MAG Insights

What are other retailers seeing? What challenges are they facing? And perhaps most importantly, how are they addressing them?

That’s what makes our Special Interest Groups (SIGs) such a valuable part of the MAG Payments Conference. They provide an opportunity for merchants to step away from the formal conference agenda and have open, peer-to-peer conversations about the issues that matter most.

Earlier this year, we introduced a new SIG format featuring discussion groups focused on topics of interest and importance to retailers. Following the successful launch of that format, we're excited to continue it at MAG Payments Conference 26 with a new set of timely, relevant, and engaging discussion topics.

And there's no need to worry about choosing the “right” room when you register. Merchants can attend any SIG room they choose, regardless of the selection made during conference registration. We'll use Slido to capture topics, questions, and issues to help drive the discussions. Registrants will receive a Slido link in advance of the conference, so you can submit questions or topics ahead of time and help shape the conversation.

Day One: Vertical SIGs

Our day one format remains unchanged, with rooms focused on specific retail verticals:

Monday, September 28, 2026 | 4:00 p.m. CT

• eCommerce
• Fuel & Convenience
• Mass Merchant
• Recurring & Subscription Billing
• Restaurant & QSR
• Technology
  

Day Three: Themed SIGs

Day three will feature two blocks of five concurrent discussion rooms. Each session will run for 40 minutes, with a 10-minute break between blocks.

Block 1: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. CT

• Litigation Update (MDL-1720, IFPA, etc.): Discuss the latest status of payments litigation, including MDL-1720, IFPA, and other key developments.
• Beyond Borders; A Global Merchant Exchange: Explore international payments topics, including what's happening in the regulatory space in Europe and other global developments affecting retailers.
• Fraud Trends: Review the latest trends merchants are seeing on the fraud front, what has evolved, what's new, and what retailers are doing to reduce losses without adding friction or compromising conversion and sales.
• EBT SNAP: Discuss the latest on the EBT SNAP chip migration, geolocation card controls, product restrictions, increased stocking requirements, legislative updates related to the Farm Bill, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Technology Trends: Unpack the work being done through standards bodies and industry organizations, along with emerging innovations and how they are shaping the future of payments technology.
  

Block 2: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 9:15 a.m. CT

• Agentic Commerce: Talk about the state of Agentic Commerce adoption and the challenges merchants face with the variety of protocols being introduced in the market.
• Payment Teams; Organization & Structures: Exchange views how payments teams can be organized and the various reporting structures used by retailers, including lessons learned from changes made over the years.
• Alternative Payment Methods: Explore non-card based payments, including ACH, A2A, Faster Payments, Pay by Bank, embedded payments, and crypto/stablecoins.
• Debit Routing & Tokenization: Examine the latest trends, developments, and issues with debit routing and tokenization.
• Chargebacks: Open discussion on the current state of chargebacks, including emerging trends, mitigation strategies, and representment best practices.
  

With so many great conversations happening simultaneously, I wish I could be a fly on the wall in every room. Since that's physically impossible, the next best thing is the notes!

Notes from all SIG sessions are available through the MAG Learning Center (login required), and the notes from MAG Payments Conference 26 will be posted in late October.

Whether you're a longtime SIG participant or attending your first MAG conference, we hope you'll find a room, or three, where you can share your experiences, ask questions, and learn from your fellow merchants.