Evolving Together: IFA26 Hosts Thousands of Franchise Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Suppliers at Signature Event

Source: Franchising.com 

By: Kevin Behan

The International Franchise Association hosted its Annual Convention, February 23-25, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The convention, which is the largest and most influential gathering in franchising, drew thousands of franchise leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs for unmatched learning, connection, and growth.

The theme of this year’s convention was “Evolve,” which reflected a transformational experience built for franchising. The three-day event featured new formats and experiences designed to help attendees evolve their brand, team, and leadership. It also included roundtable discussions, breakout sessions, expert-led panels, and a supplier showcase. The convention brought together all three segments of franchising in the U.S. and around the globe, including more than 500 brands and 300 exhibiting partners.

“Franchising stands at an exciting inflection point, and ‘Evolve’ captures the spirit of adaptation, innovation, and forward momentum that defines our community,” said 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.”

Addressing the audience at the opening general session, Haller identified top priorities for the IFA, 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. His top takeaways can be found here.

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. It features financial performance data, operational and engagement insights, and system-wide intelligence across the franchise landscape. The center was developed in partnership with FRANdata, ProfitKeeper, FranConnect, and Franchise Business Review.

Haller was joined onstage during the opening session by outgoing IFA Chair Mary Kennedy Thompson, as they discussed the state of franchising in a “Franchise Tonight!”-style monologue and news segment. Thompson passed the ceremonial gavel to incoming IFA Chair Sam Ballas, CEO, president, and founder of East Coast Wings + Grill and Sammy’s Sliders.

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

The convention came a week after the IFA released its annual Franchising Economic Outlook, showing that franchise businesses enter 2026 positioned for continued growth after a 2025 marked by 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 percent, exceeding $920 billion.

Mark your calendar now for next year’s IFA Annual Convention, which will be held February 22-24, 2027, again at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.