Wendy’s has closed nearly 300 restaurants in 2026. Are more closures coming?

Wendy’s has already shut down hundreds of restaurants across the United States this year as the burger chain attempts to reverse declining sales. But with the company still struggling to attract customers, could more locations disappear before the end of 2026?

Wendy’s closes 289 restaurants in first half of 2026

Wendy’s closed 289 U.S. restaurants during the first half of 2026 as part of a plan to eliminate underperforming locations and strengthen its remaining business. The closures were confirmed in the company’s second-quarter earnings report released in August. 

The closures followed an announcement in February that Wendy’s planned to shut down approximately 5% to 6% of its U.S. restaurant footprint, representing an estimated 298 to 358 locations. The company said the strategy was intended to improve franchisee profitability and focus resources on restaurants with stronger growth potential 

Wendy’s financial performance has added pressure to its turnaround efforts. According to the transcript of the second-quarter earnings call, U.S. same-restaurant sales fell 7% in the second quarter compared with the previous year, while customer traffic declined 12.5% 

Are more Wendy’s restaurants closing?

Additional closures remain possible, although Wendy’s has not announced a new companywide closure target beyond its previously disclosed program. In August, the company withdrew its full-year 2026 financial outlook as new leadership worked on a broader turnaround strategy 

Meanwhile, individual franchisees continue to face challenges. Meritage Hospitality Group, a major Wendy’s franchise operator, filed for bankruptcy protection and announced plans to close as many as 30 restaurants, with shutdowns scheduled through October 16.

For now, customers should not assume another nationwide closure wave has been confirmed. However, continued financial pressure and franchisee restructuring mean additional individual restaurant shutdowns remain a possibility.

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