9 restaurant industry fairs worth attending in 2025

2025 is fast approaching, which means it’s time to mark your calendar for the plethora of conferences and restaurant conventions planned for next year. This year’s series of restaurant fairs is not over yet – the Restaurant Finance and Development Conference is just a few weeks away.

Some programs have already published their agendas and speaker lists, planning to cover a wide range of restaurant industry topics, including finance, technology, franchise strategy and consumer trends. Many feature showroom floors with established and emerging vendors, where thousands of attendees can learn first-hand about new opportunities in hardware, digital technology and more.

To help you prioritize your travel budget, Restaurant Dive has selected the nine most popular restaurant events planned for 2025.

The best restaurant conferences in 2025

Restaurant Finance and Development Conference

November 11-13, 2024

Fountainebleau in Las Vegas, Nevada

RFDC is a financial conference for restaurant owners, operators and financial directors. Attendees can learn about key trends in the restaurant industry and capital markets through educational sessions covering topics such as capital raising strategies, third-party supply, investment trends, and mergers and acquisitions.

Speakers include executives from Inspire Brands, Flynn Restaurant Group, Papa Johns, Texas Roadhouse, Qdoba, The Habit Burger and Dutch Bros.

ICR Conference

January 13-15

JW Marriott, Orlando Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida

This invitation-only event showcases major public and private companies as they share updates on their business models and hot industry topics in the financial sector. Participants typically include corporate management teams, private equity and institutional investors, and sell-side analysts.

Last year’s presenters included Dave & Buster’s, Domino’s, Darden, Denny’s, El Pollo Loco, Fat Brands, Jack in the Box and Papa Johns.

IFA Annual Convention

February 10-13

Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada

This International Franchise Association event is designed for franchisees to learn franchise-specific business development ideas, develop personal development plans and network with other operators. The event also includes a vendor exhibition hall.

MURTEC

March 10-12

Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada

The Multi-Unit Restaurant Technology Conference features educational sessions that explore how restaurant technology can support improvements in operations, marketing, consumer experience and other aspects of the business.

MURTEC 2024 event speakers included executives from El Pollo Loco, Blaze Pizza, Dutch Bros, Panera and TGI Fridays.

Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit

March 11-13

Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The Restaurant Franchise and Innovation Summit focuses on new technologies, new marketing tactics and new menu strategies that major restaurant brands, particularly franchise brands, are using to gain an edge in a competitive marketplace.

The presenters are executives from McDonald’s, Blaze Pizza and The Halal Guys.

Curbivore

April 10-11

Downtown Los Angeles

Curbivore brings together restaurants, retailers, startups, technologists and policymakers to discuss the intersections of transportation systems, small businesses, urban design and commerce.

The 2024 event’s speaker lineup includes representatives from DoorDash, DeliverZero, Uber and EveryTable.

Restaurant Leaders Conference

April 13-16

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix

The Restaurant Leadership Conference is a place where leaders of established brands and emerging concepts can network and share strategies.

Exhibition of the National Association of Restaurateurs

May 17-20

McCormick Place in Chicago

The National Restaurant Association Show features vendor exhibits, culinary demonstrations, discussions on major industry trends, and attendee educational sessions featuring major brands and startups.

FSTEC

September 14-16

Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Kissimmee, Florida

FSTEC is a major foodservice technology conference showcasing innovations in the restaurant industry, with sessions on future trends and topics such as artificial intelligence, the future of work and consumer relationship management technologies.