Chain restaurants are closing hundreds of locations across the US in 2026. See the list.

Some fast-food and fast-casual chains are shrinking their footprints in 2026, as restaurants navigate a difficult environment marked by rising costs, cautious consumers, and intensifying competition for diners’ dollars.

Restaurant chains including Wendy’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster, Starbucks, and Bahama Breeze have closed locations or announced plans to do so this year.

Some are pulling back from underperforming restaurants, while others are restructuring or refocusing on more profitable markets.

The planned closures come amid a challenging few years for restaurant chains, driven by inflation, rising labor costs, and shifting customer preferences.

Some brands have leaned on value meals and innovations to bring more customers through the door. “What’s really worked within quick service hasn’t been value, as much,” TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles previously told Business Insider. “Value is important, but you look at when McDonald’s, Burger King, etc, have done well — it’s really when they have great menu innovation or great marketing that they really see customers respond.” Several chains have announced broad closure plans, while others have quietly or abruptly shuttered individual restaurants since the start of the year.