2025 is another busy year chock full of restaurant conferences, which means it’s time to mark your calendars for the plethora of industry events planned for this year.
Some shows have already posted their agendas and speaker lists, with plans to discuss a broad range of restaurant industry topics including finance, tech, franchise strategy and consumer trends. Many feature showroom floors with established and up-and-coming vendors, where thousands of attendees can find new opportunities in equipment, digital technology and more firsthand.
To help you prioritize your travel budget, Restaurant Dive has selected the buzziest restaurant events scheduled for 2025.
Top restaurant conferences in 2025
Feb. 10-13
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
This International Franchise Association event is designed for franchisees to learn franchise-specific business development ideas, develop plans for personal growth and network with other operators. The event also includes a vendor exhibit hall.
Featured speakers include Anand Gala, managing partner at Gala Capital Springs; Liz Gehringer, president and CEO of Anywhere Franchise Brands; Patrick Doyle, executive chairman of Restaurant Brands International; and Sam Ballas, CEO and co-founder of East Coast Wings + Grill/Sammy’s Sliders.
MURTEC
March 10-12
Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada
The Multi-unit Restaurant Technology Conference includes education sessions that explore how restaurant technology can foster improvements in operations, marketing, consumer experience and other aspects of the business.
Keynote speakers are Damola Adamolekun, Red Lobster’s CEO and Christopher Thomas-Moore, SVP and chief digital officer at Domino’s. Additional speakers hail from Jersey Mike’s, Hot Head Burritos, City Barbecue, Union Square Hospitality Group, Cooper’s Hawk, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Blaze Pizza, The Restaurant People and Jack in the Box/Del Taco
Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit.
March 11-13
Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit is focused on the new technology, new marketing tactics and new menu strategies major restaurant brands, particularly franchised brands, are using to get ahead in a competitive market.
Presenters include executives from Woworks, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, Wetzel’s Pretzels and many others.
Curbivore
April 10-11
Downtown Los Angeles
Curbivore draws restaurants, retailers, startups, technologists and policy makers to discuss the intersection of transportation systems, small business, urban design and commerce.
The event’s 2024 speaker list included representatives from DoorDash, DeliverZero, Uber and EveryTable.
Restaurant Leadership Conference
April 13-16
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, Phoenix
The Restaurant Leadership Conference serves as a place for leaders from established brands and up-and-coming concepts to connect and share strategies.
More than 100 speakers are scheduled to attend the conference.
The RLC has events featuring executives including Christine Barone, CEO and president at Dutch Bros Coffee; Rob Lynch, CEO of Shake Shack; Kevin Hochman, Brinker International’s CEO; and Bill Phelp’s, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken.
National Restaurant Association Show
May 17-20
McCormick Place, Chicago
The National Restaurant Association Show features exhibits from suppliers, culinary demonstrations, discussions of major industry trends and learning sessions for attendees featuring major brands and startups.
FSTEC
Sept. 14-16
Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Kissimmee, FL
FSTEC is a major foodservice technology conference showcasing innovations in the restaurant industry, with sessions on forward-looking trends and topics like artificial intelligence, the future of work and consumer relationship management tech. FS/TEC will feature more than 70 speakers this year.
Restaurant Finance & Development Conference
Nov. 10-12, 2025
The Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada
RFDC is a financial conference for restaurant owners, operators and financial executives. Attendees can learn about key trends in restaurant business and capital markets during educational sessions covering topics including capital raising strategies, third-party delivery, investment and merger and acquisition trends.
Speakers in 2024 included executives from Inspire Brands, Flynn Restaurant Group, Papa Johns, Texas Roadhouse, Qdoba, The Habit Burger and Dutch Bros.
