IGDS Global Events provide an independent platform for all leading department stores in the world and their business partners to meet and exchange regularly. They enhance and foster a global conversation among department store Chairmen / CEOs and stakeholders on their vision, ideas and challenges.

They address the latest economic, social-demographic and commercial developments as well as their impacts on the department store business from a global perspective, among an exclusive circle of industry peers.

In 2026 the 17th IGDS WDSS will be staged on 19-20 May 2026 in Mexico City, co-organised with IGDS member Liverpool.

IGDS Global Events were organised in London (2008), Moscow (2009), New York (2010), Shanghai (2011), Paris (2012), Istanbul (2013), Singapore (2014), Rome (2015), Zurich (2016) Toronto (2017), London (2018), Tokyo (2019), Seattle (2022), Dubai (2023), Berlin (2024),  and Seoul (2025).