Wendy’s Closing Hundreds of U.S. Locations in 2026

(KNGT-FM) - Are you a fast food kind of person?

Most people have a love-hate relationship with fast-food restaurants. Most of them say they’re all about speed and quality, but somehow “fast” usually comes with a twist. You pull up to the drive-thru, thinking you’ll be in and out in minutes, and then… “Sir, can you pull ahead, please?”

We just found out that one of America's favorite fast food joints is going to be closing hundreds of locations in 2026. How does that affect us here in Louisiana? Let's take a look...

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Wendy's Set To Close Hundreds of Locations in 2026

Wendy’s, one of America’s biggest fast-food chains, announced it will close hundreds of restaurants across the United States in 2026.

Wendy’s has faced declining sales, with same-store sales dropping nearly 5% last year. Per reports, this is different from competitors like McDonald’s and Taco Bell, which have seen sales growth.

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Wendy's is going to try to attack 2026 with a new plan.

Part of Wendy’s plan includes new menu items like a cheesy bacon cheeseburger, a new chicken sandwich, and more chicken options like a chicken tender ranch wrap. They also launched a permanent “Biggie Deals” value menu in January, with options at $4, $6, and $8.

Interim CEO Ken Cook said Wendy’s plans to close about 5% to 6% of its U.S. restaurants, which means roughly 300 locations. Some of these closures already happened in 2025, and more will happen this year. The closures will target underperforming restaurants.

Which Locations Will Be Closing?

How does this affect Louisiana? Well, we don't 100% know which locations are going to be on the chopping block just yet, but when we do, we will pass along that information with you!