National Restaurant Association Show May 16–19

The National Restaurant Association Show opens Saturday, May 16, at McCormick Place in Chicago, with organizers pitching the four-day event as a showcase for food, beverage, equipment and restaurant technology. The show runs through Tuesday, May 19, and the official event site says attendees will see products spanning kitchen equipment, sustainable packaging, plant-based foods, beverages and “cutting-edge technology.” Nation’s Restaurant News reported on May 14 that more than 53,000 foodservice professionals are expected to gather in Chicago for the annual event. Lisa Malikow, senior vice president of the Restaurant Show, told NRN the show is built to help operators find ideas across food trends, technology and day-to-day operations. ### How big is this year’s gathering? (nationalrestaurantshow.com) McCormick Place is the venue for the 2026 show, which the National Restaurant Association’s event calendar lists for May 16-19 in Chicago. The official show site says the floor will be open Saturday through Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 53,000 attendees is the headline figure cited by NRN in its preview of the event. (nrn.com) That publication described the show as a four-day annual gathering focused on what operators can use in menus, service, payments and back-of-house execution. ### Which product categories are drawing attention on the show floor? The official National Restaurant Show site says the event will feature kitchen equipment, sustainable packaging, plant-based foods, beverages and technology. (nationalrestaurantshow.com) An event brief published by Informa Connect says the trip is aimed at giving operators access to “contacts, solutions, and opportunities” across the foodservice business. (nrn.com) NRN’s preview also pointed readers to food trends and restaurant tech as two of the main areas to watch. That framing matches the association calendar language, which says attendees can look for menu ideas and tools to streamline service and payments. ### What is Tractor Beverage bringing to Chicago? Tractor Beverage Company said on March 19 that it won four 2026 Food and Beverage Awards for its Organic Craft Haymaker ready-to-drink line, with one award for each flavor in the lineup. (nationalrestaurantshow.com) The company said Citrus Ginger was also named a “FABI Favorite,” and Tom Cindric, president of exhibitions for Informa Connect Foodservice Group, said those favorites spotlight products that “exemplify the future of food and beverage.” (nrn.com) The Denver-based company said the Haymaker line debuted in foodservice in February 2026. Tractor said each 12-ounce can contains a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar, real fruit, 5 grams of sugar and 20 to 25 calories, details it is using to market the line to restaurant operators. (prnewswire.com) ### What are Wink and Elo planning to demonstrate? Wink said it will demonstrate face-based loyalty, payments and personalization on Elo kiosks and point-of-sale terminals during the show in Chicago. A press release distributed on May 14 said the demo will be at booth #6045 during the May 16-19 event. (prnewswire.com) Elo’s event page separately lists the National Restaurant Show at North Hall booth #6045, and the company’s events calendar gives the same Chicago date and booth location. Wink’s partner page says its software is designed to bring biometric checkout, loyalty and personalized experiences to Elo touchscreen devices. ### Where do operators go next? Chicago is the next stop for exhibitors and buyers beginning May 16, when the show floor opens at McCormick Place. (tennessean.com) Elo says its team will be in North Hall at booth #6045, while Tractor Beverage is promoting its award-winning Haymaker line ahead of the event’s Tuesday, May 19 close. (nationalrestaurantshow.com) (elotouch.com)