May 16–19, 2026
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL
Young Professional Scholarship Program
Applications open in January 2026.
The National Restaurant Association Show is seeking ambitious emerging professionals to apply for the Young Professionals Scholarship Program. This scholarship is designed to help rising stars accelerate their careers and make meaningful connections that will shape their future success. Scholarship recipients get a complimentary Show badge and hotel stay covered, along with exclusive resources designed to help them make the most of every opportunity!
Scholarship Benefits:
- Complimentary registration, including access to Expo + Education.
- Complimentary hotel accommodations for the duration of the Show.
- VIP perks: Reserved keynote seating, a Show floor tour and curated agenda with suggested sessions, activities and exhibitors to visit.
Who Can Apply:
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 35 as of the 2026 Show.
- Be a foodservice operator (not open to exhibitors or non-exhibiting suppliers), and be currently employed within the foodservice industry.
- Be a U.S. resident able to travel to Chicago for the Show.
Application Requirements:
Complete the online application by March 13th, including:
- Written responses to career-related questions.
- A referral from a foodservice colleague. Click here for the template to use that should be uploaded with the application.
- A brief video submission.
Ready to take your career to the next level? Don’t miss this opportunity to grow, connect and gain recognition at the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show.
Rules & Regulations
Individuals applying for the Young Professionals Scholarship Program (YPSP) must abide by the rules and regulations as listed below, and the Show Policies found on the National Restaurant Association Show Website. Scholarship benefits (badge, hotel, tickets, etc.) are intended for the scholarship recipient only and are non-transferable.
Participant Requirements
Applicants must be over the age of 21 and under 35 as of May 16th, 2025, and willing and able to travel on their own expense to the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, IL.
The Young Professionals Scholarship program is only open to restaurant/foodservice professionals (non-suppliers) and/or hospitality students. Applications will not be accepted from exhibiting companies or non-exhibiting suppliers. Applicants must be currently employed within the foodservice industry.
Applicants must reside in the United States.
Application Requirements
All submissions must be completed by 11:59pm Central Time on Friday, March 13th in order to be considered. There are three major components to the application:
- Online application
- Application video
- Written referral
Scholarship Benefits
Scholarship recipients will receive the following benefits:
- One complimentary badge to the 2026 Show, including access to Expo + Education sessions (a $250 value). Click here to learn more about what’s included with an Expo + Education badge.
- One complimentary hotel room (up to 4 nights) within the National Restaurant Association Show room block.
Scholarship benefits (badge, hotel, tickets, etc.) are intended for the scholarship recipient only and are non-transferable.
Badge/Registration
Each scholarship recipient will receive one complimentary badge to the 2026 Show. Scholarship recipients are responsible for registering themselves using the comp code provided by Show Management, and the badge is printed and picked up onsite. Show badges must always be worn while at McCormick Place and are required to gain access to the exhibit hall, keynote and featured session, and Expo + Education sessions.
Travel
Scholarship recipients must be able and willing to travel to the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, IL from May 16th-19th. Travel expenses such as flights, gas, taxis, meals, etc. are not covered by the Restaurant Show.
Scholarship recipients will receive one complimentary hotel stay, including room fees & taxes. Ancillary room charges such as room service, parking, etc. are not covered by the Restaurant Show. Scholarship recipients must provide a credit card upon check-in to cover these costs. Check in/check out dates must range between Friday, May 15th- Wednesday, May 20th.
Would you like to be notified via email when the application opens in January 2026?
