National Restaurant Association show opens May 16
- National Restaurant Association Show opened in Chicago on May 16, with four days of exhibits, demos and meetings at McCormick Place through May 19. - More than 53,000 foodservice professionals from 100 countries and 2,000 vendors are expected at the 105th edition, according to Restaurant Business. - The show continues through May 19 at McCormick Place, where Hormel Foods and Lagoon Furniture are among exhibitors.
The National Restaurant Association Show opened Saturday, May 16, at McCormick Place in Chicago, starting four days of product launches, equipment demos and operator meetings at one of the foodservice industry’s largest annual trade gatherings. The event runs through Tuesday, May 19, according to the show’s official website. The 2026 edition is the 105th year of the show, Restaurant Business reported, and this year’s floor includes food, beverage, technology, furniture and packaging suppliers. The show’s website lists floor hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Saturday through Monday and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Registration materials list an expo badge at $199 for most attendee categories, with an education add-on priced at $250. ### How big is this year’s event? Restaurant Business said more than 53,000 foodservice professionals from 100 countries are expected to attend, alongside more than 2,000 vendors across roughly 700,000 square feet of exhibit space. (nationalrestaurantshow.com) The publication described the show as the largest foodservice convention in the Western Hemisphere. The National Restaurant Association Show’s official materials describe the event as a gathering point for operators looking at kitchen equipment, packaging, plant-based foods, beverages and restaurant technology. The show floor also includes keynote and featured sessions, according to the registration page. ### Why is Hormel Foods bringing the SPAM Dog to Chicago? (restaurantbusinessonline.com) Hormel Foods announced the SPAM Dog on May 14, calling it a new hot dog-style product made with SPAM and aimed at foodservice operators ahead of the summer season. The company said the product would make its national debut at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago after an earlier rollout in select regional markets. (nationalrestaurantshow.com) Haley Eggum, brand manager of the SPAM brand, said in the company’s release that the product gives operators “something both familiar and surprising.” Hormel said the SPAM Dog is designed for roller grills at restaurants, convenience stores and arenas, and that distribution will expand this summer to additional locations including stadiums and convenience stores. (investor.hormelfoods.com) ### Which other exhibitors are using the show to pitch operators? Lagoon Furniture said in a May 15 release that it is exhibiting at the Chicago show with indoor, outdoor and multi-use dining furniture aimed at restaurant and hospitality spaces. The company said its display includes seating, dining and lounge collections built for frequent use and outdoor exposure. (investor.hormelfoods.com) Lagoon said the products it is highlighting include the Venice Table, Naples seating, Sensilla Resin Bar Stool, Rue Rattan Bar Stool and Milos Resin Bar Stools. The company said its pitch to operators centers on durability, low maintenance and layouts that can shift across patios, dining rooms and bar areas. (prnewswire.com) ### What else is on the schedule beyond the exhibit floor? Restaurant Business reported that tennis player Andre Agassi is scheduled for a Sunday 1 p.m. fireside chat with National Restaurant Association President and CEO Michelle Korsmo in the Grand Ballroom. The same report said Technomic Managing Principal Joe Pawlak is scheduled to speak Monday at 1 p.m. with executives from Whataburger, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and Applebee’s. (prnewswire.com) The show website also promotes live culinary and beverage demos, keynote sessions and networking areas, including a “Match Point Market” activation in the North Hall. Official materials say attendees can use the show app and pocket guide to navigate the floor. ### When does the show wrap up? Tuesday, May 19, is the final day of the 2026 show, with floor hours ending at 3 p.m., according to the official event site. (restaurantbusinessonline.com) Exhibitors including Hormel Foods and Lagoon Furniture are using the four-day run in Chicago to meet operators, buyers and distributors as the event continues at McCormick Place. (nationalrestaurantshow.com)
