“IFA26: Evolve” featured business leaders, franchise executives, and IFA leadership together at the No. 1 franchising event in the country; IFA members rallied around the American Franchise Act and reinforced the Franchise Means Local message; new research center announced

LAS VEGAS, NEV. – Under the powerful theme of “Evolve,” the International Franchise Association (IFA) this week held its 2026 Annual Convention, convening franchise executives, franchise business owners, and industry professionals from across the country. The three-day convention, featuring new formats and experiences, is the premier event for franchising bringing thousands of people together from all three segments of franchising in the U.S. and around the globe, including over 500 brands and 300 exhibiting parters.

“Franchising stands at an exciting inflection point, and ‘Evolve’ captures the spirit of adaptation, innovation, and forward momentum that defines our community,” stated Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO. “This year’s convention was more than an event – it was a transformational platform where franchise leaders could connect, network, learn from the best, and position their businesses for sustained success in 2026 and beyond. IFA has transformational goals for the year ahead, and the Annual Convention set the association and our members on a strong path to achieve them.”

Speaking from the main stage, Haller identified top priorities for the association – and franchising at large – including passage of the American Franchise Act, telling the franchisee story, and strengthening the franchise business model by providing unmatched value for IFA members and the people they serve. Read the top takeaways here.

Featured speakers this year included:

• Daymond John, Star of ABC’s Shark Tank; Founder/CEO of FUBU
• Kat Cole, CEO, AG1, former President and COO, Focus Brands
• Codie Sanchez, Co-Owner, ResiBrands; Founder & CEO, Contrarian Thinking
• Andrew T. Cathy, Chief Executive Officer, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
• Greg Flynn, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Flynn Group
• Curtis Dubay, Chief Economist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Dave Mortensen, Co-founder and Board Member, Purpose Brands
• Chuck Runyon, Co-founder and Co-Chair, Board of Directors, Purpose Brands
• Mary Kennedy Thompson, CFE, IFA Chair; CEO, BNI
• Sam Ballas, CFE, Incoming IFA Chair; CEO, President & Founder, East Coast Wings + Grill
• Gary Robins, Incoming IFA Vice Chair; President, The G & C Robins Company
• Matt Haller, President & CEO, International Franchise Association

Haller announced the formation of the IFA Franchise Research and Innovation Center, a new centralized resource for franchising research connecting IFA members with new, recurring, data-driven insights – developed in partnership with FRANdata, ProfitKeeper, FranConnect, and Franchise Business Review.

IFA also celebrated the five recipients of the IFA Major Awards, the most prestigious awards in franchising, and recognized over 200 franchise professionals who received their Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation – a record breaking number of graduates and new participants in the program that reinforces IFA’s commitment to enhancing franchising from within. Additionally, IFA’s Franchise Means Local campaign was central throughout the event, providing opportunities for franchisees to share their story and local impact.

The event comes a week after IFA released its annual Franchising Economic Outlook showing that franchise businesses enter 2026 positioned for continued growth after a 2025 marked by of macroeconomic turbulence. The Economic Outlook projects franchising to provide for the creation of over 12,000 new businesses, supporting nearly 8.9 million jobs, and franchise output rising by 1.6%, exceeding $920 billion dollars.

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About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 832,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $907.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.