The RAIN Alliance has announced that its flagship RAIN in Action Summit will return this autumn, with Madrid, Spain playing host from 29 September to 1 October 2026. Building on the success of last year’s sold-out event in Amsterdam, the summit promises to be the largest gathering yet of industry leaders, technology providers, and end users focused on RAIN RFID.
This year’s theme, “From Infrastructure to Impact,” reflects a significant shift in the conversation around UHF RAIN RFID technology. Where previous years focused heavily on the nuts and bolts of deployment, the 2026 summit turns its attention to what happens after the infrastructure is in place. How are businesses translating RAIN-enabled systems into tangible results? What does real-world impact look like across different sectors?
RAIN Alliance President and CEO Aileen Ryan emphasised the growing momentum behind the technology. Adoption continues to accelerate, with RAIN RFID now touching industries well beyond its traditional retail stronghold. Ryan pointed to the approaching reality of RAIN-enabled smartphones and their potential role in the circular economy, particularly in supporting Digital Product Passport compliance across the European Union and beyond.
For businesses still weighing up their RAIN RFID strategy, the message from the Alliance is clear: the groundwork laid now will determine how smoothly organisations can participate in the connected product ecosystem that is rapidly taking shape.
Tageos, this year’s Titanium Sponsor, echoed that sentiment. CEO Matthieu Picon highlighted the importance of collaboration across the entire value chain, from chip manufacturers and tag converters through to system integrators and brand owners. With demand for innovation running high and the pace of technological development showing no signs of slowing, the summit offers a rare opportunity to strengthen partnerships and align on shared goals.
The three-day programme will feature a mix of live technology demonstrations, end-user case studies, and hands-on workshops. Sessions on the agenda cover a broad range of topics, including how RAIN technology is helping manufacturers meet Digital Product Passport requirements, the use of NFC and UHF RAIN in smartphones for enhanced consumer engagement, healthcare applications that leverage RAIN connectivity, and the development of battery-free RAIN sensors for smart home environments.
Distribution and logistics also feature prominently, with sessions exploring how RAIN RFID can close the persistent gap between system-level and physical inventory counts. This remains one of the most compelling use cases for the technology, delivering measurable ROI through improved accuracy and reduced shrinkage.
Ryan also stressed the importance of interoperability as RAIN RFID deployments expand into new sectors. With activations now spanning retail, healthcare, automotive, and manufacturing, the ability of different systems to communicate seamlessly is more critical than ever. The summit brings together solution providers, technology partners, and policymakers to collaborate on standards-based approaches that ensure long-term compatibility.
Registration details and the full speaker agenda are available through the RAIN in Action website. For anyone involved in RAIN RFID, whether as a technology provider, end user, or industry observer, the Madrid summit looks set to be a defining event for the sector in 2026.
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