5 minutes + videosFor online retailers that expect to see peak sales arrive during the 2026 holiday season, preparations in the months and year ahead can make or break their end-of-year results. As the back-to-school season gives way to Labor Day weekend, Halloween and eventually theCyber 5, which includes Thanksgiving and the four days that follow, retailers are already making important choices. Those findings, which accompany newonline holiday shopper survey results for 2026, highlight some of the priorities and tradeoffs that companies are making to set themselves up for success. Based on lessons learned during the current calendar year, as well as past holiday shopping seasons, here are three ways online retailers are maximizing their chances at conversion when shoppers arrive on their websites this year. What are retailers doing to prepare for the 2026 holiday season?First and foremost, online retailers are not waiting for November to begin holiday planning — and that runway encompasses more than just inventory.