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MAG Payments Conference 2026
Registration is open!
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MAG Payments Conference is designed with merchants in mind. Taking place September 27–30, 2026, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN, this is MAG's flagship gathering where cross-functional payments teams come together to share real strategies, solve real challenges, and shape the future of payments. 

From fraud and risk to operations, technology, and customer experience, every session is curated around merchant priorities. Come for the content. Stay for the community. 

Tech Forum goes beyond the basics. It's a dedicated space for merchant technology professionals and their sponsor partners to dig into implementation realities, emerging tools, and the practical decisions that drive payments forward. If you're working on tokenization, orchestration, authentication, or what's next in pay-by-bank or Tap on Mobile, this is your event. 

Continue to check this webpage as planning continues and more information becomes available. We look forward to seeing you at the event! 

 

Countdown to MAG Payments Conference 26

September 27, 2026
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Why Attend

Sessions and SIGs are built around what matters most to merchants right now: reducing costs, managing fraud, improving authorization rates, and delivering better customer experiences.
In smaller, high-trust settings, merchants share what's actually working — and what isn't. No pitches. No demos. Just honest, peer-to-peer conversation.
MAG Payments Conference goes beyond theory. Walk away with tools, frameworks, and real-world case studies you can put to work immediately, whether you're optimizing authorization rates, evaluating new technology, or building the business case for your next initiative.
Whether you're new to payments or a seasoned leader, MAG Payments Conference offers sessions and SIGs that expand your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and give you the credibility to drive change at your organization.

Registration Information

  • June 25 - Registration Opens for MAG Payments Conference 
  • August 28 - Early Bird Deadline 
  • September 21 at 11:59 p.m. CT - Online registration closes. No cancelations, refunds, or transfers after this date. 
  • September 27, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – September 30, 2026, 12:00 p.m. CT - Onsite registration will be available at a higher price. 
  • Payments professionals across key merchant verticals including retail, grocery, restaurant, travel and hospitality, eCommerce, fuel and convenience, and digital services, who are focused on driving positive change in the payments industry. 
  • Payments operations leaders and payments technology subject matter experts (e.g., payments, fraud, risk, IT, and product) willing to share insights and best practices. 
  • Emerging payments professionals and those newer to the industry seeking to build foundational knowledge of the payments ecosystem and expand their expertise. 
  • MAG Conferences are closed to the public and the press.

Who Attends MAG

HOTEL
  • Reserve Your Room
  • MAG has secured a discounted group rate of $319 per night plus tax.
  • Cut-Off Date: Friday, September 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CT, or until rooms are sold out.
AIRFARE 
  • Online registration for MAG Payments Conference closes on Monday, September 21, at 11:59 p.m. CT  
  • You must be registered for the conference to attend any of the MAG Payments Conference programming.  
  • Registration grants access to education sessions, general sessions, and business breakout sessions as well as the exhibit area. Access to Tech Forum sessions may require an additional cost for registration.  
  • MAG offers Merchant-Only sessions that are restricted to MAG Merchant Members and approved guest merchants.  
  • All badge reprints onsite will require a matching ID and will have an associated charge of $250 per re-print.  

PROMOTE YOUR ATTENDANCE!

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Registration Fees

Not a member of the MAG but would like to attend the conference? Contact Meg Thaxton for more information. 

Beware of scams

Do not respond if an individual outside the MAG contacts you regarding accommodations or contact info.

Tech Forum

The MAG Tech Forum is aligned with the MAG Payments Conference, offering education and networking opportunities for payments IT professionals. As the payments ecosystem evolves, the MAG Tech Forum connects payments technology experts and leading providers to explore innovative applications of these advancements.

The MAG Tech Forum aims to foster collaboration, provide tech-focused knowledge, and build relationships between merchants, their payments IT and business teams, and technology providers.

 

Connect with IT professionals at the Tech Forum and payments professionals at the MAG conference events representing over 150 of the largest U.S. merchants which account for over $4.8 trillion in annual sales across physical and digital commerce.
Create new business connections with Tech Forum and MAG merchant member attendees from every vertical (eCommerce, Airlines, Department Stores, Mass Merchant, Grocery, Hospitality, Hotels Petroleum/Convenience Stores, Small Ticket/Restaurants).

Presentations are available on current industry topics that your business peers across the retail community are grappling with in their companies. Join the strategic discussions and learn best practices for today’s rapidly changing payments environment.

Access to industry experts who provide the latest insights and innovative uses of new payment technologies twice a year through panel and keynote sessions, as well as within the exhibit halls at in-person events.

Beyond the in-person meetings twice a year, participate in the MAG webinar series, online learning, MAG committees, and Community of Practice (COP) efforts offered throughout the year. Want to get even more involved? Be a panelist at one of our upcoming events and share your perspective with fellow merchants.

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MAG Payments Conference 26 Agenda

**Agenda subject to change.

Last updated on Monday, June 29, 2026. All times are in CST

Agenda Key

  • In Person

  • Virtual

  • Livestream

  • Rebroadcast

  • Merchant Only Session

Filter agenda by:

  • All

    Registration Open

  • All

    First-Timers Attendee Session

  • All

    Opening Networking Reception Sponsored by: American Express

Agenda Key

  • Merchant Only Session

    • Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors

    MAG Payments Conference is not just another trade show. It's a merchant-focused environment where sponsors engage in honest, no-fluff conversations with decision-makers eager to solve real challenges. This is your seat at the table. 

    Benefits of Becoming a Conference Sponsor and/or Exhibitor include: 

    Brand Visibility and Gain Exposure – Exhibitors and sponsors receive significant promotion leading up to the conference and on-site through complimentary marketing and branding. 

    • Brand Visibility and Gain Exposure – Exhibitors and sponsors receive significant promotion leading up to the conference and on-site through complimentary marketing and branding. 
    • Connect With Decision-Makers - Engage directly with senior merchant leaders across payments, fraud, technology, and operations. These are the stakeholders driving buying decisions and shaping their organizations' payments roadmaps. 
    • Build Relationships – Strengthen existing relationships, understand merchants’ needs, discover new opportunities, and grow your business. 
    • Valuable Conference Insight – Attend conference sessions to expand your knowledge and gain insights from payments leaders. 

    Please visit the Sponsorship and Exhibitor Selection Portal to make your exhibit booth selections and complete the assigned tasks to finalize your participation at MAG Payments Conference 26.  

    Review Conference Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities.

    IMPORTANT DEADLINES:  

    July 31, 2026 
    • Deadline to sign up as a MAG Annual or Tech Forum Sponsor 
    • Deadline to sign up as a MAG Payments Conference Sponsor and/or Exhibitor 
    REMINDER: You must be a current MAG Annual Sponsor in good standing to be a MAG Payments Conference sponsor. View the MAG Annual Sponsor Listing.
    Exhibit personnel who will staff your booth must be registered for the conference and can register using one of the options below:  

    • Standard Sponsor registration using either a comp or purchasing a full conference pass. Please refer to the Annual Sponsor Levels and Benefits to determine how many complimentary registrations your company receives. 
    • $100 Exhibitor Set Up/Take Down Only* 
    • $1200 Exhibit Booth Staff Pass for MAG Payments Conference** 
    If interested in the above exhibitor registration types, please reach out to Sophia Beyer-Bush for promo code information.  

    *Grants access to the Exhibit Hall for set up on Sunday, September 27, from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and take down on Tuesday, September 29, from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. CT.  

    ** This pass will not allow access to other conference elements including the general or education session. This pass is for those who will only be staffing your booth but will not be attending sessions. 
    MAG Payments Conference sponsorships and exhibits will not be guaranteed or promoted until payment has been received. We encourage you to submit your payment as soon as possible. 

    Once your conference sponsorship and/or exhibit selection is made and approved, a MAG Staff member will reach out for payment. Preferred payment is via ACH/WIRE. If you would like to pay with ACH/WIRE, contact MAG Staff, Jennifer Whitlock. Payment can also be made by check. Please make your check payable to "Merchant Advisory Group" and mail to the address below 

    Merchant Advisory Group 
    4248 Park Glen Road 
    Minneapolis, MN 55416 

    *If your company would like to purchase lead retrieval licenses for the MAG Payments Conference exhibit hall, payments will be processed via credit card directly in the Exhibitor and Sponsorship selection portal. 
    Though your booth is complimentary, you must visit the Conference Sponsorship and Exhibitor portal to make your exhibit booth selection.  

    Please let us know by July 31, 2026, if you will not be utilizing your exhibit space. 
    Conference Sponsorship and Exhibitor Questions: Contact Jennifer Whitlock.
    Interested in Becoming a MAG Annual Sponsor?  Contact Meg Thaxton.

    Attendee List to Sponsors:

    Attendee Lists: Beginning June 30, the MAG will post an attendance roster on the conference website and update it weekly. As an added benefit to MAG Annual Sponsors, we will send two (2) pre-conference registration lists (September 7 and September 14), and one (1) post-conference attendee list (October 5) with the contact information of registrants who have given their permission to share. We ask that you limit your number of electronic promotions to conference attendees to a maximum of two (2) email communications. 

    Speakers

    Thank for you being a valued MAG partner and agreeing to share your expertise and insights with our conference attendees. 

    See the latest updates and guidelines for your presentation.

    MAG SOCIAL MEDIA AND LOGO GUIDLINES
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     MAG Payments Conference 26 Sponsors

     

    MAG Payments Conference 26 Sponsors

    ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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    The Merchant Advisory Group

    Driving positive change and innovation in the payments industry serving merchants' interests globally through collaboration, education, and advocacy.