Preparing for the 2026 back-to-school season is getting more complex, driven by shifts like AI’s impact on learning, budget pressures, and evolving shopping habits.

Yet parents, educators, and brands are turning disruption into innovation within this unpredictable retail and academic landscape, while also honoring young people’s changing interests and habits.

In our new report, we explore how shifting priorities in education and product discovery are reshaping back-to-school strategies—and highlight opportunities that both guide the season and provide benefits that go beyond the classroom.