The Verge’s 2026 back-to-school shopping guide
What's happening
The Verge is publishing a comprehensive back-to-school shopping guide for 2026 to help parents and students navigate the overwhelming task of preparing for the upcoming school year. The guide aims to address the common problem of forgotten or unexpected items that aren't always obvious when making a shopping list.
Who's involved
The Verge, a technology and culture publication owned by Vox Media, is creating this resource for students and parents preparing for the 2026 school year. The guide represents the publication's effort to provide practical consumer guidance during a peak shopping season.
Why it matters
Back-to-school shopping is a major annual consumer event that significantly impacts retail spending, particularly for families managing tight budgets. Having a curated guide helps reduce shopping stress, prevents wasteful purchases, and ensures students have what they actually need to succeed academically.
More context
Back-to-school shopping typically occurs in late summer and represents one of the largest retail seasons of the year, second only to the winter holidays. The rise of remote and hybrid learning models post-2020 fundamentally changed what students need, making updated guides increasingly valuable as technology requirements shift. Tech publications like The Verge are well-positioned to advise on digital tools, devices, and accessories that are now essential for modern education. Such guides have become standard editorial content as retailers compete for consumer attention during this predictable seasonal surge.