Shopify Winter Edition 2026: Your AI-Powered Renaissance

This winter, Shopify is ushering in a new era for entrepreneurs with 150+ new features . Every idea, product, and strategy feels sharper and more in sync with your vision. Shopify Winter Edition 2026 (Renaissance Edition) is all about helping businesses connect, create, and grow, turning this season into a true moment of opportunity and innovation.

Table of content

• 10 Key Features of Shopify Winter Edition 2026
• Sidekick: Your Shopify Assistant
• Agentic: Sell in AI Chats
• Online: Smarter Store Management
• Retail
• Marketing
• Checkout
• Operations
• Shop app
• B2B
• Shipping
• Conclusion

10 Key Features of Shopify Winter Edition 2026

Let us go through the top 10 features of the Renaissance Edition that are set to redefine how you run and grow your Shopify store this winter.

#1 Sidekick: Your Shopify Assistant

Sidekick is designed to help you manage your Shopify store more efficiently. This includes providing insights, handling tasks, and guiding you through store management step by step.

Insights and Recommendations

• Sidekick Pulse: Delivers personalized recommendations and next steps for your store using market trends and store data.

• Custom Analytics Reports: Generate custom reports and visualizations directly in the ShopifyQL query editor.

• Segmentation Support: Build new segments or generate them from scratch to better target your audience. 

App and Workflow Management

• Custom App Generation: Create apps as per your business needs, including reorder recommendations, custom discounts, and task trackers.

• Workflow Automations: Describe the workflow you want to automate, and Sidekick builds it in Shopify Flow for you.

• App Discovery: Find, compare, and install apps directly through Sidekick.

Design and Content

• Theme Edits: Make theme adjustments instantly by specifying design updates

• Studio-Quality Photos: Edit images by changing backgrounds, removing elements, or expanding the canvas.

• Mobile Image Editor: Turn any image into a polished product shot via the Shopify mobile app.

• Email Editing: Edit emails directly in the Shopify Messaging app email editor.

• Block Generation: Create custom blocks for any theme from the Shopify Theme Store.

Task Management and Productivity

• Shortcuts for Prompts: Turn frequently used prompts into reusable Skills to save time.

• Multi-Step Task Completion: Sidekick can plan, create to-do lists, and handle multiple actions at once.

• Voice-Powered Mobile Chat: Interact with Sidekick by voice on the Shopify mobile app.

• Wide Mode: Work full-screen to handle complex tasks more efficiently.

Store Operations

• Target Selection: Click specific areas of your admin to get precise contextual guidance.

• Better Memory: Sidekick remembers your chats and preferences for a more personalized experience.

• Quick Company Creation: Easily create B2B companies in your store.

• Money Management: Check your Shopify Balance and approve transfers directly through Sidekick.

#2 Agentic: Sell in AI Chats

Agentic lets you sell your products directly inside AI chat platforms.

Shopify Agentic Storefronts

• Control how your brand appears to shoppers in AI chats.

• Make your products visible on ChatGPT, Copilot, and Perplexity, with more platforms coming soon.

#3 Online: Smarter Store Management

The Shopify Winter Editions 2026 offers you a set of tools that helps you test, improve, and manage your online store efficiently.

Testing and Launch Tools

• Rollouts: Schedule theme changes and run A/B tests directly in your admin.

• Shopify SimGym: Simulate shopper behavior using data from billions of purchases and get recommendations before going live.

Theme and Store Management

• Theme Editor Improvements: Edit products, collections, markets, and metafields without leaving the editor.

• Theme Generation on Mobile: Design, preview, and publish your store right from the Shopify mobile app.

• Over 250 Horizon Theme Updates: Enjoy new animations, interactive sections, and faster performance.

• Improved Theme Discovery: Find themes with better search, industry filters, and templates.

• AI-Generated Theme Before Signup: Describe what you want to sell, and AI generates a custom store even without an account.

Product and Catalog Features 

• 2048 Variants per Product: Manage larger and more diverse catalogs.

• Unlisted Product Status: Hide products from search and collections but keep them accessible via direct links.

• Collections Improvements: Duplicate collections and use conditional logic to exclude products from smart collections.

• Automatic Discounts: Target specific customers like VIPs with automated promotions.

• Compare-At Prices: Set compare-at prices directly in your admin.

• Combine Bundle Options: Mix options such as size and length in the Shopify Bundles app.

• Unit Pricing for All: Display prices by weight, volume, length, or quantity globally.

Store Setup and Domains

• Vibe Code with Lovable: Launch a Shopify store with products, inventory, analytics, and checkout ready.

• AI-Powered Domain Discovery: Get suggestions for unique and available domain names (English only).

Customer Experience Enhancements

• Faster Customer Login with Shop: Recognized Shop users can sign in with one tap.

• Customer Sign-In with Social Accounts: Allow login via Google or Facebook.

• Autofill Passcode on iOS 26: Customers can sign in without leaving the browser.

• Edit Email Addresses: Customers can update their email with one-time passcode verification.

• Customizable Sign-In Copy: Edit the text on customer sign-in and passcode pages in the theme editor.

Other Tools

• Sell on WordPress: Add products, collections, cart, and checkout to your WordPress site with the Shopify plugin.

• Introducing Tinker: A single app to explore the latest Shopify AI tools.

#4 Retail

Your Shopify store development will now have new in-store tools built for rock-solid reliability.

POS Hub

A new hardware hub that keeps everything connected and running smoothly.

• Uses wired connections so devices never drop.

• Plug in card readers, scanners, and printers therefore no pairing needed.

• Has its own processing power to keep data moving between your hardware and Shopify POS.

• Works with iPad (MFi certified).

• Built with secure ARM Cortex-A7 processing. 

• Monitors its own health and fixes issues automatically.

• Updates firmware on its own.

• Comes with 3 USB-A ports + 1 USB-C port.

Scanners and Accessories

• Supports newly integrated barcode scanners

• Compatible with HID scanners that work with POS Hub, iPad, and Android tablets

Subscriptions on POS

Let customers buy subscriptions directly in-store using the Shopify Subscriptions app.

Quick inventory counts (POS Pro only)

• Scan and update inventory from POS for accurate stock tracking

• Exclusive to POS Pro

Same-day delivery with Uber Direct

• Offer fast local delivery with live tracking

• Available in the US, Canada, and France

• Exclusive to Plus

More countries can accept in-person payments

Tap to Pay and card acceptance expands to:

• Luxembourg, Switzerland, Czech Republic (in-person payments)

• Germany, Ireland, Spain, New Zealand (Tap to Pay on iPhone)

Expanded Payment Options

• Accept in person payments in Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. 

• Support Tap to Pay on iPhone in Germany, Ireland, Spain, and New Zealand

• Accept Cartes Bancaires cards in France

• Enable QR code payments using iDeal, Swish, Twint, Mobilepay, and USDC

Inventory and Transfers

• Accept or reject transfer shipments in store using the Transfers POS extension

• This feature is exclusive to POS Pro

Returns and Refunds

• Create custom return receipts with your policy, logo, and contact details

• See clearer status on in progress returns

• Choose refund methods including original payment, gift card, or store credit

#5 Marketing

Shopify Product Network

• Show products from other Shopify brands in your search, collections, emails, and post purchase pages

• Fill catalog gaps and earn a commission on every sale

• Available in the US only

Shop Campaigns

• Get promoted across other Shopify stores on search, collections, and post purchase pages 

• Run one campaign for all audiences instead of splitting by goals

• Get visibility on new channels like X, Snapchat, and Bing

• Pay only when customers convert 

• Available in the US and Canada for selected features

Shopify Messaging

• Create, schedule, send, and track SMS campaigns

• Use improved email segmentation suggestions

• Add dynamic product sections that auto display best sellers or selected collections. 

• Plan all campaigns with a calendar view

Shopify Forms

• Auto translate forms from English into nineteen languages

• Choose how each form collects marketing consent

Customer Segmentation

• Use a refreshed template library with better search and filters. 

• Segment customers based on product categories they viewed or purchased

• Improve targeting with improved tools in Shopify Messaging. 

Web Pixels and Analytics

• Run web pixels on customer account pages

• Gain deeper visibility into post purchase behaviour

#6 Checkout 

These updates help you convert more customers with better payment options and personalized checkout experiences.

Personalized Shop Button

Customers see the last four digits of their saved card on the Shop Pay button for quicker recognition.

Market Based Customization

Customize checkout and customer account pages for different countries and B2B buyers directly in the editor.

Shop Pay Instalments in the UK

Offer Buy Now Pay Later options in the UK with terms up to 24 months.

Shop Pay and Global-e

• Use Shop Pay in every market.

• Domestic orders run through Shopify Payments, while international orders run through Global-e.

Apple Pay in Shop Pay

• Customers can now pay with Apple Pay inside Shop Pay.

Subscription Reminders

• Shop Pay automatically alerts subscribers before their payment method expires.

Switch to Shopify Payments

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

Faster Shopify Payments Setup

• Onboard quicker with localized forms, clearer steps, fewer requirements, and guided assistance for form completion.

More Payment Methods in France

• Accept cross border payments from Bancontact, iDEAL, Twint, Blik, Przelewy24, MobilePay, and EPS.

Klarna in More Countries

• Accept Klarna payments in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Switzerland, Czechia, Ireland, and Portugal.

#7 Operations

Tools that simplify daily work, improve accuracy, and help you understand store performance more clearly.

Flexible Inventory Transfers

• Receive items from unspecified locations

• Edit shipments while they’re in transit

• Handle real world inventory situations with better accuracy

Quick Sale in the Shopify Mobile App

• Sell instantly in person using quick sale 

• Receive payments using Tap to Pay or direct payment links

Read More: You Should Have a Shopify Mobile App - Here's why

Apple Watch Metrics

• Track store performance from your wrist

• Customize widgets for fast access to key numbers

Smarter Chargeback Management

• Create dispute summaries automatically, including delivery tracking and policy details

Password Free Login

• Use passkeys for secure access through fingerprint, face, or PIN

Heatmaps in Analytics

• View trends across two variables, like sales by hour and day, to spot peak selling times

Customizable Top Items

• Choose how many items appear in visual reports instead of being capped at five

Bot Filtering

• Exclude bot traffic for cleaner data and more accurate conversion rates

Full Inventory History

• Access complete inventory adjustment records with no time limit

Minute Level Analytics

• Track flash sales or product drops with precise date and time filters

Flash Sales with Multi Location Inventory

• Prevent overselling by using stock from multiple locations during fast moving events

Multi Store Analytics

• See results for your entire organization in one view

• Filter by store and compare performance

• Exclusive to Plus

Bin Locations in Order Printer

• Assign bin locations to SKUs via CSV or bulk editor to speed up order picking

More Order Filters

• Filter orders by metafields, total value, or weight for smoother fulfillment

Edit Unfulfilled Orders with Duties

• Duties, taxes, and totals recalculate automatically when edits are made

Inventory Safeguards

• Prevent accidental overrides with color coded changes, warnings, and confirmation steps

Discounts on Fulfilled Items

• Apply discounts during refunds while keeping taxes and reporting accurate

Preview Workflow Results

• Test workflow outcomes in Flow before publishing

• Adjust logic without affecting live data

Updated Flow Editor

• Build larger automations with a vertical layout and more workspace

Cancel Workflow Runs

• Stop single or multiple runs directly inside Flow

Store Credit Email Alerts

• Notify customers instantly when store credit is added, using a customizable email

Enhanced Managed Markets

• Sell globally with compliance checks, faster payouts, and full control over Harmonized System codes

• This is for US customers only

#8 Shop app

• Dynamic storefronts show relevant products

• Shoppable videos for direct purchases

• Custom product pages with branding

• Better discovery in Shop Minis

• Order tracking in more countries

Dynamic storefronts

• Your Shop storefront adjusts automatically to show the most relevant products for each shopper

• Each visitor sees items that match their interests

Deals feed

• Discounts and price drops appear in a dedicated Deals section inside Shop

• Shop Campaigns also show up here for higher visibility

Shoppable videos

• Add videos that shoppers can buy from directly

• Distribution is optimized so the right people see your videos at the right time

Customizable product pages

• Add custom sections, videos, and your brand style to product pages

• Preview the page before it goes live

Better product discovery in Shop Minis

• Your products appear inside immersive features such as virtual try on and outfit tracking to interested shoppers. 

Order tracking in more countries

Shoppers can track orders in many more regions including Germany, France, Italy and more. 

#9 B2B

• Shopify Collective is now available in many more countries. Retailers in 35 additional markets can source and sell products from other Shopify brands directly inside their admin.
• Merchants on Plus using Shopify Payments can now accept ACH bank payments at checkout and charge saved bank accounts from the admin. This is available in the United States.
• Suppliers can now be discovered by new retail partners through the Shopify Collective retailer directory.
• You can send separate payment requests for each shipment in a multi shipment order, giving better control over large wholesale orders. Available on Plus.
• Store credit built for wholesale is now supported. You can issue credit to company locations from the profile or while refunding orders.
• B2B customers can select store pickup as a delivery option during checkout.
• Dynamic payment terms and deposit rules can be created using third party or custom apps powered by Shopify Functions. These features are exclusive to Plus.
• You can set rules that flag orders for review based on order value, products, and other conditions. This uses apps built with Shopify Functions and is exclusive to Plus.
• 11 new apps are now fully compatible with B2B stores and support quote requests, custom buyer roles, shopping lists, and more. 
• Retailers can instantly import products from public price lists on Shopify Collective without waiting for approval. 
• Pre-built ERP integrations from Patchworks, Fulfil, and Kensium let you sync companies, orders, and payment terms with NetSuite, Bright Pearl, Fulfil, Sage, or Acumatica.
• Imported products through Shopify Collective now publish to all sales channels by default for faster onboarding.
• EDI purchase orders from Crstl and SPS Commerce can sync directly into your admin as draft orders with pre-built integrations.

• All Horizon themes now support volume pricing, quantity rules, and quick order lists for a smooth wholesale experience.

#10. Shipping 

• Shipping gets faster and more flexible with new label options, more partner choices, and better control over fulfillment.
• FedEx return labels can now be created, sent, and tracked directly from the Shopify admin. Returns use discounted pay on scan rates. Available in the United States.
• You can set a default package for each product variant. This improves checkout rate accuracy and speeds up label buying for single item orders.
• A custom sender name can be added to your shipping labels. This helps with privacy, legal needs, or keeping gifts discreet.
• Merchants get access to more logistics partners. You can work with Amazon, Bigblue, DHL, GoBolt, and Mayple while tracking performance inside the Shopify Fulfillment Network.
• Cross border label options have expanded for the United States and Canada. You can buy DHL Express DDP or DDU and Canada Post DDP labels in Canada, as well as DHL eCommerce DDU labels in the United States.
• More global carriers are supported when buying labels in the admin. This includes Royal Mail in the United Kingdom, Australia Post in Australia, and DHL Express in Canada.

• Fulfillment tracking is smoother with a new in progress status. You can add timeline notes, run bulk actions, and manage updates in a redesigned fulfillment card.
  
  

Please take a look at previous Shopify editions:

Shopify winter edition 2025 | Shopify Summer edition 2025 |  Shopify summer edition 2024 

Conclusion

With over 150+ features, Shopify Winter Edition 2026 is packed with tools that make running your store easier, faster, and more effective. Whether you sell online, in-store, or wholesale, these updates give you the freedom to manage your store, connect with customers, and focus on growing your business.