ACF | American Culinary Federation 2026
Event Date
June 28 – July 2, 2026
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe ACF National Convention is the American Culinary Federation's signature annual event, bringing together chefs, foodservice professionals, culinary educators, students, and industry competitors from across the country. ACF's signature annual event offers professional development opportunities through informative business seminars, forums, cutting-edge demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and networking, and includes competitions as well as innovative foodservice exhibitors featuring their latest culinary products and services.
The 2026 edition takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. ACF events attract professional culinarians from all facets of the industry, including executive chefs, corporate chefs, pastry chefs, chef educators, sous chefs and students. Attendees can expect a full week of education, live competition, product discovery, and connection with culinary leaders.
Whether you are an established chef, an operator, an educator, or a culinary student, the convention is a valuable venue for continuing education and career growth. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on workshops, attend insightful seminars, and network with industry leaders, with an array of competitions showcasing culinary talent and innovation.
Show Highlights
Key features of the ACF National Convention include:
- Business seminars, forums and workshops — professional development sessions covering the latest culinary trends and techniques.
- Cutting-edge demonstrations — live presentations by top industry chefs.
- National Culinary Competitions — where chefs and students compete for prestigious national titles.
- Trade show / exhibitor floor — innovative foodservice exhibitors featuring their latest culinary products and services.
- Pop-up tastings and retail area — running throughout the event.
Official convention-week events also include the Live Fire Experience. Hosted by the ACF Greater Grand Rapids Chapter as an official event of the ACF National Convention 2026, the Live Fire Experience is held at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids, a premier live fire cooking event showcasing top chefs preparing bold, flavor-driven dishes over wood, charcoal, smoke, and open flame. The convention also features the Inaugural Michael Ty Golf Tournament. The tournament takes place Saturday, June 27, 2026, with 12 Noon registration and a 2 p.m. shotgun start at The Pines Golf Course in Wyoming, MI, with all proceeds benefiting the ACF Education Foundation.
Attendance
The ACF National Convention brings together more than 1,000 chefs, food service professionals, students, and competitors. The audience is composed of professional culinarians from across the industry. ACF events attract professional culinarians from all facets of the industry, including executive chefs, corporate chefs, pastry chefs, chef educators, sous chefs and students.
Registration
Registration for the 2026 ACF National Convention is handled directly through the American Culinary Federation. ACF has invited chefs to join in Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 28–July 2, 2026, with registration and hotel details to be available in early 2026.
For the official Live Fire Experience kickoff event, ticket tiers have been published:
- Complimentary admission for full-registration convention attendees — your registration includes access to this event at no additional cost.
- $25 for ACF Members and those with limited convention access, including trade show vendors, competitors and daily pass holders.
- $40 for food and beverage industry professionals who are not ACF members.
- $50 general admission, open to the public, including guests of convention attendees.
History
The American Culinary Federation (ACF) is a professional chefs' organization established in 1929 in New York City, formed as a merger of three chefs' associations: the Société Culinaire Philanthropique, the Vatel Club and the Chefs de Cuisine Association of America.
The convention traces its roots to the late 1930s. The first Culinary Congress was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Nov. 6-9, 1939, and would be the precursor for the ACF National Convention, though it was much smaller at the time and consisted of chefs from a few different culinary organizations rather than ACF chapters. ACF hosted the first official ACF National Convention in New York City in 1950, and in 1955 ACF's subgroups were consolidated into a single national body with separate chapters at the ACF National Convention in Pittsburgh.
Over the decades ACF has grown into a leading culinary body. Established in 1929, ACF is the premier professional organization for chefs and culinary professionals in North America, with over 12,000 members and 150 chapters nationwide dedicated to advancing the culinary arts.
Venue & Travel
Venue
DeVos Place Convention Center
303 Monroe Ave NW.
DeVos Place is a premier convention center located in downtown Grand Rapids, nestled beside the Grand River, offering a unique combination of meeting and exhibition space to accommodate a variety of events. The Convention Center features a 162,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom and 26 individual meeting rooms (32,000 square feet). In total, DeVos Place boasts more than 240,000 sq. ft. of convention, ballroom and meeting space overlooking the Grand River. It also features a 2,404-seat performing theater. DeVos Place is conveniently connected via climate-controlled skywalk to three hotels, five parking structures and the Van Andel Arena multipurpose facility.
Parking
Each downtown hotel offers its own parking, and DeVos Place has 700 spaces for people attending its conventions, trade shows, concerts and stage shows. Several parking structures offer electric car charging.
Numerous nearby garages and lots serve the venue, for example:
- Warner Ramp at 25 Michigan St NE, about 0.3 mi away.
- Louis Campau Ramp at 209 Mt Vernon Ave NW, about 0.3 mi away.
- Grand Rapids Public Museum Ramp at 209 Fulton St W, about 0.4 mi away.
A budget-friendly option is to park in a DASH lot. If traveling downtown with your own vehicle, you can park in one of the DASH lots for just $3-4 a day and use the DASH to get around downtown. Note that DeVos Place offers parking, but it can fill up quickly during large events, so it is advisable to research parking garages and lots in the vicinity or consider rideshare services.
Getting There
By air: The nearest airport is Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR). Downtown Grand Rapids is located 15 minutes from Gerald Ford International Airport and easily accessible from all major interstates. The driving distance between DeVos Place and Grand Rapids Airport is 13 miles, taking approximately 14 minutes to drive.
From the airport: Gerald R. Ford International Airport provides several modes of transportation, including rental cars, taxis, rideshares, shuttles, and buses, available at the Ground Transportation Center of the terminal. A one-way taxi fare to downtown Grand Rapids costs less than $40. Rideshare via Uber and Lyft is also available.
By car: The city is located at the intersections of I-96, I-196 and US-131, so drivers can access the city from the north, east, south and west.
Getting around downtown: The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) is a free route that navigates downtown, making it an easy option to explore the city center, and is a service of Mobile GR and the City of Grand Rapids. The Rapid regional bus system also serves the area. There are no train connections from the airport to downtown Grand Rapids.
Nearby Hotels
Downtown Grand Rapids offers a wide range of accommodations within walking distance of DeVos Place. Thirteen downtown hotels – six brand-new within the past few years – offer a wide range of budget and amenity options.
Hotels connected to the venue via the skywalk system include:
- The Amway Grand Plaza (Curio Collection by Hilton), JW Marriott Grand Rapids and Downtown Courtyard Marriott, which are linked to DeVos Place (and each other) in the skywalk system.
Additional nearby national brands and boutique options include: AC by Marriott, Canopy by Hilton, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hyatt Place and Residence Inn by Marriott, plus boutique experiences at CityFlatsHotel and The Finnley Hotel. The Residence Inn by Marriott Grand Rapids Downtown, for example, is roughly a five-minute walk to the convention center.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 ACF National Convention?
The 2026 ACF National Convention is being held June 28 through July 2, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The event takes place at the DeVos Place Convention Center at 303 Monroe Ave NW downtown.
Who should attend the ACF National Convention?
The convention is designed for professional culinarians of all types, including executive chefs, corporate chefs, pastry chefs, chef educators, sous chefs, and culinary students. It also draws foodservice professionals and industry competitors.
What happens at the convention?
ACF's signature event offers business seminars, forums, cutting-edge demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and networking. It also features national culinary competitions and a trade show floor with foodservice exhibitors, plus pop-up tastings and a retail area.
How do I register?
Registration is handled directly through the American Culinary Federation. ACF has indicated that registration and hotel details would be available in early 2026, so check the official convention website for current information.
What is the Live Fire Experience?
The Live Fire Experience is an official ACF National Convention 2026 event hosted by the ACF Greater Grand Rapids Chapter at Rosa Parks Circle downtown. It is an outdoor live-fire cooking showcase where chefs prepare small plates over wood, charcoal, smoke, and open flame, and is complimentary for full-registration attendees.
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