2026 High School Visitation Program

The National Restaurant Association Show is where foodservice professionals from across the United States and around the globe come together to learn about innovations, discover unique ingredients, explore emerging trends, find inspiring insights and so much more. We are delighted to give your culinary and hospitality students the chance to experience the industry’s premier event and explore the exciting and unique career opportunities the foodservice industry offers.

Benefits of participating in the 2026 High School Visitation Program include:

• Attendance on Monday, 5/18/26, or Tuesday, 5/19/26, of the National Restaurant Association Show at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center.
• Access to the Show Floor, with 2,000+ exhibiting companies located across three halls.
• Access to all on-floor programming, including celebrated chef demos and other culinary-focused sessions.
• Opportunities to speak with colleges and universities offering culinary programs.
• Opportunities to interact with leaders from various sectors across the foodservice industry via the pre-Show high school orientation session.
• Reduced Show badge rate: We are pleased to offer a reduced registration rate of $40 per student / chaperone. If accepted into the program, payment will be due at the time of registration.

Important note for Chicago Public Schools whose Show registration was previously funded through the Illinois Restaurant Association Education Foundation (IRAEF): We have been proud to partner with the Illinois Restaurant Association Education Foundation to provide opportunities for Chicago Publics School culinary and hospitality students to attend the Show. In past years, the IRAEF has covered initial program costs. However, this year all accepted CPS participants must now pay for their students and chaperones out of their own budget and submit payments directly to the National Restaurant Association Show. Payment will be due during the registration period, and more details about the payment process will be provided when registration opens in January 2026.

High school students that are currently enrolled in an active culinary or hospitality program, and their instructors and chaperones.

• A representative for your school (Instructor/Administrator) should complete the application on behalf of your culinary/hospitality students. We do not accept applications from individual high school students.
• In the application, you will be required to submit proof of your culinary/hospitality program in the form of a curriculum and/or syllabus.
• All students must be at least 16 years of age, and chaperones must be at least 21 years of age. You must have 1 chaperone for every 4 students.
• Space is limited. Applying to participate does not guarantee acceptance.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to participate in in the High School Visitation Program, schools must:

• Complete the program application and be accepted into the program. Please see How to Apply (link to How to Apply section) for more details.
• Register your school. All accepted schools must register their students and chaperones for the Show and wear their Show badges to gain entry onto the Show Floor. Show badges are distributed after the conclusion of the orientation session.
• Meet the age requirement. All students must be at least 16 years of age. Proof of age may be requested.
• Make payment in full at time of registration. We are pleased to offer a reduced registration rate of $40 per student / chaperone. If accepted into the program, payment will be due at the time of registration. (Important Note for CPS participants that were previously funded through the IRAEF: all schools must now pay for their students and chaperones out of their own budget and submit payment to the National Restaurant Association Show directly. Payment will be due during the registration period, and details about the payment process will be provided when registration opens in January 2026.)
• Bring and register enough chaperones. There must be 1 chaperone for every 4 students. Students must be accompanied by a chaperone at all times.
• Attend the Orientation. All students and chaperones must attend an orientation session before entering the Show floor. There are two orientation sessions available: one on Monday, 5/18/26 at 9:30 am CT and one on Tuesday, 5/19/26 at 9:30 am CT. You may select your preferred session time in the application. Due to limited space, we are not able to guarantee your preferred orientation time. We will confirm your orientation time when we notify you about the status of your application.

• Please complete the online application, and submit along with the required supporting documentation. The application must be completed by a school instructor/administrator on behalf of the culinary or hospitality program. Applications open on September 8, 2025.
• Deadline to apply is October 31, 2025.
• Applications will be reviewed by a team of industry professionals, and notification of acceptance/declines will be sent via email by November 10, 2025.
• Space is limited. Applying to participate does not guarantee acceptance.
• If accepted, you will be sent additional information on how to register individual students and chaperones. Registration will be open early January 2026.

Questions?
Contact RestaurantShowPrograms@informa.com