---
title: "Report: QSRs lead 2026 restaurant closures"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/cd65456c-2d69-44c6-a6b6-b46b8d5635ec
source: "QSR Web"
original_url: https://www.qsrweb.com/news/qsrs-lead-2026-restaurant-closures/
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
published: 2026-07-28T12:48:45.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:18:39.764Z
image: https://nmgprod.s3.amazonaws.com/media/file/c9/7e/1ca216d28c56ddcaa3314ceb9df1/cover_image__pOBqmYKY__AdobeStock_422634706_Editorial_U.jpeg
---

# Report: QSRs lead 2026 restaurant closures

**TL;DR:** A report by RestaurantData found that quick-service chains accounted for the majority of restaurant closures in the first half of 2026 across the U.S. and Canada, with 4,092 total closures. The closures were divided almost evenly between chain-affiliated and independent restaurants, with 4,253 chain closures and 3,918 independent closures.

*originally published in QSR Web on 2026-07-28. [Read the original](https://www.qsrweb.com/news/qsrs-lead-2026-restaurant-closures/).*

## Story

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.

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- texas (location)
- new york (location)
- California (location)
- canada (location)
- United States (location)
- north carolina (location)
- Illinois (location)
- quick service (topic)
- market research (topic)
- QSR Web (publication)
- restaurant closures (topic)

---
Originally reported by QSR Web (https://www.qsrweb.com/news/qsrs-lead-2026-restaurant-closures/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/cd65456c-2d69-44c6-a6b6-b46b8d5635ec).