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Onsite Planner & Directory The Show To Go is the official online platform and mobile app that houses your company profile and products, the official exhibitor directory, floorplan, education line-up, planner, and more.Year-round Marketplace As an exhibitor you’ll gain exposure to thousands of foodservice industry professionals year-round. Access to the platform is free for operators.

Onsite Planner & Directory The Show To Go is the official online platform and mobile app that houses your company profile and products, the official exhibitor directory, floorplan, education line-up, planner, and more.Year-round Marketplace As an exhibitor you’ll gain exposure to thousands of foodservice industry professionals year-round. Access to the platform is free for operators.

The Strategy ShiftYou're not here to browse—you're here to validate, discover, and future-proof.This year, your approach should be:Spend less time in categories you already knowPrioritize first-time exhibitors and emerging brandsFocus on what's changed in the last 12–18 monthsLook for ideas that can drive growth in the next 3–5 years Mindset: "If I've seen it before, I move on. If it's new, I go deep."

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Show Store OpenGrand Concourse, level 2.5 – includes bookstore and merchShow Store North opens at 9:30, North Hall B2 – merch only9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.National Restaurant Association Show Floor OpenView Floor Plan9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Workshop: AI Essentials for OperatorsAdditional registration required.Presented By: FinTitan & NCCOMore Info 1:00 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.)Featured Session with TechnomicGrand Ballroom, S100More Info2:30 – 4:15 p.m.Expo + Education SessionsMcCormick Place South Building 4th and 5th floor meeting rooms. Additional registration required.More Info8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Show After PartyHouse of Blues Chicago. 329 N Dearborn St. Chicago, IL 60654. Additional registration required.Title Sponsor: Shift4More Info

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Show Store OpenGrand Concourse, level 2.5 – includes bookstore and merchShow Store North opens at 9:30, North Hall B2 – merch only9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.National Restaurant Association Show Floor OpenView Floor Plan9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.Risk, Reward & Revenue: Restaurant Catering WorkshopAdditional registration required.More Info10:00 a.m.On-Floor Programming and Culinary & Beverage Demonstrations BeginMore Info10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Show Floor ToursAdditional registration required.More Info1:00 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.)Keynote '26Grand Ballroom, S100Presented By: FinTitanMore Info3:00 – 4:45 p.m.Expo + Education SessionsMcCormick Place South Building 4th and 5th floor meeting rooms. Additional registration required.More Info4:00 – 4:30 p.m.Celebrating the Future of Foodservice: A Networking Event for Young ProfessionalsDiscovery Theater, South HallMore Info7:00 – 10:00 p.m.Restaurant Show Dinner ExperiencesDiscover unique dinners curated just for you this year! Additional registration required.More Info

Focus:TECH Pavilion – AI, automation, robotics (OMG: "operations made great")POS + back-office integrationWhat You're Looking For:Tech that has moved beyond pilot phaseSystems that integrate across the operationTools improving labor, forecasting, and guest experienceKey Questions to Ask:"Who is using this successfully at scale?""What replaces this in 3 years?" Pro Tip: Book 2–3 short, pre-scheduled demos instead of browsing aimlessly. Bonus: Check out A Taste of the States for fresh flavors and premium ingredients from across America.

The Show immerses you in everything related to the restaurant and foodservice industry from special exhibits and pavilions, celebrated chefs and mixology demos, and motivating featured presentations. We hope you gained inspiring content and innovative story angles that will excite readers.

A timely topic that is highly relevant to foodservice operators and directly connected to the National Restaurant Association Show’s topic priorities, with a clear, specific focus. See What You Need to Know for details about topic priorities.Critical, real-world business strategies and practical, actionable takeaways.A well-written session description that highlights the relevance of the topic to foodservice operators, with tangible learning objectives.Speaker expertise in the proposed topic. While we prioritize operator speakers, we also welcome proposals from foodservice consultants, media and industry organizations.

Can't-Miss:Kitchen Innovations Awards Showroom → the future of back-of-house that hits differentOrganic & Natural Pavilion → plant-based, clean-label, sustainability. Give your menu a healthy glow-up with everything that tastes good and is good for your customers (and your bottom line)Discovery Theater → secure the bag for your business with practical, profit-driving strategies from the expertsPlus a killer mix of foodservice equipment, food, beverage, tableware and moreWhy Start Here: This grounds you in macro trends and operational efficiency. You'll quickly understand what's shaping the industry right now—no cap. Pro Move: Spend time exploring equipment or categories you wouldn't normally consider. This is where unexpected ROI opportunities often appear.

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Show Store OpenGrand Concourse, level 2.5 – includes bookstore and merchShow Store North opens at 9:30, North Hall B2 – merch only9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.National Restaurant Association Show Floor OpenView Floor Plan10:30 a.m.On-Floor Programming and Culinary & Beverage Demonstrations BeginMore Info11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Show Floor ToursAdditional registration required.More Info11:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.Expo + Education Sessions & NetworkingMcCormick Place South Building 4th and 5th floor meeting rooms. Additional registration required.More Info5:00 – 6:00 p.m.International ReceptionMcCormick Place meeting room, S406. Open to all international registrants.More Info

Kick off your Show experience with a networking gathering exclusively for attendees with the Expo + Education upgrade. This is your chance to connect with fellow foodservice operators and industry trailblazers in a focused setting – before you even take a seat in a session. Dive into thought-provoking conversations about the biggest challenges and exciting opportunities shaping the restaurant industry today. Whether you're looking to share insights, spark fresh ideas, or forge meaningful relationships with peers and thought leaders, this is the perfect place to make it happen. Don’t miss out—be part of the conversations that matter and the connections that last.

Level up your experience with the Expo + Education upgrade, giving you face time with expert operators so you can pull moves from their playbook for success.Get access to over 30 sessions focused on industry topics like menu inspiration, operational solutions and technology. Make connections with participants before the learning starts at an exclusive networking session and receive on-demand access to the session recordings and presentation materials following the Show.If you want a next-level Show experience, add Expo + Education to your registration! On the registration page, login with your email and confirmation number. If you’re not sure what type of badge you have or need help accessing, please reach out to restaurant@maritz.com.

If you joined us at the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show, thank you for attending! Explore highlights, key takeaways and imagery from the event below to support your coverage on the Show.The Show is where the next era of foodservice begins and where you see what is coming next before it reaches the market. Press registration for next year's Show will open in 2027.

The Show To Go enhances your event experience by providing attendees with tools to research exhibitors, products, schedule meetings and receive personalized recommendations. Accessible year-round, this platform ensures continuous engagement and visibility.

Focus:Kitchen Innovations ShowroomDiscovery Theater for our fashion show and product showcases and great insights from sponsor-led sessionsOrganic & Natural Pavilion – Clean-label, nutrient-rich, plant-based innovations that aren't just good for customers—they're good for your bottom lineWhat You're Looking For:Products/equipment launched in the last 12 monthsLabor-saving solutions with real operational impactMargin-driving sustainabilityRules:Skip vendors you already knowNo repeat conversations from previous years Key Question to Ask:"What's new this year that didn't exist last year?"

New sessions and speakers are added regularly. Check back for more details.

KI Awards Judges

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Can't-Miss:TECH Pavilion → AI, robotics, POS, automation. Check it out and you'll be saying OMG (that's "operations made great"). Cutting-edge tools that do it allTaste of the States Pavilion → fresh flavors from across America. Your hot spot for ingredients and suppliers representing the country's best new food innovationsNew activation, Lounge and Show Merchandise to exploreWhy This Matters: This is where profitability and scalability come into focus. You'll see what growing brands and multi-unit operators are investing in.Pro Move: Ask every tech vendor: "What's the fastest ROI use case you're seeing right now?"

On behalf of the National Restaurant Association Show, we invite content creators within the foodservice industry to join us for the largest, most important industry trade event of the year. This event gives an unparalleled opportunity to engage with professionals seeking to reimagine foodservice through new products, technology, concepts, and thought leadership. Content creator registration for next year’s Show will open in 2027.