Shopify Winter Editions 2026: Everything you need to know

Shopify’s Editions Winter ‘26 is called the Renaissance Edition, and includes 150+ new updates. This edition includes bold Renaissance-style imagery, ushering in the “new world” of commerce powered by AI and agentic capabilities. 

This edition includes updates across the following categories: 

• Sidekick

• Agentic

• Online

• Retail

• Marketing 

• Checkout

• Operations

• Shop app

• B2B 

• Finanace

• Shipping

• Developer

Here’s a full list of what they launched, and why it matters for your business: 

What’s new in Shopify’s Winter 2026 Edition? 

Shopify's Renaissance Edition delivers 150+ updates centered on AI and agentic capabilities. The release transforms commerce with Sidekick evolving into an AI coworker, new agentic storefronts for selling inside AI chat platforms, and comprehensive improvements across retail, B2B, finance, and developer tools. This edition marks a fundamental shift toward AI-native commerce experiences.

Top 12 Shopify Editions Winter ‘26 Updates

This section breaks down the most impactful changes across 12 key areas of the platform. From Sidekick's evolution into a true business partner to revolutionary agentic storefronts, these updates represent Shopify's vision for the future of commerce. Each update addresses real merchant pain points while positioning businesses for success in an AI-first shopping landscape.

1. Sidekick is becoming your AI-coworker

Sidekick is evolving from “chatbot that answers questions” into “AI coworker that does the work with you.”

What’s new: 

• Proactive insights: Sidekick Pulse now surfaces ideas for what you should do next: promotions to run, trends to act on, and areas to optimize based on your store’s data.
  
  

• Custom apps on demand: Instead of hiring a developer for every small internal tool, you can ask Sidekick to build mini apps for things like:

  • Reorder recommendations

  • Returns and cancellation checks

  • Event prep tools

  • Bulk B2B importers

  • Internal task trackers
    
    

• Workflow automation with plain language: Describe the workflow you want (“When stock hits X, notify Y and tag Z”) and Sidekick builds it in Shopify Flow.
  
  

• Custom reporting without SQL skills: Sidekick can generate analytics reports and visualizations in the ShopifyQL editor, so you can go beyond the default dashboards.
  
  

• Creative and design help. Sidekick can:

  • Make theme tweaks based on your instructions

  • Clean up product photos, change backgrounds, expand canvases

  • Edit images from the Shopify mobile app

  • Help rewrite and refine emails in the Shopify Messaging email editor
    
    

• Reusable Skills and multi-step tasks: Turn your best prompts into reusable “Skills” and share them with the community. Sidekick can also now plan and execute multi-step tasks instead of handling everything one command at a time.
  
  

• Smarter, more embedded Sidekick:

  • Voice chat on mobile

  • Full-screen “wide mode” for complex work

  • App discovery and recommendations

  • Context-aware answers when you click on parts of the admin

  • Better memory of past conversations and preferences

  • Quick B2B company creation, money management via Shopify Balance

  • Custom blocks for any theme

Sidekick is becoming an AI-powered operator embedded into every part of your store, not just a support tool.

2. Agentic: Selling directly inside AI chats

AI chat interfaces like ChatGPT and Copilot are turning into new shopping channels. Shopify is building the infrastructure so your products don’t get left behind.

Shopify Agentic Storefronts

• Set up your product data once in Shopify.

• Shopify then makes your products discoverable and purchasable inside AI platforms like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity (with more on the way).

• You manage how your brand appears from a single place.

As AI chats become the default way people ask questions and shop, Agentic Storefronts make sure your catalog shows up where buyers are already spending their time.

3. Online store: Testing, themes, and high-variant catalogs

This edition's release gives you more control over a/b testing experimentation, storefront design, and large product catalogs.

Validate changes before you ship

• Rollouts: A/B testing and scheduled theme releases are now built into the admin. You can test different versions of your storefront and roll out the winner.

• Shopify SimGym: AI agents simulate shopper behavior using data from billions of real purchases, so you can test changes before making them live.

Build and manage your store faster

• Inline admin tools in the theme editor: Edit products, collections, markets, and metafields without leaving the theme editor.

• Theme generation on mobile: Generate, preview, and publish themes directly from the Shopify mobile app.

• Sell on WordPress: Use Shopify to power carts, checkout, and ecommerce functionality on a WordPress site via a plugin.

• Horizon theme upgrades: 250+ improvements, including better animations, more interactive sections, and performance boosts.

Catalog & merchandising upgrades

• 2048 variants per product: Huge win for stores with complex configurations (e.g. sizes, colors, lengths, materials).

• Unlisted product status: Hide products from search and collections, but keep them accessible via direct link.

• Better collection management: Duplicate collections and exclude products from smart collections with new conditions.

• Automatic discounts for specific customers: Target promotions at segments such as VIP customers without complicated workarounds.

• Combine bundle options: In the Bundles app, you can combine options like size + length into one clean selection.

• Global unit pricing: Show prices per weight/volume/length or quantity worldwide.

Discovery and setup improvements

• AI-powered domain name ideas

• Better theme search and filters

• AI-generated theme/store even before you create a Shopify account

• Easier sign-in and account management for customers (Shop, social login, updated email flows, customizable sign-in copy)

Tinker:

A sandbox app where you can try out new AI tools from Shopify in one place.

You get more power to test, design, and merchandise your store without needing extra tools or heavy dev work.

4. Retail: Stable, connected, and subscription-ready POS

For merchants who sell in-person, Shopify is focusing hard on reliability and performance.

Hardware and connectivity

• POS Hub:
  A new hardware hub offering:

  • Wired connections for devices

  • Built-in processing power

  • Automatic fault recovery

  • Secure, monitored performance

• New scanner support: A set of compatible barcode scanners and HID-compatible devices that work seamlessly with the POS Hub.

In-store selling upgrades

• Subscriptions on POS: Let customers start subscriptions in store using the Shopify Subscriptions app.

• Quick inventory counts on POS Pro: Scan items and adjust inventory directly from the POS interface.

• Single editor for POS branding: Customize customer display, smart grid, receipts, and lock screen from one place.

Payments and logistics in store

• Same-day delivery via Uber Direct (Plus, select regions)

• Markets for retail: location-specific pricing and product publishing.

• Expanded Tap to Pay and in-person payments across more countries

• QR code payments for multiple local methods

• Cartes Bancaires support in France

• Receive and manage transfer shipments from POS

• Custom return receipts and clearer return visibility

• More flexible refund options (original payment, gift card, store credit)

In-store commerce becomes more resilient, flexible, and tightly integrated with online operations.

5. Marketing: A product network + stronger native tools

Shopify is building a world where you can grow not just by selling your own products, but also by tapping into other Shopify brands.

Shopify Product Network

• Fill gaps in your assortment by promoting products from other Shopify brands directly in:

  • Search results

  • Collections

  • Emails

  • Post-purchase flows

• You earn a commission on each sale. (US-only for now.)

Shop Campaigns and channels

• Shop Campaigns now extend to the online store across search, collections, and post-purchase surfaces.

• New paid channels like X, Snap, and Bing are supported, and you only pay when customers convert.

Messaging, email, and segmentation

• SMS marketing in Shopify Messaging: build, schedule, and track SMS campaigns in the same place as your emails.

• Auto-translation for Shopify Forms: translate from English into 19 languages automatically.

• Smarter segmentation tools:

  • Better template library with improved search

  • Segment by product categories viewed or purchased

  • More intuitive segment creation in Shopify Messaging

• Dynamic product sections in emails: automatically pull in best-sellers or specific collections.

Planning and measurement

• Calendar view to plan email and SMS campaigns.

• Granular marketing consent options per form.

• Web pixels can now run on customer account pages to capture more first-party behavior post-purchase.

Shopify wants you to keep your marketing stack inside Shopify—and to unlock new revenue by participating in its product network.

6. Checkout: Personalization, local payments, and easier migration

Checkout remains one of Shopify’s biggest moats, and this Editions release is all about refining and expanding that advantage.

Personal and localized experiences

• Personalized Shop Pay button: Shoppers see the last four digits of their saved card on the button, increasing trust and recognition.

• Market-specific checkout & accounts: Customize checkout and account experiences per country or for B2B buyers.

Payments & flexibility

• Shop Pay Installments launched in the UK with terms up to 24 months.

• Shop Pay now works alongside Global-e to handle domestic and international payments cleanly.

• Apple Pay is available inside Shop Pay for even smoother checkout.

• Customers with subscriptions get automatic reminders when their payment method is about to expire.

Onboarding and payment methods

• Move from third-party processors to Shopify Payments without downtime.

• Onboarding to Shopify Payments is faster, with AI assistance and localized forms.

• More alternative payment methods are supported across European markets.

• Klarna is now available in more countries via Shopify Payments.

The already high-converting Shopify Checkout becomes more global, more flexible, and easier to adopt.

7. Operations: Better inventory, analytics, and automation

This is the “make your back office less painful” section; and it’s a big one.

Real-world inventory and sales workflows

• Flexible inventory transfers (including from unknown locations or shipments in transit).

• Flash sales that safely pull from multiple locations without overselling.

• Full inventory adjustment history (the 180-day cap is gone).

• Better order filtering and editing, with safeguards against accidental bulk changes.

• Discounts on fulfilled items so refunds and taxes stay accurate.

Selling and monitoring on the go

• Quick sale on mobile: accept payments instantly via Tap to Pay or payment links.

• Updated Apple Watch app: more useful metrics and widgets.

Analytics upgrades

• Heatmaps for combinations like sales by day/hour.

• Control how many items show in top lists.

• Filter out bot traffic.

• Minute-level data for flash sales and drops.

• Single analytics view for multiple stores (Plus).

Automation & fraud handling

• AI-generated chargeback summaries, including key evidence.

• Password-free login for store owners using passkeys.

• Shopify Flow gets:

  • A redesigned editor

  • The ability to preview workflow results

  • Options to cancel runs

• Store credit notifications are now automated and customizable.

• Managed Markets improves with better compliance checks and payout handling.

Operations become more robust and more measurable, especially for multi-store or high-volume brands.

8. Shop App: More personal, more shoppable

Shop is quietly turning into a personalized marketplace with strong buyer intent.

What’s new:

• Dynamic storefronts: Each shopper sees products tailored to their behavior and interests.

• Deals feed: A dedicated location inside Shop for discounts, price drops, and Shop Campaigns.

• Shoppable video: Add video content and let AI handle distribution and ranking.

• Custom product pages: Design Shop product pages with videos, custom sections, and brand elements.

• Better discovery via Shop Minis: Your products can appear in experiences like virtual try-on and outfit tracking.

• Order tracking in 21 more countries

If you’re ignoring the Shop app, this is a good time to revisit it as a serious channel.

9. B2B: Global expansion

B2B on Shopify is no longer a side quest; it’s clearly a core strategy.

Global reach & product sourcing

• Shopify Collective is available in 35+ additional countries, letting retailers source products from other Shopify brands directly in admin.

• Retailers can instantly import products from public price lists without waiting for approval.

Payments and terms

• ACH payments for B2B (Plus, US).

• Store credit for B2B company locations.

• Pickup in store as a delivery option.

• Dynamic payment terms and deposit rules powered by Shopify Functions (Plus).

• Order review rules to flag certain B2B orders for manual review (Plus).

Ecosystem and integrations

• 11 more B2B-compatible apps for quoting, roles, shopping lists, and more.

• ERP integrations with systems like NetSuite, BrightPearl, Fulfil, Sage, and Acumatica.

• EDI purchase orders can sync into Shopify as draft orders.

• Horizon themes now fully support B2B needs like volume pricing and quick order lists.

Shopify is making it much easier to run serious wholesale operations and connect them to existing tools.

10. Finance: Shopify as your financial control center

This edition's drop continues Shopify’s move deeper into banking and financial services.

Funding & credit

• Shopify Capital Flex Account: Apply once, get ongoing access to funding as you repay (US).

• Shopify Capital expansion: Now available in more European countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland.

• Shopify Credit upgrades: Higher cashback cap (3% up to a larger threshold) and dynamic credit limits that adjust based on your performance.

Banking & payouts

• Automatic transfers in Shopify Balance to split payouts into different buckets (inventory, marketing, savings, etc.).

• Same-day ACH transfers from Shopify Balance (US).

• Staff cards with spend controls for teams.

• Mobile check deposits with no fees (US).

Risk & profitability

• Track international profit margins by market, factoring in duties, taxes, and shipping.

• Credits on USDC transactions in supported regions.

• Unified dispute management across Balance and Credit.

• Real-time fraud alerts via SMS.

Shopify wants to be the financial backbone of your business, not just the checkout layer.

11. Shipping: Faster labels, smarter packaging, more carriers

Shipping gets more flexible, especially for returns and international fulfillment.

What's new:

• FedEx return labels inside Shopify with discounted scan-based rates.

• Default packages per variant so shipping estimates are more accurate and label buying is faster.

• Custom sender names on labels for privacy, gift-giving, or legal requirements.

• More integrated logistics partners like Amazon, DHL, Bigblue, GoBolt, and Mayple.

• Expanded DDP/DDU label options for US and Canada.

• More carriers available directly in admin (Royal Mail, Australia Post, DHL Express in Canada).

• New “in progress” status for fulfillment to better track what’s happening between order and shipment.

Returns and international shipping workflows are smoother and more transparent.

12. Developer: Building the rails for AI-native commerce

Winter Editions ’26 is huge for developers. The theme: making it easier to build AI-powered commerce experiences and ship faster with Shopify’s platform.

Agentic Commerce & MCP

• Agentic commerce tools: build shopping agents that use Shopify’s Catalog API and Checkout via MCP (multi-channel protocol) from a new Dev Dash.

• Shopify Catalog for all: search across billions of products using MCP tools or REST; select partners will get direct feed access.

• Checkout Kit for web and mobile: embed Shopify checkout into custom flows across web, iOS, Android, and React Native.

Sidekick integration

• Sidekick can recommend apps, highlighting “Built for Shopify” with badges.

• App developers can build Sidekick app extensions so merchants can trigger app actions and access data via AI.

Apps, themes, and performance

• Improved discovery and grace periods for Built for Shopify apps.

• Better theme discovery with embedded demos.

• Clearer app store requirements and documentation.

• Regional Web Vitals data for optimizing admin performance.

Platform tools

• Shopify Dev MCP: validates API calls, autogenerates correct code, and supports Hydrogen, Storefront API, Liquid, and POS UI extensions.

• Admin Intents API: trigger admin workflows with a single call.

• Bulk operations API: supports all Admin mutations, 100MB files, and more concurrency.

• Metafields/metaobjects upgrades for performance and richer filtering.

• Tangle: open-source, visual ML experimentation platform.

• Scripts → Functions migration by June 2026 with better performance and feature parity.

• Token expiry and OAuth-compliant refresh for improved security.

• Enhanced Dev Console, multi-environment CLI commands, and expanded Polaris components for POS.

Storefronts & extensions

• Shop Minis SDK to build immersive experiences (live shopping, try-on) inside the Shop app.

• POS Extensions Storage API for faster local state.

• Support for unlisted product status, combined bundle options, pre-order deposits, nested cart lines, and more.

• New theme code editor with modern dev features.

• AI-discoverable headless stores via Shopify Catalog.

• Wallet buttons (Shop Pay, Apple Pay) on PDP and Cart in native apps.

• Discount and payment configuration tools via Shopify Functions.

• New and improved APIs for transfers, returns, store credit, customer accounts, ShopifyQL analytics, and app onboarding.

Shopify is giving developers everything they need to build AI-native, highly customized commerce experiences across web, POS, Shop, and headless.

Final thoughts

Shopify's '26 Editions represents a massive leap forward in ecommerce capabilities, with AI and agentic commerce at the forefront. The 150+ updates touch every aspect of the platform, from AI-powered business assistance to selling directly in AI chat platforms, from revolutionary retail hardware to comprehensive financial tools.

The standout themes:

• AI-first approach: Sidekick has evolved into a true business partner

• Agentic commerce: pioneering sales directly within AI conversations

• Global expansion: more countries, currencies, and payment methods

• Developer empowerment: unprecedented tools for building commerce experiences

• Unified commerce: seamless integration between online, retail, and wholesale

This is truly a renAIssance moment for commerce on Shopify.