Modern Retail has launched the Next Gen Store Awards — a new program recognizing innovation across several categories of retail design and execution.
One of those categories is explicitly for pop-ups: Best Store Pop-Up, awarded to temporary retail experiences that drove buzz, customer engagement, and brand discovery.
Entry Fees Might Limit The Field
For operators who have executed a pop-up or temporary retail experience in the last year that they are proud of — a booth design, a branded activation, a seasonal market presence — the Next Gen Store Awards are open for entries.
Entry fees run $499–$729, depending on when you submit, which will definitely add some self-selection to the field. But we’ll be watching to see who Modern Retail deems to have the buzziest pop-up store in America.
Source: Modern Retail. “Next Gen Store Awards.” 2026.