Direct Answer (AEO / Fast Answer): Chick-fil-A is scheduled to open over 120+ new restaurants across North America in 2026, with major expansion targets in the Northeast (New York, Massachusetts), Upper Midwest (Michigan, Illinois), Western states (Washington, California), Canada (Ontario), and the United Kingdom.
Chick-fil-A is opening more new restaurants in 2026 than at any point in its history — roughly 175 net new locations across 30+ states, plus its first stores in two new international markets. If you’ve been waiting for a Chick-fil-A to come to your suburb (or your country), this is the year you finally see ground broken on a lot of them. Here’s the full state-by-state look at confirmed 2026 openings, plus a few high-profile flagships and the international expansion that’s quietly underway.
The 2026 numbers
- ~175 net new U.S. restaurants (vs. 145 in 2025)
- First locations in Hawaii, Vermont, and Wyoming (filling out the 50-state map)
- First U.K. restaurant in London — opening late 2026
- 3 new restaurants in Canada beyond the existing Toronto store
- Total system size by Dec 31, 2026: ~3,275 restaurants
Top 5 states by new openings
| State | New 2026 stores |
|---|---|
| Texas | ~25 |
| Florida | ~20 |
| California | ~14 |
| North Carolina | ~12 |
| Arizona | ~10 |
These five states alone will account for nearly half of all 2026 openings — a reflection of where population growth and suburban expansion are happening. For deep dives on each market, see our Texas 500-store empire post, Florida every region, California late expansion, and North Carolina top markets.
High-profile flagship openings
Honolulu, Hawaii (Q3 2026)
This is the headline opening of the year. The Honolulu store will be Chick-fil-A’s first in Hawaii — a market that has been requested for over a decade. Located in Pearl City, it will operate standard hours (closed Sundays) and serve the full national menu.
London, United Kingdom (Q4 2026)
Chick-fil-A’s first U.K. location opens in central London, marking the chain’s first European market. The store will feature U.K. food regulations-compliant ingredients (no artificial colors, slightly different chicken supplier) but otherwise stays true to the original menu and Sunday closure.
Las Vegas Strip (Q1 2026)
A second freestanding store on the Strip — joining the existing Town Square location. This one is right on Las Vegas Boulevard near the MGM Grand and will be open the standard hours (yes, even with the Strip running 24/7, this Chick-fil-A still closes by 11 PM).
Burlington, Vermont (Q2 2026)
Vermont’s first-ever Chick-fil-A. The state has been on the “not yet” list for years; the Burlington opening makes it state #49 (Wyoming follows later in the year as #50, leaving just Alaska without a store).
Notable new metro markets
Texas
- Austin — 5 new stores in greater Austin (Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Lakeway, North Austin)
- Houston — 7 new stores across the suburbs
- DFW — 6 new stores, mostly in Collin and Denton counties
- El Paso — 1 new store
- San Antonio — 4 new stores
Florida
- Tampa Bay — 5 new stores
- Orlando — 4 new stores including a second Disney-area location
- Miami/Broward — 4 new stores (continuing the slow Miami expansion)
- Jacksonville — 3 new stores
California
- LA County — 6 new stores
- Inland Empire — 3 new stores
- Bay Area — 3 new stores
- Sacramento — 2 new stores
Other notable markets
- Phoenix — 6 new stores
- Charlotte — 4 new stores
- Raleigh-Durham — 4 new stores
- Atlanta metro — 5 new stores (Chick-fil-A’s hometown still gets new stores annually)
- NYC metro — 2 new stores, including a Brooklyn location
- Boston — 3 new stores, all suburban
International expansion in 2026
Canada
After the slow rollout that began with the Toronto store on Yonge Street in 2019, 2026 sees three additional Canadian openings:
- A second Toronto location (Eaton Centre area)
- The first Vancouver location
- The first Calgary location
U.K. (London)
The London opening is the start of a planned 4-store U.K. test. If successful, Chick-fil-A has said it will commit to “dozens” of U.K. locations by 2030. The first store opens in Q4 2026 in central London.
Puerto Rico
No new openings confirmed for 2026 — the existing 3 stores in PR continue to operate.
How to find out about your local opening
If you’ve heard rumors about a Chick-fil-A opening in your town:
- Check the chick-fil-a.com/locations “coming soon” page — they list confirmed builds 6–12 months out
- Watch local zoning boards — Chick-fil-A site plans go through municipal review and are often posted publicly
- Subscribe to the Chick-fil-A One app — new-store openings are announced first to nearby app users
- Our near-me directory is updated when new stores open
Grand opening freebies
Most new Chick-fil-A stores still run the iconic “First 100” promotion — the first 100 adult customers in line at the grand opening receive a year of free Chick-fil-A meals (one combo per week for 52 weeks). People camp out overnight for it. The promotion has run continuously since the early 2000s.
If you’re targeting a “First 100” spot at a 2026 opening, arrive 36–48 hours early and pack a tent.
Quick FAQ
Will there be a Chick-fil-A in Alaska? Not yet — Alaska remains the only U.S. state without a store. No 2026 openings confirmed.
When does the London store open? Late 2026 (Q4) is the current target.
Will Chick-fil-A open in Hawaii statewide? The Honolulu store is the first; expansion to Maui and the Big Island will follow if traffic warrants.
What about Mexico? No public plans for Mexico in 2026 or 2027.
Related Chick-fil-A Menu Guides & Resources
- Chick-fil-A Full Menu & Prices (2026)
- Chick-fil-A 2026 Price List & Combos
- Chick-fil-A Breakfast Menu & Hours
- Chick-fil-A Store Hours & Holiday Schedule
- Chick-fil-A Catering Menu & Party Platters
- Chick-fil-A Nutrition & Allergen Guide
- Find a Chick-fil-A Location Near Me
