Connect Global Forum.
This year’s edition will combine both our Global and MENA communities into one flagship international event, creating a more connected and internationally focused forum.
Through a combination of a high-level Forum, structured Deal-Making, immersive destination experiences and curated networking, the event is designed to deliver meaningful connections and tangible commercial outcomes.
Audience includes senior decision-makers from global developers, investors, retailers, leisure operators and destination owners.
A Curated Global Audience
Connect with senior decision-makers across multiple markets and sectors.
Commercial Opportunity
Showcase cutting-edge solutions and expand your global reach.
High-Level Insight
Gain perspective from global leaders shaping the future of the industry.
Meaningful Connections
Move beyond networking to structured engagement and real outcomes.
RLI Connect Global will open with a curated pre-event experience, bringing together speakers, partners and invited guests in a distinctive and highly engaging setting.
Inspired by the convergence of sport, fashion and culture in shaping modern destinations, this opening moment is designed to set the tone for the days ahead, creating early connections and a shared perspective among the global community.
The evening will culminate in an exclusive Speakers & Partners Dinner, offering a more intimate setting for conversation, alignment and networking ahead of the Forum.
* This is a private event for Partners, Speakers, VIP Guests and Government Officials.
The Forum opens with a full day of high-level strategic exchange, bringing together global investors, developers, retailers and operators shaping the next phase of destination development.
Across four curated panel sessions, an ‘In Discussion With‘ Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud, a prominent figure within Saudi Arabia’s cultural and creative landscape and the founder of Saudi Fashion Week and a Headline Fireside Conversation, the forum examines the forces redefining the industry—from global capital flows and expansion strategy to luxury evolution, experiential innovation and the convergence of retail, culture, sport and entertainment. This is where strategic dialogue drives tangible opportunity.
A VIP Networking Experience, kindly hosted by Fenwick Luxury Department Store will follow the RLI Global Forum.
Following a day of strategic dialogue, the RLI Connect Deal-Making platform provides a curated environment for structured one-to-one meetings, designed to accelerate partnerships and unlock growth. This is not networking at scale-it is precision engagement.
Participants will explore:
Building on RLI’s trusted global ecosystem, this is where conversations become partnerships and strategy becomes execution.
All delegates are invited to join a Networking Reception at ABOVE, a rooftop bar and restaurant located at the top of Newcastle’s iconic Vermont Hotel, kindly hosted by the Gainford Group.
RLI Connect Global offers a limited number of highly curated partnership opportunities, designed to align brands with key moments, audiences and outcomes across the event.
From strategic partnerships and Forum participation to experience-led activations and Deal-Making, each partnership is tailored to deliver visibility, engagement and commercial impact.
RLI Connect Global is proudly supported by Cenomi Centers and Sands Retail.
Representing two of the most influential markets shaping the future of retail, leisure and destination development – the GCC and Asia – they anchor the global narrative of the event and reflect the increasing convergence of international markets.
Access exclusive updates, curated networking opportunities, strategic partnerships and key announcements ahead of RLI Connect Global 2026.
