National Restaurant Association Show returns to Chicago with 53,000+ attendees and 2,000 vendors
The 105th edition of the NRA Show draws foodservice operators from 100 countries to McCormick Place across 700,000 sq ft. Agenda highlights include an Agassi keynote, the MenuMasters gala, AI assistant Lina, new drive-thru POS entrants, protein-forward menu trends, and beverage automation showcases.
The 2026 National Restaurant Association Show opens in Chicago, drawing 53,000+ foodservice pros and 2,000 vendors. Highlights: Agassi keynote, MenuMasters gala, AI assistant Lina, drive-thru POS entrants, protein-everywhere menu trends, and beverage automation.
Why this matters
The NRA Show's scale signals sustained foodservice industry footfall, with operator turnout reinforcing in-person trade event demand and vendor appetite for AI, POS, and automation showcases.
Footfall trend is steady, with 18 signals logged across the past 90 days.