2026 Spring Events Guide: Hospitality Trade Shows and Expos

Spring is one of the busiest seasons for restaurant trade shows, hospitality technology conferences, and food service industry events. From restaurant technology expos to large-scale hospitality trade shows, these events bring together restaurant operators, technology providers, investors, and suppliers to explore innovations shaping the future of foodservice.

This is also critical season for the industry. Leadership teams use this time to finalize tech budgets, explore scalable IT infrastructure, and address vulnerabilities like data breaches. Attending the right hospitality trade shows provides direct access to the tools and insights needed to streamline operations and optimize IT spending.

To help maximize your tech opportunities this year, we have curated a list of the top restaurant and hospitality industry events happening in March, April, and May 2026. This guide will help you identify the best venues to discover innovative IT solutions and secure your digital landscape.

March 2026  

1. Bar & Restaurant Expo

• When: March 23-25, 2026

• Where: Las Vegas, NV

• What: One of the leading restaurant trade shows in the country, the Bar & Restaurant Expo brings together operators, suppliers, and hospitality technology vendors to explore innovations in restaurant operations, marketing, and guest experience. The event attracts more than 10,000 industry professionals and features educational sessions on restaurant management, menu innovation, and hospitality technology solutions. 

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2. The Food Marketing Conference

• When: March 24-25, 2026

• Where: Kalamazoo, MI

• What: The Food Marketing Conference (FMC) is an annual food industry event hosted by the Western Michigan University that brings together leaders from across the food, grocery, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries.

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3. International Pizza Expo

• When: March 24-26, 2026

• Where: Las Vegas, NV

• What: The International Pizza Expo is the largest pizza-focused restaurant trade show in the world, attracting thousands of pizzeria operators, suppliers, and technology providers. The event features demonstrations, competitions, education sessions, and an expansive expo floor showcasing equipment, ingredients, and restaurant technology solutions.

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4. Food, Drink & Hospitality Week

• When: March 30-April 1, 2026

• Where: London, UK

• What: This large European hospitality trade event includes multiple co-located shows such as HRC (Hotel, Restaurant & Catering) and Hospitality Tech360. It showcases cutting-edge foodservice technology, commercial kitchen equipment, and hospitality solutions for operators across restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses.

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April 2026

1. AAHOA Convention & Trade Show 

 

• When: April 8-10, 2026

• Where: Philadelphia, PA 

• What: The AAHOA Convention & Trade Show is one of the hospitality industry’s premier events, bringing together thousands of hotel owners, operators, and suppliers for education, networking, and one of the largest trade show floors focused on hospitality technology, services, and solutions.

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2. Restaurant Leadership Conference

 

• When: April 19-22, 2026

• Where: Phoenix, AZ 

• What: The Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC) is one of the top executive-level restaurant industry conferences, focused on strategy, innovation, and growth. It brings together C-suite leaders, investors, and restaurant technology companies to discuss the future of foodservice.

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May 2026

1. HD Expo & Conference

 

• When: May 5-7, 2026

• Where: Las Vegas, NV

• What: HD Expo + Conference is a premier event focused on hospitality design, guest experience, and hotel and restaurant environments. While primarily design-focused, the event increasingly highlights technology that enhances hospitality spaces and customer experiences.

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2. National Restaurant Association Show

• When: May 16-19, 2026

• Where: Chicago, IL

• What: The National Restaurant Association Show is the largest restaurant trade show in the Western Hemisphere, featuring more than 2,000 exhibitors and innovations across food, beverage, restaurant technology, and equipment.

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3. NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum 

• When: May 31-June 1, 2026

• Where: New York, NY

• What: This global hospitality investment conference brings together hotel owners, developers, investors, and hospitality executives to explore capital markets, technology investment, and hospitality industry growth.

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Turning Events Insights Into Success  

Walking the floor at these 2026 spring hospitality trade shows will introduce you to countless new tools and platforms. However, identifying the right restaurant technology is only the first step. Implementing these complex systems across multiple locations requires expert guidance and a meticulously planned rollout strategy.

Growth-stage hospitality brands need a trusted partner to navigate vendor selection, manage M&A IT integrations, and ensure data security. Break Bread Consulting provides strategic fractional IT leadership tailored specifically to the hospitality sector. We help you translate the innovative ideas you discover at industry events into seamless, scalable tech deployments that drive operational efficiency.

By leveraging our specialized expertise, you can confidently optimize your IT budget, secure your digital landscape, and elevate your overall guest experience. For the latest trends, industry news and hospitality events, visit our Break Bread Consulting Blog. And stay tuned for our Summer Events Guide coming out in late May!