2026 Franchise Summit: The Art and Science of Successful Franchising

Faegre Drinker’s 2026 Franchise Summit will bring together franchise professionals for two days of insights, discussion, and networking in Minneapolis. Designed for leaders across the franchise community, the summit will focus on the business, legal, and operational issues that matter most to franchisors today.

This year’s agenda features a mix of panel discussions, breakout sessions, and roundtables focused on hot topics pertinent to franchise systems. A few highlights from this year’s program include:

• The author of Leverage Your Mindset for Franchise Growth, Ricky Kalmon, will provide a high-energy keynote equipping franchisors with techniques for leading with greater confidence and strategies to foster a culture of performance and growth.
• A luncheon fireside chat with Sam Ballas and Matt Haller. Sam Ballas is the International Franchise Association’s 2026 chairman of the board of directors, and the founder, president, and CEO of East Coast Wings + Grill. Matt Haller has been president and CEO of the International Franchise Association since 2021, and has previously served IFA and its membership across a number of different roles.
• Programming and breakout sessions covering topics that include AI’s growing role in franchising, the evolving nature of franchise leadership, private equity, franchisee relations, development strategy, unit-level economics, and more.

From high-level strategy to actionable takeaways, this year’s Summit equips franchise professionals with tools to drive durable success. Register today!

Dates and Schedule

All times in Central time

Tuesday, August 18 - Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Tuesday

8:00 AM | Registration & Breakfast
9:00 AM | Summit Day 1 (Lunch Provided)
6:00 PM | Reception & Dinner

Wednesday

7:45 AM | Breakfast
8:30 AM | Summit Day 2 (Lunch Provided)
2:00 PM | Closing Remarks

Please note this event is in person only. Virtual attendance is not available.

Tell Me More

For detailed event information, including agenda and speakers, please visit the event website.

Questions

Contact Heather Sanders or call +1 215 988 1127.