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12 Top Restaurant Conferences to Attend Around the World in 2026

Tim Fisher
By
Tim Fisher
Tim Fisher VP of AI

Tim brings over two decades of experience leading at the crossroads of tech, editorial, and AI innovation. From launching and scaling Lifewire into a top-ranked tech site, to spearheading AI operations at People Inc., he’s spent his career building systems that connect people with smarter solutions.

His favorite problems are the ones that unlock new possibilities when properly solved. For Tim, problems are just undiscovered opportunities, and AI has opened the door to solving challenges once thought immovable.

When he’s not tinkering with large language models, Tim is either re-reading Project Hail Mary, or eating Mexican food.

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Last updated on Jun 10, 2026

I've done the legwork so you don't have to — here are the restaurant conferences where real industry conversations, connections, and ideas are happening.

The best restaurant conferences give you something a webinar can't — direct access to the people, ideas, and conversations shaping the industry. Whether you're focused on operations, finance, technology, or growth, I've rounded up the top events worth putting on your calendar.

Best Restaurant Conferences in 2026 Shortlist

Here's a shortlist of the best restaurant conferences I think are worth attending in 2026:

  1. Texas Restaurant Show - San Antonio, TX (July 12-13, 2026)
  2. California Restaurant Show - Anaheim, CA (August 23-25, 2026)
  3. Restaurant and Bar Hong Kong 2026 - Hong Kong (September 1-3, 2026)
  4. QSR Evolution Conference - Atlanta, GA (September 8-10, 2026)
  5. FS/TEC - Grapevine, TX (September 23-25, 2026)
  6. Restaurant and Takeaway Innovation Expo - London, UK (September 29-30, 2026)
  7. Fast Casual Executive Summit - Arlington, TX (October 4-6, 2026)
  8. Restaurant Legal Summit - San Diego, CA (October 21-23, 2026)
  9. International Restaurant and Foodservice Show of Florida 2026 - Orlando, FL (October 25-27, 2026)
  10. Global Restaurant Leadership Conference 2026 - Cannes, France (November 4-6, 2026)
  11. Restaurant Finance and Development Conference - Las Vegas, NV (November 9-11, 2026)
  12. Quick Service Restaurant Industry Congress - Warsaw, Poland (November 17-19, 2026)

Find more details about each conference below.

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Best Restaurant Conferences of 2026

Below are my summaries of the best restaurant conferences that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a look at each event’s dates, location, pricing, and unique offering.

1. Texas Restaurant Show - San Antonio, TX (July 12-13, 2026)

Aerial view of a busy trade show floor with vendor booths and attendees at Texas Restaurant Show
The Texas Restaurant Show offers a large-scale expo floor featuring food, beverage, and restaurant technology vendors from across the industry.

The Texas Restaurant Show is the Texas Restaurant Association's annual trade show — the largest of its kind in the Southwest. Running since 1937, it draws 8,000+ industry professionals, 550+ exhibitor booths, and 40+ education sessions.

Why attend? The 2026 show adds a new Bar & Nightclub Showcase after acquiring the Texas Bar & Nightclub Convention, expanding its scope for beverage-driven businesses. Notable speaker Jon Taffer of Bar Rescue headlines the education sessions, making it a strong pick for operators focused on growth.

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2. California Restaurant Show - Anaheim, CA (August 23-25, 2026)

California Restaurant Show booth food and drinks sampling
Attendees' hands-on tasting and face-to-face networking with brand representatives at the California Restaurant Show.

The California Restaurant Show, sponsored by the California Restaurant Association, is a three-day trade show for foodservice and restaurant professionals. Celebrity chef Tyler Florence headlines the 2026 Culinary Innovation Theater, with 250+ exhibitors on the floor.

Why attend? The show's 3rd Annual Pizza Tomorrow Summit Pavilion makes it a strong pick for pizza operators specifically. Beyond that, its education program covers business strategy, menu trends, and market best practices — all in one venue, making it worth the trip to Anaheim.

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3. Restaurant and Bar Hong Kong 2026 - Hong Kong (September 1-3, 2026)

Landing page of the RBHK 2026
The 2026 Restaurant and Bar Hong Kong (RBHK)

Restaurant and Bar Hong Kong 2026 (RBHK), organized by Informa Markets, is a free-to-attend B2B trade show for F&B and hospitality professionals. It draws 9,000+ trade buyers and 400+ exhibitors across eight product sectors at the HKCEC.

Why attend? RBHK is Asia's premier F&B sourcing event, covering everything from wine and spirits to food tech and packaging. The 2026 show features world-class cocktail demos by Lorenzo Antinori and Leo Ko, coffee showcases by two world champions, live competitions, and industry awards — all free for trade visitors.

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4. QSR Evolution Conference - Atlanta, GA (September 8-10, 2026)

QSR Evolution Conference 2026 website page screenshot
The upcoming QSR Evolution Conference 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Produced by WTWH Media's QSR and FSR magazines, the QSR Evolution Conference is a three-day event for quick and full-service restaurant operators. Keynote speakers include Susannah Frost (Chick-fil-A), Rob Lynch (Shake Shack), Jerry Morgan (Texas Roadhouse), and Lisa Ingram (White Castle).

Why attend? In 2026, QSR Evolution merges with the FSR NextGen Restaurant Summit, making it the only event bringing both QSR and full-service operators together under one roof. The expanded format features 100+ brand leaders across sessions on growth, tech, marketing, franchising, and workforce — plus strong networking with peers from across the industry.

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5. FS/TEC - Grapevine, TX (September 23-25, 2026)

Panelists of the FS/TEC conference
Panel discussion on stage where restaurant innovation meets foodservice technology at the FS/TEC conference.

FS/TEC, organized by Informa Connect, has been the leading restaurant technology conference for 30+ years. It draws 800+ executives — 43% VP-level or higher — focused on food tech, AI, and digital innovation in foodservice.

Why attend? FS/TEC is the only event built exclusively around restaurant technology. You'll get access to 70+ expert speakers, the industry's largest food tech show floor with 230+ providers, and sessions covering AI, cybersecurity, loyalty programs, and BOH automation — all under one roof with serious decision-makers.

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6. Restaurant and Takeaway Innovation Expo - London, UK (September 29-30, 2026)

Speaker presenting at the Restaurant and Takeaway Innovation Expo
Live presentation at the Mapal OS booth, showcasing market size statistics at the Restaurant and Takeaway Innovation Expo.

The Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo is the UK's leading trade show for foodservice operators, restaurateurs, and takeaway entrepreneurs. Now in its 13th edition, it draws 15,000+ visitors and 500+ exhibitors to ExCeL London.

Why attend? This free-to-attend expo runs alongside six other events in The Hospitality B2B Portfolio — giving you access to 500+ suppliers, 200 speakers, panel debates, and the Innovation Awards across the full foodservice spectrum, from delivery tech and digital ordering to sustainability and branding.

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7. Fast Casual Executive Summit - Arlington, TX (October 4-6, 2026)

Fast Casual Executive Summit 2026 homepage
The Fast Casual Executive Summit 2026

The Fast Casual Executive Summit, organized by Networld Media Group, has been running for nearly 20 years. It's built for C-suite fast casual restaurant executives. Speakers for 2026 include Clay Dover (Savory Fund), Justin Mennan (Shake Shack), and Elisia Flores (L&L Hawaiian Barbecue).

Why attend? This is a deliberately small, executive-only gathering — think peer-level conversations, not a massive trade floor. You'll spend 2.5 days in interactive sessions and structured networking with brand CEOs and C-suite leaders focused on growth, innovation, and brand strategy.

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Restaurant Legal Summit 2026 web page screenshot
The 2026 Restaurant Legal Summit

The Restaurant Legal Summit is organized by the Restaurant Law Center — the only independent public policy org built for the foodservice industry. Now in its 10th year, it's built for restaurant CLOs, attorneys, and HR professionals.

Why attend? Sessions cover wage and hour law, immigration, class actions, AI, and more, with speakers like Dawn Stoewe (Darden), Sarah Mussetter (Red Robin), and Josh Lute (Dutch Bros). You'll also earn CLE, SHRM, and HRCI credits in a relaxed, relationship-focused setting.

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9. International Restaurant and Foodservice Show of Florida 2026 - Orlando, FL (October 25-27, 2026)

Attendees networking with exhibitors at the International Restaurant and Foodservice Show of Florida
Exhibitor booths on the show floor of the International Restaurant and Foodservice Show of Florida.

The International Restaurant and Foodservice Show of Florida has been serving the restaurant and foodservice community for 55 years. Organized by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, it draws restaurant operators, chefs, and foodservice professionals across the state.

Why attend? With 40+ hours of education included in your badge — covering AI, staffing, marketing, menu development, and more — you get serious learning without extra cost. The show is also co-located with the Pizza Tomorrow Summit, doubling your access to exhibitors, competitions, and sessions in one trip.

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10. Global Restaurant Leadership Conference 2026 - Cannes, France (November 4-6, 2026)

Panelists of the Global Restaurant Leadership Conference
Industry leaders of the Global Restaurant Leadership Conference panel session.

GRLC is an invitation-only global conference for C-suite restaurant leaders across 50+ countries. The 2026 event marks its debut in Cannes, France, following the 2025 edition in Barcelona.

Why attend? GRLC brings together top executives from brands like Chick-fil-A, Five Guys, Wendy's, Subway, and Texas Roadhouse. Alongside expert sessions and industry research, you'll experience the debut Globie Awards — honoring innovation, growth, sustainability, and community impact across the global restaurant landscape.

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11. Restaurant Finance and Development Conference - Las Vegas, NV (November 9-11, 2026)

Hundreds of attendees at the RFDC keynote session
The Restaurant Finance and Development Conference hosts a large-scale keynote session with hundreds of attendees seated in a grand ballroom.

Organized by the Restaurant Finance Monitor, RFDC is the restaurant industry's go-to financial conference for owners, operators, CFOs, and investors. Past speakers include execs from Inspire Brands, Flynn Restaurant Group, Texas Roadhouse, and Dutch Bros.

Why attend? RFDC is where the money is — literally. You'll connect with lenders, private equity investors, and dealmakers in sessions covering capital markets, M&A, and real estate strategy. The RFDCconnect service even helps you schedule one-on-one meetings before you arrive.

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12. Quick Service Restaurant Industry Congress - Warsaw, Poland (November 17-19, 2026)

Landing page of the Quick Service Restaurant Industry Congress 2026
The 2026 Quick Service Restaurant Industry Congress

QSR Industry Congress is a free, 3rd-edition trade fair and congress organized by Ptak Warsaw Expo. It's built for QSR owners, operators, and suppliers across Poland and Central Europe to explore tech, equipment, and industry trends.

Why attend? This is the only trade fair in the region built specifically for quick-service gastronomy. Beyond the expo floor, you'll access the Warsaw Quick Serve Conference, a B2B networking zone, live expert interviews in the Trade Fair Studio, and the Medal Awards Ceremony honoring industry innovation.

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Summary

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Tim Fisher
By Tim Fisher

Tim brings over two decades of experience leading at the crossroads of tech, editorial, and AI innovation. From launching and scaling Lifewire into a top-ranked tech site, to spearheading AI operations at People Inc., he’s spent his career building systems that connect people with smarter solutions.

His favorite problems are the ones that unlock new possibilities when properly solved. For Tim, problems are just undiscovered opportunities, and AI has opened the door to solving challenges once thought immovable.

When he’s not tinkering with large language models, Tim is either re-reading Project Hail Mary, or eating Mexican food.

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