Holiday Market Trends for 2026: What Partners Should Prepare For

Christmas markets, winter festivals, and seasonal pop-ups continue to grow every year — and so do expectations. Guests want seamless experiences, vendors want transparency, and operators want real-time control.

For Glownet partners, this shift creates a major opportunity. And because most holiday events finalize tech decisions months in advance, the time to prepare for 2026 is right now. Here are the key trends shaping next year’s winter season — and how partners can leverage them.

1. Cashless Is Now the Default

The days of “cash optional” are gone. Markets expect:

Faster transactions
Flexible payment options (RFID/eTag, card, softPOS, Card-Linked Payments)
Centralized reporting

Partners who bring a ready-to-deploy cashless ecosystem will win more deals.

2. Real-Time Data Is a Must-Have

Operators want insights they can use during the event, not after it’s over. This includes:

Live spend
Visitor flow
Vendor performance
Queue monitoring

Providing real-time dashboards instantly differentiates your offering. Glownet’s analytics modules track spending trends and peak hours, enabling organisers to make data-driven decisions on everything from menu optimization to staffing in real-time.

3. White-Label Tech Is Growing Fast

Holiday events are increasingly brand-driven. Operators want technology that fits their identity — not a third-party’s.

As a Glownet Partner, you can deliver:

Your brand
Your client relationships
Our infrastructure (wallets, POS, access control)

This combination is becoming the preferred model for major markets.

4. Vendors & Sponsors Expect ROI

Markets that can show measurable value attract better vendors and more sponsors.

The most requested insights include:

Spend per vendor & zone
Vendor comparison
Behavioural data
Dwell time

Partners who offer this level of reporting stand out instantly.

Glownet’s Marketplace environment provides independent vendors live access to their sales, commissions, and settlements. This full transparency and data access translate directly into measurable value and stronger ROI for all stakeholders.