Before You Go: National Restaurant Association Show 2026

The National Restaurant Association Show 2026 is set to take place May 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

“Last year we welcomed almost 58,000 attendees and exhibitors … and we are expecting that number, maybe even a little more this year because it’s a non-NAFEM year,” says Caitlin Rodgers, senior director of marketing for exhibitions for Informa Connect Foodservice Group.

Roughly 2,000 exhibitors will fill 70,000 square feet of booth space. “(There will be) various sizes of booths, from legacy exhibitors who have been there year over year and some first-timers,” Rodgers says. About 400 exhibitors will be equipment manufacturers. “This is a great place to look at all the different options for equipment. If you are looking at this fryer or that fryer, it’s great to do it all in one go,” Rodgers adds. For design consultants or dealers, “It’s a great way to walk the halls with operators and get to the heart of why they like this or like that.”

Learning Opportunities

Several of the show’s educational sessions will focus on equipment, menu development and industry trends.

“The Future of Kitchen Equipment: Smart Technology, ROI, and Sustainability” from 3-3:30 p.m. on May 16 will feature Kitchen Innovation Awards judges discussing how kitchen equipment is evolving to meet today’s demands. “They are going to tell you what is driving innovation right now and look at strategic considerations shaping commercial kitchens … and what other factors are truly determining ROI beyond the initial price tag,” Rodgers says.

On May 17 from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., “4 Disruptors Driving Menu Trends and Innovation,” featuring speakers from Technomic, will help attendees stay on top of trends that are transforming the industry. “This will cover the rise of GLP-1s, the new food pyramid and emerging factors that could affect your menu,” Rodgers says.

In “Get it While it’s Hot: Driving Demand with LTOs” from 1-2 p.m. on May 18, Technomic’s Joseph Pawlak and execs from IHOP, Lettuce Entertain You and Whataburger will talk about how to integrate limited-time offers into your business model. “We saw it last year and this year we’ll see it again: LTOs are how operators are differentiating themselves to get that very scarce dollar,” Rodgers says. “Think about it; Chili’s killed it last year with their stretchable mozzarella sticks. That was an LTO to start.”

Busting Misconceptions

Rodgers says one of the biggest misconceptions about the show is that it just showcases food and beverage. “It’s also an equipment show, a tech show, a furniture show, a tableware show—it’s all those things you can find that restaurants need,” she says.

Another common misconception is that the show is only relevant for large chains. “The biggest piece of our attendees are independents. They are coming here to find trends, and new suppliers/equipment,” Rodgers says.

Whatever you do, don’t shortchange yourself on time. Rodgers recommends downloading the National Restaurant Association Show app to view the schedule, floor plan and more. “Start looking at what exhibitors are where, identify sessions you want to go to, create a profile and tag everything you want to go see and it will send you notifications,” she explains.

NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SHOW 2026

WHERE

McCormick Place

2301 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Chicago

SHOW HOURS

9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 16 to Monday, May 18; 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, May 19

For more details, visit nationalrestaurantshow.com.