Inaugural 2026 GRLC Globie Awards

On Wednesday, November 4, 2026- GRLC will feature the highly anticipated debut of the Globie Awards—a prestigious celebration of excellence in the global restaurant industry. Building on the legacy of the 2025 Global Restaurant Leader of the Year Awards (GRLOY), where we honored Five Guys for their remarkable achievements, this inaugural event will shine a spotlight on the visionaries, innovators, and trailblazers shaping the future of the restaurant world.

The Globie Awards will recognize outstanding accomplishments across key categories, including leadership, innovation, and growth. The 2026 honorees represent the best and brightest from around the globe, showcasing the creativity, resilience, and forward-thinking strategies that are driving the industry forward.

This is an opportunity for all GRLC attendees to get dressed up and celebrate the achievements that are setting the gold standard for global restaurant leadership during an unforgettable evening!

Dress Code: Cocktail Attire
Award Ceremony: 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Red Carpet Toast/Photos: 7:15 pm - 7:45 pm
Award Reception & GRLC Welcome Dinner: 7:45 pm - 10:00 pm
Location: JW Marriott Cannes France

Award Categories

Tech Innovator of the Year

Recognizes a restaurant chain that has demonstrated exceptional innovation and impact using technology to enhance operations, customer experience, and/or efficiency.

Menu Innovator of the Year

Honors a restaurant chain that has excelled in creating groundbreaking menu items or limited-time offerings (LTOs) that resonate globally.

Global Growth Champion

Celebrates a restaurant chain that has achieved remarkable international expansion and growth, setting a benchmark for global success.

Franchise Excellence Award

Acknowledges a franchise group that has exemplified outstanding partnership, operational excellence, and brand representation on a global scale.

Global Restaurant Leader of the Year (GRLOY)

The highest honor, awarded to a visionary leader or restaurant chain that has made an extraordinary impact on the global restaurant industry.

Award Nomination Qualifications

Nominations are open to global restaurant brands, franchise groups, or individual leaders that have achieved category qualifying criteria within the past 18 months in at least three global markets.
Award Category Nominations must provide evidence based on the award criteria through case studies, performance metrics (e.g. sales, data, customer feedback, satisfaction scores), market impact, adaptability or evidence of achievements (e.g., awards, milestones, testimonials).
Nomination Submissions begin April 15-June 1. All submissions must be in by June 1, 2026, using the submission page form