Returning Attendees: "What's New" at The 2026 National Restaurant Association Show

Go here first—but with a filter.

Focus Areas:

• New exhibitors (first-time at the Show) – Check The Show To Go app for a First-Time Exhibitor icon
• Kitchen Innovations Award Showroom in the South Hall
• The Discovery Theater for our Fashion Show and Product Showcase sessions
• Organic & Natural Pavilion – Clean-label, nutrient-rich, plant-based innovations that aren't just good for customers—they're good for your bottom line

What You're Looking For (and Should Linger):

• Labor-saving equipment that actually reduces headcount
• Sustainability that drives margin—not just messaging
• Ingredients/products built for off-premise and multi-channel growth

Skip:

• Vendors you already have relationships with
• Legacy brands showing incremental updates

Pro Move:
Ask: "What have you launched in the last 12 months that didn't exist before?"

Focus Areas:

• TECH Pavilion – AI, automation, robotics, predictive analytics (OMG: "operations made great")
• Emerging POS + back-office integrations
• Ordering, personalization, and loyalty platforms

What You're Looking For:

• Tech that has moved from "pilot" to "proven"
• Tools that reduce friction across the entire guest journey
• Systems that integrate (not create more silos)

What's New in 2026 Directionally:

• AI moving from novelty to operational necessity
• Automation expanding beyond QSR into full-service
• Smarter forecasting + labor optimization tools

Pro Move:
Ask:

• "Who is successfully using this at scale right now?"
• "What replaces this in 3 years?"

Bonus: Hit the Innovation Theater in the TECH Pavilion for smart strategies on data-driven decisions and operational efficiency.

This is where future consumer demand shows up first.

Focus Areas:

• Global Food Expo – Emerging cuisines, ingredients, formats (think French oils, Italian pasta, Australian beef, Taiwanese seasonings)
• The Beverage Room – No/low cocktails, functional beverages, adult beverage trends that add dollars to your revenue stream
• The Culinary Experience Stage – Trend translation into menus with live demos from culinary icons

What You're Looking For:

• Flavors and formats not yet saturated in the U.S.
• Beverage programs that drive incremental revenue
• Menu ideas built for social, off-premise, and experience

What's New in 2026 Directionally:

• Zero-proof becoming permanent, not trend-driven
• Global flavors becoming more regional and specific
• Beverage driving check growth more than food in some segments

Pro Move:
Don't just taste—ask: "How is this performing in-market today?"

Bonus: Check out the Global Food Expo for innovative culinary trends, organic food solutions, and networking opportunities for foodservice professionals and industry leaders.

You don't need "what is happening." You need "what should I do about it."

Prioritize Sessions That Cover:

• Scaling with fewer people
• Re-engineering menus for profitability
• AI + automation case studies (real operators)
• Changing consumer behavior (Gen Z, off-premise, value perception)

Pro Move:
Sit in sessions where speakers share:

• Numbers
• Failures
• What they would do differently

Bonus: Hit the Discovery Theater on the show floor for practical, profit-driving strategies on scaling operations, modernizing menus, and boosting ROI.

You likely already have a network—this year is about deepening and upgrading it.

Where to Spend Time:

• Small group meetups (segment-specific) – Find your people and have real talk about what works
• Private dinners and hosted events
• Restaurant Show After-Party at House of Blues (but with intention—no FOMO, just focused connections)

Who to Seek Out:

• Operators growing right now
• Brands scaling across multiple channels
• People solving problems you're actively facing

Pro Move:
Instead of "What do you do?" ask:

• "What's working for you right now that wasn't last year?"
• "What are you betting on next?"

Bonus: Attend the Restaurant Show After Party at House of Blues on Monday, May 18 from 8:00-11:00pm (let's keep it 100: you will get FOMO if you don't go)

1. Walk only new exhibitors in one full hall
2. Spend 60 minutes in the TECH Pavilion (focused, not browsing)
3. Identify three technologies that are now truly scalable
4. Taste five global concepts you've never seen before
5. Attend two operator-led strategy sessions
6. Touch base with brands you currently do business with—but don't linger
7. Have three high-quality, 20-minute conversations (not quick intros)
8. Attend one curated or private networking experience
9. Identify two ideas you could implement within 90 days
10. Identify one "future bet" for the next 3–5 years