Retail Store Openings, Expansions & Relaunches 2026 - A Running Market Watch
Last Updated: 9 July, 2026
At RetailOasis, we believe the full picture of retail requires tracking not just who's exiting - but who's betting on physical. This live tracker documents significant new store openings, market entries, network expansions and flagship relaunches across Australia, New Zealand and globally.
Our goal is to identify the brands investing in bricks-and-mortar, the formats gaining momentum, and the signals shaping where retail is headed next.
We include openings that represent: a first market entry; significant network expansion with strategic intent; a new retail format or concept; major flagship or precinct investment; or a brand name that signals broader category or market confidence.
2026 Snapshot (Year to Date)
Total Notable Openings & Expansions Tracked: 45+
Key Categories Expanding: Activewear & Wellness, Beauty & K-Beauty, Luxury & Jewellery, Confectionery, Books & Specialty, Furniture & Homewares, Outdoor & Technical Apparel, Women's Fashion, Fast Fashion, IP & Lifestyle Retail, Department Store, Outlet Retail, Technology, Premium Footwear, Luxury Outerwear, Heritage Footwear, Mass Market General Merchandise
Geography Most Active: Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Western Sydney), New Zealand (Auckland), United States (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Manhattan, nationwide), United Kingdom (London, Carnaby Street, nationwide), Canada (Vancouver), Europe (Germany, Netherlands), Japan (Tokyo), China (Shanghai), Singapore
Emerging Pattern: E-commerce brands accelerating into physical retail; international activewear, wellness and outdoor brands choosing Australia as their Asia-Pacific beachhead; luxury continuing to invest in flagship and precinct formats despite global market pressure; suburban shopping centres successfully attracting luxury tenants through deliberate precinct investment; Australian brands staking a claim on the world stage via London and New York; the homewares category emerging as one of 2026's most active physical retail battlegrounds with Kmart, Adairs, Mocka and Castlery all making significant format moves simultaneously; global fashion giants doubling down on fewer, larger, more experiential flagships in key cities rather than chasing store count growth; luxury brands increasingly using physical retail to tell stories that cannot be told online, with Hermès Bond Street and Canada Goose Oakridge Park both demonstrating that the future of luxury retail is immersive, handcrafted and deeply human; premium outdoor brands including Arc'teryx, Birkenstock, Kathmandu and Salomon embedding repair, circularity and community into their physical retail formats, signalling a new standard for what a brand store is expected to do; and in the United States, Target and Barnes & Noble are making bold counter-bets on physical retail at scale, proving that conviction and reinvention can reverse even the most entrenched decline narratives. Read more in our Retail Store Closures, Bankruptcies and Administrations 2026 tracker.
July 2026
Sports Direct
Country: United Kingdom (Australian Network Expansion)
Category: Sports & Active Apparel Retail
Event: Ongoing National Rollout / Third Australian Store Opening
Footprint Impact: Third Australian store opened at Westfield Miranda, NSW on 8 July 2026, the second NSW location following Chatswood Chase (March 2026). A third store operates at Fountain Gate, Victoria. Eight stores total expected to open by end of 2026 under local licensee Accent Group.
Notes: Sports Direct's Australian rollout is gathering pace, and the corporate backdrop makes it one of the more intriguing retail stories of 2026. The expansion is being delivered by Accent Group under a licensing arrangement, at the same time as UK parent Frasers Group (owned by Mike Ashley) is pursuing a full takeover bid of Accent Group itself. If the takeover succeeds, Sports Direct's Australian expansion would move from a licensing model to a direct ownership play, a significant shift in how one of the UK's largest sports retailers approaches the Australian market. Accent Group CEO Daniel Agostinelli described Miranda as "a thriving retail precinct with a growing customer base," and noted that Australian consumers are "increasingly looking for value, choice and accessibility", a positioning that places Sports Direct squarely in the gap left by the contraction of mid-market sports retail. The store stocks Nike, Adidas, and Puma alongside exclusive Sports Direct house brands including USA Pro, Karrimor and Sondico.
HOKA, Pitt Street Mall Sydney
Country: United States / Deckers Brands (Australian Market Entry / First Flagship)
Category: Performance Footwear & Apparel Retail
Event: First Australian Flagship Store Opening
Footprint Impact: First standalone HOKA flagship store in Australia opened at Pitt Street Mall, Sydney, July 2026, in partnership with Accent Group. Location on one of Australia's highest-traffic retail strips alongside Arc'teryx QVB, Pop Mart and major luxury flagships.
Notes: A significant milestone for one of the fastest-growing footwear brands in the world. HOKA has built extraordinary momentum in Australia through specialty running retailers and multi-brand accounts, making the move to a dedicated flagship a natural next step in the brand's direct-to-consumer evolution. The store includes an in-store partnership with The Running Room, a physio and podiatry practice, bringing expert movement and footwear advice directly into the retail experience — a compelling example of service-led retail elevating a footwear purchase beyond a transaction. The flagship was delivered in partnership with Accent Group, HOKA's key Australian retail partner, and represents months of planning and site negotiation to secure one of Australia's most coveted retail addresses. Another premium footwear brand planting a major flag on Pitt Street Mall in 2026, joining a growing cluster of experiential and brand-led flagships on Australia's most competitive retail strip.
Faradays
Country: New Zealand (Auckland)
Category: Department Store (New Concept)
Event: New Store Opening / Reinvented Department Store Format
Footprint Impact: $30 million, three-level, 3,000 sqm department store at 131 Queen St, Auckland, opening August 2026 inside the heritage-listed Milne & Choyce building. Around 130 brands confirmed, with 80 new jobs created.
Notes: One of the most ambitious retail concepts to launch in Australasia in years. Faradays aims to reinvent the traditional department store model, combining fashion, food, events and experiences under one roof across three distinct levels: a ground floor dedicated to discovery, a first floor luxury experience with valet and hospitality, and a basement conceived as a cultural hub. The store fills the void left by Smith & Caughey's closure after 145 years, with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown describing it as "a shot in the arm for the CBD." Designed by Fearon Hay Architects, the store arrives at a moment when the global department store format is under significant structural pressure. A bold counter-bet on the future of physical retail.
June 2026
Hermès - Bond Street Maison
Country: France (UK Flagship Expansion)
Category: Luxury Fashion & Leather Goods
Event: Major Flagship Opening / New Maison Format
Footprint Impact: New Hermès maison opened on Bond Street, London, spanning nearly 20,000 sqft across 55 rooms, five floors and six interconnected heritage buildings dating from 1769.
Notes: One of the most significant luxury retail openings of 2026 globally. The Bond Street maison is not a store in any conventional sense. It is a village, as CEO Axel Dumas describes it, with a courtyard now capped by a steel and glass roof designed by Lord Norman Foster. The building carries extraordinary historical weight, having housed Henry Irving, Florence Nightingale and an original Victorian lift restored by the only remaining Victorian lift mechanic in the UK. RDAI architects employed British craftspeople throughout, with bespoke commissions including wallpaper by illustrator Katie Scott and wall coverings made in Lancashire using Victorian-era techniques. London-exclusive products were created for the opening. The maison also houses a dedicated repair studio where 700 bags were restored last year alone, a pointed statement about longevity over disposability. A masterclass in how luxury retail can use heritage, craft and place to create something genuinely irreplaceable.
Canada Goose, Oakridge Park
Country: Canada (New Global Concept / Vancouver)
Category: Luxury Outerwear & Apparel Retail
Event: Canadian Debut of New Global Retail Concept
Footprint Impact: 4,269 sqft store opened at Oakridge Park, Vancouver, Canada Goose's second Vancouver location and one of 88 stores globally. The new concept, developed with architecture firm Snøhetta, was first introduced in Paris, Milan and Chicago before arriving in Canada.
Notes: Canada Goose is using Oakridge Park to make a clear statement about where luxury retail is heading. President Carrie Baker described the shift plainly: "It's moving from product-led to experience and engagement-led." The store is built around a central hearth gathering space, a dedicated Vault for personalised clienteling, and curated artwork by Indigenous artists including Sonny Assu and references to Kenojuak Ashevak, weaving Canadian identity into every element of the physical environment. Baker's framing of the store's purpose is worth noting: "You can have the best environment in the world and the best product, but if you don't have the best people working in your stores, it doesn't matter." Canada Goose reported revenue of $1.53 billion in FY26 with DTC comparable sales up 8.4 per cent, growth driven by selective expansion rather than scale. A compelling case study in how a brand best known for one product category is using physical retail to reposition itself as a year-round luxury house.
Zara - Shanghai Flagship
Country: Spain / Inditex (China Expansion)
Category: Fast Fashion & Apparel Retail
Event: New Global Concept Flagship Opening
Footprint Impact: New flagship opened 6 June 2026 on Huaihai Road, Shanghai, spanning 2,000 sqm across five floors carrying men's and women's collections, footwear, handbags, the Athleticz line, Zara Salon and fragrances. Sister brand Massimo Dutti also preparing a flagship nearby at Shanghai Hong Kong Plaza.
Notes: A significant statement of intent from Inditex in China, marking 20 years of Zara in the market. The Shanghai flagship is part of a broader Inditex strategy of closing smaller locations and doubling down on fewer, larger, more experiential flagships in key cities across Asia Pacific, following similar upgrades at Nanjing Road in 2025. Designed by Zara Architecture Studio in collaboration with AIM, the store represents the brand's latest global retail concept brought to the Chinese market. The simultaneous preparation of a Massimo Dutti flagship nearby signals Inditex is treating Shanghai's Huaihai Road as a multi-brand luxury and premium retail cluster, not just a single store investment. A masterclass in how global fashion giants are using flagship investment to reinforce brand positioning in high-stakes markets rather than simply chasing store count growth.
New Balance - Grey Store
Country: United States (Australian Expansion / New Format)
Category: Footwear & Apparel Retail
Event: First Grey Store in Melbourne / New Premium Concept Format
Footprint Impact: 201 sqm Grey Store opened at Albert Coates Lane, QV Melbourne, June 2026, the brand's third Grey Store in Asia Pacific and most elevated retail format in the region.
Notes: A significant step up from the standard New Balance DTC store format we noted opening in Brisbane last month. The Grey Store concept is deliberately exclusive, stocking only 'Made in USA' and 'Made in UK' lines, limited releases and collaborations not available through standard retail channels, in a gallery-style space designed for curated discovery rather than volume sales. Apac DTC director Jonathan Clark described Melbourne as having "an incredible fashion-forward community" suited to the concept. New Balance now has two very different physical retail formats operating in Australia simultaneously, a standard DTC network and a premium concept tier, a sophisticated multi-format strategy that signals serious long-term commitment to the Australian market. Worth watching as a case study in how global footwear brands are using physical retail to protect premium positioning while scaling through broader distribution.
Kmart - K Home
Country: Australia
Category: Discount Homewares & Furniture Retail
Event: New Format Trial / Concept Store Opening
Footprint Impact: First K Home standalone concept store opening mid-June 2026 in Box Hill South, Victoria, a 3,800 sqm space dedicated entirely to furniture, storage, home styling and everyday essentials under the Anko brand.
Notes: Kmart is creating its own version of a 'mini-IKEA,' dropping its familiar red and blue branding in favour of an orange colour scheme and a showroom-style layout. The concept stocks furniture and storage pieces previously only available online, with styled room sets throughout. Wesfarmers has given no detail on further rollout plans, but has signalled the insights will inform how it 'continues to evolve its store experience', widely read as a pilot for a national format. Positioned to compete for a slice of Australia's $27.5 billion furniture and interiors market, with Anko central to Wesfarmers' ambition to double Kmart's turnover. One of the most strategically interesting new retail concepts to emerge in Australia in 2026.
Mocka
Country: New Zealand / Australia (First Australian Store)
Category: Furniture & Homewares Retail
Event: First Australian Store Opening (E-commerce to Physical)
Footprint Impact: First Australian store opening mid-June 2026 in Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast. A second Victorian store confirmed for H2 2026, alongside a Christchurch, New Zealand store opening in July 2026.
Notes: One of the most compelling e-commerce-to-physical stories in Australian retail. Founded in 2007 and acquired by Adairs Group in 2020, Mocka has built a loyal family furniture audience online for nearly two decades. The Maroochydore store features styled room displays, digital pricing screens and a children's play area. CEO Catherine Williamson described the opening as 'a significant milestone as we continue to evolve our retail footprint and bring the brand to life as an extension of our ecommerce experience.'
Kathmandu, Melbourne CBD
Country: New Zealand (Australian Flagship Upgrade)
Category: Outdoor & Lifestyle Apparel Retail
Event: Next-Generation Flagship Store Opening
Footprint Impact: New next-generation flagship opened at St Collins Lane, 260 Collins Street, Melbourne, returning to the same address as the brand's first Melbourne store opened in 1987.
Notes: A nostalgic and strategic return. CEO Megan Welch described the store as bringing the brand's "future retail vision to life", digital-first, bright and contemporary, with a large apparel selection. A symbolic full-circle moment for a brand that has been through significant ownership and strategic changes in recent years, now under KMD Brands alongside Rip Curl and Oboz.
Birkenstock, Melbourne
Country: Germany (Australian Expansion / New Format)
Category: Footwear Retail
Event: New Concept Store Opening / Australian HQ Relocation
Footprint Impact: New store in a heritage brewery complex building in Melbourne, housing Birkenstock's retail store, its local Australian headquarters and the brand's largest repair workshop in the world.
Notes: A triple-use flagship that goes well beyond traditional retail. The brick and wood-panelled fit-out reflects the brand's signature material palette and ethos. The inclusion of the world's largest Birkenstock repair workshop is a powerful statement about longevity and the circular economy, echoing Arc'teryx's ReBIRD approach. A growing pattern in 2026: premium brands using repair and aftercare services as a physical retail differentiator.
May 2026
ALO Yoga
Country: United States (Australian Market Entry)
Category: Activewear & Wellness Retail
Event: First Australian Store Opening / Market Entry
Footprint Impact: First Australian store opened 22 May 2026 at Chatswood Chase, Sydney - a 315 sqm space described as a "sanctuary" bringing together fashion, movement, mindfulness and community. Three additional Australian locations planned for 2026, including Bondi Junction.
Notes: ALO's international CEO Benedetta Petruzzo described Sydney as a "natural fit," with the Australian launch forming part of a broader global expansion strategy. ALO has built a significant following in Australia through social media before opening a single local store - a textbook demand-first, then physical model.
Arc'teryx, QVB Sydney
Country: Canada (Australian Flagship Expansion)
Category: Outdoor & Technical Apparel Retail
Event: Largest Southern Hemisphere Flagship / First Alpha Store in Australia
Footprint Impact: 476 sqm flagship opened 22 May 2026 across three levels inside the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, the largest apparel-based retail tenancy in the QVB and the largest Arc'teryx store in the Southern Hemisphere. Takes Australian store count to 10, with further ANZ expansion planned.
Notes: A significant moment for Arc'teryx in Australia. The QVB flagship introduces Australia's first Alpha Store concept, designed to bring together the full brand expression across product, innovation, community and immersive experience. The store houses Australia's largest dedicated Veilance retail space and a ReBIRD Service Centre offering technical cleaning, reproofing and repairs - a pointed statement about longevity and circularity. ANZ Country Director Bianca Bernardi described it as "our most complete expression of that philosophy in Australia to date." With outdoor premium brands including Salomon, The North Face and now Arc'teryx all expanding simultaneously in Australia, the technical outdoor category is becoming one of 2026's most active physical retail battlegrounds.
New Balance
Country: United States (Australian Network Expansion)
Category: Footwear & Apparel Retail
Event: First Brisbane Store / Ongoing DTC Network Expansion
Footprint Impact: First standalone DTC store in Brisbane opened at Westfield Chermside, May 2026, a 300 sqm space and the brand's 10th Australian standalone store.
Notes: While New Balance has long had Brisbane presence through third-party retailers and an outlet store, the Chermside opening signals a deliberate shift towards direct-to-consumer in Queensland. The brand reported worldwide sales of $9.2 billion in 2025 and continues to scale its owned-retail network in key Australian cities. The opening activation, partnering with K-beauty brand Laneige and local florist The Flower Bar, is a strong example of physical retail launches being used as community brand-building moments.
Olive Young
Country: South Korea (United States Market Entry)
Category: Beauty & Wellness Retail
Event: First US Store Opening / Market Entry
Footprint Impact: First US flagship opened 29 May 2026 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, an 8,647 sqft space stocking 400 brands and 5,000 SKUs. A second location at Westfield Century City, LA confirmed to follow within weeks.
Notes: A landmark moment for K-beauty going from digital phenomenon to physical retail presence in the world's largest beauty market. The store is broken into category-specific zones with water-basin testing stations, skin-scanning technology and in-store skincare lessons, positioning it as a 'beauty playground' rather than a traditional retailer. The US market was a strategic inevitability: more than half of Olive Young's global online sales in H1 2025 were generated by US customers. One of the most strategically interesting beauty retail entries of 2026, and a format that will be closely watched by Mecca, Sephora and Adore Beauty alike.
The North Face
Country: United States (Australian Network Expansion)
Category: Outdoor & Apparel Retail
Event: First Western Australian Store Opening
Footprint Impact: First store in Perth opening mid-2026, marking The North Face's first physical presence in Western Australia.
Notes: The North Face already operates stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, making Perth a natural next step in its domestic network expansion. The brand's move into WA mirrors the state-by-state rollout strategy we're seeing from By Charlotte and others, and reflects growing retailer confidence in the Perth market as a viable standalone destination.
Adairs
Country: Australia
Category: Homewares & Lifestyle Retail
Event: New Home Concept Store Format Launch
Footprint Impact: First home concept store opened at Westfield Bondi Junction, Sydney, May 2026 under group CEO Elle Roseby's accelerating lifestyle-led retail strategy.
Notes: A significant format evolution for one of Australia's most established homewares retailers. The Bondi Junction concept store represents Adairs' answer to the same homewares format question Kmart is asking with K Home and Mocka is testing in Maroochydore. Three distinct businesses under the Adairs Group all betting on physical homewares retail simultaneously is a compelling category signal. Notably, the concept store launch happened the same month Adairs announced the full closure of its 7 New Zealand stores - a clear signal that the group is doubling down on Australian physical retail while exiting underperforming international markets. Two very different strategic moves, same month, same company. Read more in our Retail Store Closures tracker.
Cartier — Chatswood Chase
Country: France (Australian Expansion)
Category: Luxury Jewellery Retail
Event: New Flagship Opening
Footprint Impact: Full Cartier boutique opened at Chatswood Chase, Sydney, May 2026, described as bringing the "full universe of Cartier" to the newly redesigned luxury precinct alongside Dior, Bulgari and ALO Yoga.
Notes: Chatswood Chase is quietly becoming one of Australia's most significant luxury retail precincts outside the CBD, with Cartier joining a growing cluster of international luxury flagships. Worth watching as a case study in how suburban shopping centres can successfully attract luxury tenants by investing in precinct design and positioning.
See's Candies
Country: United States (Australian Market Entry)
Category: Confectionery Retail
Event: First Australian Store Opening / Market Entry
Footprint Impact: First Australian store opened in Queensland, May 2026, via a licensed retail partnership.
Notes: See's Candies is a Berkshire Hathaway-owned American confectionery brand with near-cult status in the US, where Warren Buffett has described it as one of his favourite businesses. The Australian debut via a licensed partnership model, rather than direct investment, is an interesting market entry strategy worth noting. Queensland as the entry point rather than Sydney or Melbourne is an unusual choice that suggests a deliberate regional strategy.
El Jannah
Country: Australia
Category: F&B / Quick Service Restaurant
Event: Rapid Network Expansion
Footprint Impact: 16 new stores opening across 16 weeks, including a first Sydney CBD location, as the Lebanese-Australian charcoal chicken brand expands well beyond its Western Sydney heartland.
Notes: A compelling case study in scaling a cult regional brand nationally. Accompanied by a new national menu range, the expansion signals El Jannah's ambition to compete directly with mainstream QSR chains on their own turf.
Victoria Beckham
Country: United Kingdom (United States Market Entry)
Category: Luxury Fashion Retail
Event: First Store Outside UK / US Market Entry
Footprint Impact: First store outside the UK opening in Miami, 2026. Stores in Paris and New York also confirmed as part of a broader global retail expansion.
Notes: A major milestone for a brand that has operated with a single standalone store, Dover Street, London, since 2014, for over a decade. Miami was chosen for its personal resonance (Victoria and David Beckham have had homes there since 2020) and its alignment with the brand's North American growth strategy. The expansion follows the success of David Beckham's Netflix documentary and Victoria's own upcoming docuseries, and forms part of a broader ambition to reach $1 billion in revenue. The brand has just achieved profitability for the first time and is now accelerating into physical retail.
April 2026
Adore Beauty
Country: Australia
Category: Beauty & Cosmetics Retail
Event: National Store Rollout (E-commerce to Physical)
Footprint Impact: Opened its first Gold Coast store at Robina Town Centre on 30 April 2026, part of an accelerating national rollout. The ASX-listed retailer is on track to have 20 stores nationally by end of 2026 after securing deals with several of Australia's largest landlords.
Notes: One of Australia's most watched e-commerce-to-physical plays. Adore launched its first-ever bricks-and-mortar store in February 2025 and has since expanded rapidly into NSW, VIC, WA and QLD. The stores feature digital skin analysis technology, in-store treatments and endless aisle kiosks, a clear attempt to out-experience Mecca and Sephora rather than simply match them on range.
Castlery
Country: Singapore (United States Market Entry)
Category: Furniture & Homewares Retail
Event: First US Flagship Store Opening (E-commerce to Physical)
Footprint Impact: First US flagship opened in Chelsea, Manhattan, April 2026, a 3,000 sqft space after six years of US online sales.
Notes: A textbook demand-first, then physical model. Castlery founder Declan Ee spent six years building a loyal US customer base online before committing to a physical presence, a disciplined and increasingly common approach for DTC furniture brands. The Chelsea location is strategically chosen for its design-literate, high-income residential community. Notably, Castlery already has physical stores in Singapore and Australia, making this its most ambitious international market entry yet.
Books Kinokuniya
Country: Japan (Australian Network Expansion)
Category: Specialty Book Retail
Event: First New Australian Store in 24 Years
Footprint Impact: Second Australian store opened at Westfield Chatswood, NSW on 9 April 2026, first new location since the original Neutral Bay store in 1996. A Melbourne store is also understood to be in planning.
Notes: One of the more quietly significant retail openings of 2026. The Chatswood store carves out a distinct identity in a Westfield that already has a Dymocks and QBD, leaning into East Asian literature, manga, manhwa and Japanese-language titles - a format-within-a-format that speaks directly to a deeply engaged community. At a time when physical bookselling is under pressure globally, Kinokuniya's expansion is a vote of confidence in experiential, curation-led specialty retail.
March 2026
WeWearAustralian
Country: Australia (United States Market Entry)
Category: Multi-Brand Fashion Retail / Australian Designer Showcase
Event: First US Store Opening / Market Entry
Footprint Impact: 5,000 sqft flagship at 69 Mercer Street, SoHo, Manhattan, split across ground floor and lower level. Launched April 2026.
Notes: A genuinely exciting moment for Australian fashion on the world stage. WeWearAustralian is a curated multi-brand concept stocking Australian designers on a consignment model, with brands at launch including Akubra, Bondi Born, Bared Footwear, Lee Mathews, Silk Laundry and Viktoria & Woods. Two successful New York pop-ups in 2025 generated nearly $1 million AUD in combined revenue across six days, with US website traffic rising 149% year-on-year, compelling proof-of-concept before committing to a permanent lease.
ECQ Outlet (Eastern Creek Quarter)
Country: Australia (Western Sydney)
Category: Outlet Retail / Mixed-Use Precinct
Event: New Precinct Opening
Footprint Impact: Opened 25 March 2026, Greater Western Sydney's first dedicated outlet retail destination, featuring around 100 stores across 20,000 sqm, 18 new dining destinations and 1,100 car spaces.
Notes: A $150 million development by Frasers Property Australia addressing a significant undersupply of outlet retail in NSW — just one of four outlet centres serving a population of 5.5 million in Greater Sydney. The precinct integrates outlet shopping with dining, entertainment and large-format retail, designed as a multi-experience destination rather than a traditional mall. Anchor retailers at opening include ASICS (Australia's largest ASICS outlet store), Adidas, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, Fila and Rockwear, a mix of global sportswear giants and accessible fashion brands offering a minimum of 70% off ordinary retail prices.
By Charlotte
Country: Australia
Category: Jewellery & Accessories Retail
Event: First Western Australian Market Entry
Footprint Impact: Three Perth boutiques opened simultaneously in late March 2026, Claremont Quarter, Karrinyup Shopping Centre and Westfield Booragoon, bringing the brand to 14 locations nationally.
Notes: Perth is the home city of founder Charlotte Blakeney, making the Western Australian entry a particularly personal milestone. The simultaneous three-store launch mirrors By Charlotte's Victorian entry strategy and signals confidence in the Perth market. A strong example of an Australian-born jewellery brand executing a disciplined, state-by-state national rollout.
Whole Foods Market
Country: United States (UK Expansion)
Category: Grocery & Specialty Food Retail
Event: Major UK Network Expansion
Footprint Impact: Six new UK stores announced March 2026, opening across Angel, Liverpool Street, Notting Hill Gate, Wood Wharf, Monument and St James's - doubling the UK store count to 12.
Notes: Whole Foods opened its first new UK location in over a decade in March 2025 and is now accelerating rapidly. Backed by Amazon's distribution infrastructure and riding renewed consumer appetite for premium grocery, this is one of the most significant UK grocery expansions in years. Notably, Whole Foods' UK expansion runs parallel to parent company Amazon's full exit from its own Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go convenience formats in the US - a telling signal about which physical grocery proposition Amazon believes has long-term legs. Experiential, premium and brand-led wins; tech-novelty convenience loses.
January / February 2026
LSKD
Country: Australia
Category: Activewear & Streetwear Retail
Event: Major Domestic Network Expansion
Footprint Impact: 30 stores at the start of 2026 spanning Australia, New Zealand and the US, with 12 additional stores confirmed to open across 2026. Stores 30 (Hobart, TAS), 31 (Werribee, VIC) and 32 (Penrith, NSW) confirmed in H1 2026.
Notes: One of the great Australian retail growth stories of the decade. Founded by Jason Daniel from his BMX and motocross roots, LSKD has evolved from a local t-shirt label into a global activewear brand generating over $200 million in annual sales, entering physical retail only in 2022 and scaling to 32 stores in under four years. Each opening features community activations, product swaps and exclusive merchandise, turning store launches into brand-building events. CEO Jason Daniel has publicly stated his ambition to reach $1 billion in annual revenue by 2032.
Superdry & Co.
Country: United Kingdom / Europe
Category: Apparel Retail
Event: Brand Relaunch & Major Network Expansion
Footprint Impact: 21 new stores planned across the UK and Europe in 2026 - 15 in the UK and 6 in mainland Europe including Berlin and Utrecht.
Notes: A genuine comeback story. Following years of financial distress and store closures, Superdry has rebranded as Superdry & Co., adopted a more premium store format and is now aggressively expanding. A case study in brand and physical retail reinvention worth watching.
Garage
Country: Canada (UK & European Market Entry)
Category: Women's Apparel Retail
Event: First UK & European Store Openings
Footprint Impact: First UK store on London's Oxford Street debuted spring 2026, with two additional Manchester locations and wider European expansion planned throughout the year.
Notes: Another North American brand choosing the UK as its European beachhead, a consistent pattern in 2026 as international apparel brands capitalise on available high street real estate and strong consumer appetite for new entrants.
Late 2025 - Notable Entries (Backdated)
Burnside Village Stage 6 Expansion
Country: Australia (Adelaide, South Australia)
Category: Luxury & Premium Retail Precinct
Event: Major Centre Expansion / Multiple Market Entries
Footprint Impact: The largest private sector retail property expansion in South Australian history — doubling the centre's footprint to 38,500 sqm and introducing over 80 new retailers in the first phase, with a third wave of elevated and premium retailers confirmed from June 2026.
Notes: Stage 6 introduced a new luxury experience to South Australia, with many brands making their first entry into the state. Headline names include Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton (pop-up), Gucci, Paspaley, Watches of Switzerland, Ralph Lauren, Zimmermann, Georg Jensen, Camilla and Marc, Oroton, Elka Collective, Kivari, Aje (second SA standalone boutique), Nude Lucy, MECCA (largest SA location, two-storey flagship at 950 sqm), Coco Republic (first and only SA store at 1,500 sqm), UNIQLO, Arc'teryx and Salomon. Director Andrew Cohen noted: 'Adelaide is not a huge market for these brands, so we've had to evidence to them that Adelaide is ready.' One of the most compelling physical retail investment stories in Australia right now, and a powerful counter-narrative to the closures dominating headlines.
Princess Polly
Country: Australia (US-first, now domestic physical retail)
Category: Women's Fashion Retail
Event: First Australian Store Opening & Ongoing Domestic Rollout
Footprint Impact: First Australian store opened at Westfield Bondi Junction, Sydney, late 2025. More Australian store openings confirmed for 2026 at undisclosed locations, alongside continued US expansion.
Notes: A fascinating inversion of the usual brand journey, Princess Polly built its physical retail presence across around a dozen US locations before opening a single store in its home country. The Bondi Junction store features first-to-market transparent window LED technology and 90s-inspired TVs. The brand makes up half of parent company A.K.A. Brands' total revenue, underscoring the commercial weight behind this domestic expansion.
Pop Mart
Country: China (Australian Flagship Expansion)
Category: IP / Collectible Toy Retail
Event: Sydney Flagship Store Opening
Footprint Impact: Sydney flagship at Westfield Sydney, Pitt Street Mall, opened December 2025, 600 sqm across two levels, with a reported investment of up to $45 million. Brand now operates 13 stores and 33 Robo Shop kiosks across Australia.
Notes: One of the most significant Chinese retail expansions in Australia to date. Pop Mart's blind-box model has built a passionate and demographically young consumer base, and the Sydney flagship signals long-term commitment to the Australian market. The brand has 550+ outlets across 30 countries globally and continues to accelerate its Australian presence.
Chloé
Country: France (Australian Market Entry)
Category: Luxury Fashion Retail
Event: First Australian Store Opening
Footprint Impact: First Australian boutique opened in Sydney's CBD luxury precinct, Westfield Sydney, January 2026, just over 100 sqm, featuring ready-to-wear womenswear, leather goods, footwear and accessories.
Notes: The first time the French fashion house has established a standalone presence in Australia. The pared-back, earthy fit-out embodies Chloé's signature bohemian aesthetic. A notable luxury market entry that underscores continued international brand confidence in the Australian premium retail market.
Balenciaga
Country: Spain / Kering Group (Australian Flagship Expansion)
Category: Luxury Fashion Retail
Event: Largest Australian Store Opening
Footprint Impact: Biggest Australian store yet opened at Westfield Sydney, a two-storey brutalist concrete fit-out housing ready-to-wear, footwear, eyewear, jewellery and the brand's newly launched fragrance range.
Notes: A significant footprint upgrade for Balenciaga in Australia, reflecting continued investment in the premium end of the Australian market. The raw minimalist design, exposed concrete across two levels, is a strong statement of brand identity in one of Sydney's most competitive retail precincts.
Country Road, Brisbane CBD
Country: Australia
Category: Premium Lifestyle & Apparel Retail
Event: First Brisbane CBD Flagship / Heritage Adaptive Reuse
Footprint Impact: Two-storey flagship opened 29 August 2025 in the heritage-listed former Bank of New South Wales building at 33 Queen Street Mall, Brisbane. The store spans ground floor and mezzanine, housing women's, men's, children's, home and pet ranges.
Notes: One of the most beautifully executed heritage adaptive reuse retail projects in Australia in recent years, designed by Moloney Architects and FOLAR Architecture. The double-height banking chamber, original marble floors, stone benches and ornate Corinthian columns were carefully restored, with contemporary insertions including spotted gum wall cladding, a Queenslander-inspired timber staircase and locally made rugs. The store was a recipient of a Commendation Award at the 2026 AIA Greater Brisbane Architecture Awards. The opening comes as Country Road simultaneously closes its Sydney CBD QVB flagship, reflecting a broader network rationalisation, exiting legacy CBD locations in favour of landmark destination flagships in growth markets.
Lindberg
Country: Denmark (Australian & Southern Hemisphere Market Entry)
Category: Luxury Eyewear Retail
Event: First Australian Store / First Southern Hemisphere Store
Footprint Impact: First Australian store opened on George Street, Sydney CBD, in partnership with local independent optician The Eye Piece - first location in the entire southern hemisphere.
Notes: A significant luxury market entry. Lindberg is known globally for its use of titanium, gold, horn, wood and diamonds in eyewear design. The George Street location features floor-to-ceiling windows and interiors designed by Lindberg's own team, bringing Danish design DNA to every element of the space.
MAAP
Country: Australia (Sydney Market Entry)
Category: Premium Cycling Apparel Retail
Event: First Sydney Store Opening
Footprint Impact: First Sydney store opened in Darlinghurst, January 2026, designed by Clare Cousins Architects with a terracotta palette, stainless steel and decorative ceiling moulding. The brand also has a presence in Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Seoul, Berlin and Taipei.
Notes: Melbourne-born MAAP has become a cult premium cycling brand globally since launching in 2014. The Sydney store follows its flagship in Collingwood and marks the brand's continued commitment to physical retail as a community-building tool. A strong example of an Australian brand with genuine international credibility returning to plant a flag on home soil.
RM Williams
Country: Australia (NSW Network Expansion)
Category: Heritage Footwear & Apparel Retail
Event: Three New NSW Stores in One Week
Footprint Impact: Three new New South Wales stores opened within one week - Chatswood Chase, Castle Towers and Hornsby (Westfield) - as part of ongoing national network expansion.
Notes: A 93-year-old heritage brand aggressively expanding its physical footprint is a notable signal in 2026's retail environment. The stores offer master boot fittings and feature original artwork by Australian artists. RM Williams continues to balance its deep Australian heritage with a growing international presence.
Google
Country: United States (Japan Market Entry)
Category: Technology Retail
Event: First International Flagship Store Outside the US
Footprint Impact: First flagship store outside the United States opening in Tokyo, Japan, summer 2026.
Notes: Google has operated retail stores in New York and Los Angeles, but this Tokyo opening marks the first time the brand has taken its physical retail concept international. A significant signal about big tech brands investing in experiential physical retail beyond their home markets, and a reminder that retail remains a powerful brand-building tool even for the world's largest technology companies.
Coming Soon - TBC 2026
The following openings have been confirmed or strongly signalled but are yet to receive official opening dates. We'll update this section as timelines are announced.
Muscle Republic — HEARTBEAT Concept Store
Country: Australia (Brookvale, NSW)
Category: Activewear & Gym Apparel
Event: First Physical Store Opening
Footprint Impact: First bricks-and-mortar HEARTBEAT concept store, Brookvale, NSW. Date TBC.
Notes: Muscle Republic, founded by Vic Gigliotti, has built a strong direct-to-consumer activewear brand with a highly engaged fitness community. The HEARTBEAT concept store represents the brand's first move into physical retail, a significant milestone for an Australian-born brand with growing international reach.
Mecca, Chadstone
Country: Australia
Category: Beauty & Wellness Retail
Event: Major Flagship Consolidation / New Format
Footprint Impact: Three existing Chadstone locations consolidating into a single 2,400 sqm next-generation flagship destination, more than doubling Mecca's footprint at the centre. Opening late 2026.
Notes: Mecca's most significant opening since the launch of its Bourke Street flagship in 2025, the new Chadstone destination will feature more than 200 beauty brands, over 50 bookable services, and specialist concepts including Perfumeria, Skin Studio, Beauty Atelier, Aesthetica and Apothecary. Designed by Studio McQualter, the same firm behind the Bourke Street flagship, the store will feature a dedicated external entrance, natural light and indoor-outdoor design. A compelling example of how prestige beauty retail is doubling down on experiential, service-led formats rather than simply expanding store count.
Books Kinokuniya - Melbourne
Country: Japan (Australian Network Expansion)
Category: Specialty Book Retail
Event: First Melbourne Store Opening
Footprint Impact: Melbourne store confirmed via job advertisements for a Store Manager, with a team of up to 10-15 staff. Location TBC — widely reported to be in the Melbourne Central precinct. Opening expected H2 2026.
Notes: Following the April 2026 Chatswood opening, Kinokuniya is now actively recruiting for its Melbourne store, confirming the expansion is imminent. This would mark the brand's first presence outside NSW and its first expansion beyond Sydney in its 30-year Australian history. The Melbourne announcement generated significant community excitement online, underscoring the depth of appetite for the format beyond Sydney.
ALO Yoga - Additional Australian Locations
Country: United States (Australian Expansion)
Category: Activewear & Wellness Retail
Event: Second Australian Store Opening
Footprint Impact: Confirmed opening at Westfield Bondi Junction, Sydney, spanning 700 sqm across two levels — more than double the size of the Chatswood Chase sanctuary. Date TBC but confirmed for 2026.
Notes: The Bondi Junction store will be significantly larger than the May 2026 Chatswood Chase opening, reflecting ALO's confidence in the Australian market. At 700 sqm across two levels it will be one of the larger ALO sanctuaries globally and signals a premium, destination-led approach for its second Australian location.
Mocka - VIC Store
Country: New Zealand / Australia
Category: Furniture & Homewares Retail
Event: Second Australian Store Opening
Footprint Impact: Victorian store confirmed for H2 2026. Location TBC.
Notes: Following the June 2026 Maroochydore opening, Mocka has confirmed Victorian expansion as part of its broader physical retail strategy across Australia and New Zealand.
Burnside Village Stage 6 - Phase 3
Country: Australia (Adelaide, South Australia)
Category: Luxury & Premium Retail Precinct
Event: Further Precinct Expansion
Footprint Impact: Third wave of elevated and premium stores approved for opening from June 2026, including expansion along the eastern side into the Portrush Road-facing carpark.
Notes: The Cohen Group has received approval to further extend Burnside Village to accommodate additional retailers as the precinct continues to evolve into South Australia's most significant luxury retail destination.
Country Road, Chatswood Chase Sydney
Country: Australia
Category: Premium Lifestyle & Apparel Retail
Event: Three New NSW Stores
Footprint Impact: Three new stores confirmed at Chatswood Chase, Sydney, opening October 2026.
Notes: Part of Country Road Group's broader investment in its store network, with 10 new or refurbished stores planned by end of 2026. Simultaneous with the closure of its longstanding Sydney QVB flagship, a clear signal of the group's strategy to exit legacy CBD locations in favour of premium suburban and precinct environments.
Target (US)
Country: United States
Category: Mass Market / General Merchandise Retail
Event: Major Network Expansion (30+ New Stores in 2026)
Footprint Impact: 11 stores opening in July 2026 across 10 US states, as part of a plan to open 30+ stores in 2026 and 300+ by 2035. All new locations exceed Target's 125,000 sqft chain average.
Notes: A significant counter-narrative to the US retail doom story. Target is backing physical retail with a $5 billion capital investment plan in 2026, covering new stores, 130+ remodels and major payroll investment. CEO Michael Fiddelke has positioned Target as a "trend-forward" specialty-adjacent retailer rather than an everything store, and early results are validating the strategy, with Q1 net sales up 6.7% year on year. The 300-store, decade-long expansion plan signals genuine long-term conviction in the future of physical retail at scale.
Barnes & Noble (US)
Country: United States
Category: Specialty Book Retail
Event: Major Network Expansion / Brand Revival
Footprint Impact: 60 new store openings planned for 2026, following significant store additions in 2025. Part of a broader turnaround under new ownership and leadership.
Notes: One of the great retail comeback stories of the decade. Written off as recently as 2019 when it was acquired by hedge fund Elliott Advisors, Barnes & Noble has undergone a remarkable reinvention under CEO James Daunt, the same executive who turned around UK bookseller Waterstones. The strategy: give each store its own local identity, empower booksellers to curate their own shelves, strip out the corporate feel and make each location feel like an independent bookshop at scale. 60 new stores in a single year is extraordinary for a brand that was closing stores just five years ago. A masterclass in brand reinvention through localisation, and a direct counter to the narrative that physical book retail is finished.