Cross Border Summit 2026 · The Annual Gathering for Cross-Border Sellers
November 3–5, 2026 · Chiang Mai Orchid Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Theme: Fellowship — Human Connection Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI
Another year has flown by, and Cross Border Summit 2026 is almost here.
This year we made one change: for our 8th annual Cross Border Summit, the theme shifts from Take Off to Fellowship.
If you sell across borders — on Amazon, Shopify, TikTok Shop or anywhere else — you already feel why. Here's the thinking behind it, and what it means for you if you're joining us in Chiang Mai.
Why Fellowship? Because AI Can't Replace Real Human Connection
AI is reshaping every part of cross-border ecommerce: product selection, advertising, customer service, operations. Efficiency is rising. The tools get stronger every day. AI can almost replace humans in doing everything.
But there is one thing AI cannot replace: real human connection.
In the age of AI, information is no longer scarce. Answers are no longer scarce. What's scarce is trust, partners, and people who are willing to reach out and pull you up when you're stuck.
So we made this year's theme Fellowship — a return to the essence of human relationships and mutual support. Not "networking" that ends with adding a WeChat contact, but fellow travelers who have each other's backs when it matters.
Why We Needed to Change
Right now everything is "driven by AI." The hype is everywhere, and so is the FOMO. That puts enormous pressure on business owners who are already juggling suppliers, ad accounts, cash flow and platform changes.
We know the noise out there is already overwhelming. So we decided to step out of that high-pressure, hyper-competitive game and shift toward human connection. We need like-minded friends. We need a high-quality community that lifts each other up.
After deep conversations with our core community, we went back to the original intention that made this gathering possible in the first place:
- High-quality speakers and content — from real operators who have built and sold businesses, sharing real strategies.
- High-quality people and real connection — where a conversation can become a partnership, and a relationship can settle into a trusted ally.
It isn't about the fanciest hotel, the flashiest swag or an artificially created high-pressure atmosphere. Over the past decade, every one of us has faced enormous challenges. This year we want to bring everyone back to genuine friendship. We need to huddle together for warmth more than ever.
The Annual Gathering for Cross-Border Ecommerce Owners
Cross Border Summit is the annual gathering for cross-border ecommerce and cross-border trade business owners, at the heart of the GFAVIP community.
Three days in Chiang Mai with sellers, brand founders, service providers and industry operators from around the world — learning from each other, collaborating and growing together. Good people, with knowledge, kindness and openness. Meet, exchange, collaborate, grow together.
No theory. Only real combat experience.
Amazon, Shopify, Walmart and TikTok Shop sellers — including seven-figure operators — will share real playbooks, real numbers and real margin pressure. From Amazon ranking and PPC, to private-label scaling, to preparing for a brand exit.
More than learning: level up your circle
Round table discussions, rapid-fire intros, interactive panels and evening afterparties on both conference days. You'll meet your next partner, your next market, and the person who helps you break through your bottleneck — at the dinner table, in conversation, during the summit.
Learn directly from successful large sellers. You can't go wrong.
Three Days, Five Program Tracks, One Goal
The goal: take your cross-border business to the next level.
- Tuesday, November 3 — Pre-Event VIP Mastermind: an invite-only roundtable for VIP and program ticket holders, closing with an intimate VIP dinner with the speakers.
- Wednesday–Thursday, November 4–5 — Two full conference days for all ticket holders: opening with Mike Michelini, operator talks, round tables, rapid-fire intros, an afternoon panel, catered lunches and an evening afterparty each day.
Across five program tracks, topics cover Japan, EU and US market entry, cross-border logistics, sourcing and manufacturing, plus the areas operators are talking about most: AI and automation, compliance, M&A and finance. The whole program runs in English.
All main sessions take place at Chiang Mai Orchid Hotel, the summit's new home this year. Hotel accommodation isn't included in the ticket; book directly with the hotel or anywhere nearby. Details are on the venue page.
CBS 2026 Speakers and Topics
Here's who's confirmed for Chiang Mai, with the talk titles announced so far. More session titles will be added to the official agenda as they're set.
- Michael Michelini — Host · Founder, Global From Anywhere
- Ashley Pemberton — Host & Emcee
- Tomer Rabinovich — Founder · Author of Ride the Amazon Wave
- Chip Ge — Founder, Barefoot Caribou: Building In-House Tools for an Ecommerce Brand
- Gianmarco Meli — E-Commerce Strategist · 7-Fig Amazon Seller: Human Performance Hacks for Ecommerce Operators
- Nick Katz, “The Japan Guy” — 7-Fig Amazon Seller: PPC Automation, Seller Intelligence & Technical Ecommerce
- Graeme Paddock — Co-Founder, The UpTik
- Tim Sutton — Founder & CEO, Launchpresso
- Andy Church — CEO, Insight Quality
- Lyden Smithers — China Sourcing Expert, China Magic
- Leah McHugh — E-Commerce Compliance Consultant · closing the summit with the event game show
- Antoinette Jackson — Founder & CEO, SuperBee
- Jane Santichaivekin — Affiliate Creator Incubation Expert · Panelist
- Suchanya “Pear” Likittanasombat — Founder, EverUp
- JP Zhang — Founder, Shenzhen SEO Conference · Panelist
- Jengis Gonzalez — Supply Chain Strategist, Pankesum Trading · Rapid Fire Intros
- Don Wilder — Product Development Expert · Rapid Fire Intros
See every bio on the CBS 2026 speakers page.
What Past Attendees Say
"It's an amazing place for sellers who want to learn and grow. New techniques, new strategies for improving your ranking, how you can remove some negative reviews, SEO hacks, a little bit of TikTok, and of course just meeting people, meeting other sellers. It's a very good and open atmosphere here."
— Junior, CBS 2025
"I would encourage anyone interested in ecom, Amazon FBA, AI, digital marketing, who wants to meet a great bunch of like-minded people to take their business to the next level to come. Everyone you speak to will always say this is one of the best conferences you can go to."
— Andre, CBS 2025
"It's been incredibly helpful—probably one of the best events I've ever been to. The speakers were fantastic. Can't sell it enough. Come next year!"
— Ian Randolph Brotchie, CBS 2024
Scenes from past summits
How to Join
Tickets are sold through the official website: 2026.crossbordersummit.com.
Each ticket tier has a hard cap to keep the room the right size. At the time of writing, early-bird pricing on the official tickets page is:
- General Entry (Nov 4–5) — $725 early-bird: both conference days, catered lunches and afterparties.
- VIP (Nov 3–5) — $1,329 early-bird: everything in General Entry, plus the November 3 VIP mastermind, a half-day VIP round-table session and the VIP dinner with the speakers.
- Empower The Seller (post-summit program) — $4,299 early-bird: everything in VIP, plus a high-touch post-summit coaching and implementation program. This tier is by application.
Coming with your team? Group orders of 3–4 public tickets save 10%, and 5 or more save 15%. Check the tickets page for current prices and seat availability.
With AI now built into everything, this year is a watershed moment for the cross-border ecommerce industry. Don't miss it.
Ready to Find Your Fellow Travelers?
Global From Anywhere has been bringing cross-border entrepreneurs together for years through the podcast, the GFAVIP community and Cross Border Summit. If you're building an ecommerce or trade business across borders, this is the room to be in.
👉 Get your Cross Border Summit 2026 ticket — November 3–5, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Want to share your expertise on a future Cross Border Summit stage? Apply as a speaker.
Want to keep learning in the meantime? Listen to the GFA Podcast, subscribe to the GFA Newsletter, and join the GFAVIP community.
See you in Chiang Mai.
Comments