Report: QSRs lead 2026 restaurant closures

An estimated 8,171 restaurant locations closed across the United States and Canada during the first half of 2026, according to the latest RestaurantData research: First-Half 2026 U.S. & Canada Restaurant Closure Report.

The United States represented 92.9% of the combined total with 7,593 closures, while Canada represented 7.1% with 579 closed locations.

The research found that closures were divided almost evenly between chain-affiliated and independent restaurants, the company said in a press release.

Of that 8,171 total:

• Chain restaurants accounted for 4,253 closures (52.1%)

• Independent restaurants accounted for 3,918 closures (47.9%).

The quick-service category led with 4,092 total closures. Of that number, chains represented 3,013 closures (73.6%), making them the majority of the closures.

A total of 2,793 casual and family dining locations closed during the same period while independent restaurants accounted for 2,318 closures (83%).

The findings indicate that chain and independent restaurant turnover was concentrated in distinctly different operating formats. Chains were more heavily represented among counter-service closures, while independents accounted for most closures involving traditional casual and family-dining restaurants, the research showed.

According to the report, Texas recorded an estimated 1,039 restaurant closures from January through June, the highest total among U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

New York ranked second with 543 estimated closures, followed by California with 391, Illinois with 356 and North Carolina with 302.