The Indian restaurant and hospitality industry is set for a major international milestone as the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards makes its global debut in London during India Week 2026. The event will take place on May 28, 2026, at the iconic Royal Lancaster London, bringing together some of the biggest names in global hospitality, foodservice, and Indian gastronomy.
Organised by Scale Media International Ltd in association with Franchise India and Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, and powered by Restaurant India, the London edition marks the first international expansion of one of India’s most influential restaurant and hospitality business platforms.
The move comes at a time when Indian cuisine is witnessing unprecedented global momentum. According to organisers, the UK alone is home to over 12,000 Indian restaurants, contributing an estimated £4-5 billion annually to the British economy while supporting more than 100,000 hospitality jobs.
Industry leaders say Indian cuisine has evolved well beyond the traditional “curry house” image and is now driving premium dining, experiential hospitality, chef-led concepts, and scalable international restaurant brands across markets including London, Dubai, Singapore, Toronto, New York, and Sydney.
The congress will feature discussions around restaurant franchising, global expansion, AI and technology in hospitality, sustainability, premiumisation of Indian cuisine, consumer behaviour, and investment opportunities in foodservice.
The inaugural London edition will host an influential lineup of chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality executives including Atul Kochhar, Vivek Singh, Cyrus Todiwala, Romy Gill, Sameer Taneja, Sanjay Anand, Anjan Chatterjee, and Kate Alexander.
A major highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of the global edition of Entrepreneur Restaurateur Magazine, aimed at spotlighting restaurant entrepreneurs, chefs, and hospitality brands shaping the future of Indian gastronomy worldwide.
The event will also culminate with the Indian Restaurant Awards 2026, with the organisers stating that the awards process will be independently tabulated by Ernst & Young.
Leading brands supporting the event include Cobra Beer as Official Beer Partner, Heer as Session Partner, and PR UK as Official PR Partner.
Speaking on the international expansion, Sachin Marya, Editorial Director, Restaurant India said: “This global edition represents more than an event, it marks the international rise of Indian gastronomy as a serious business and cultural force.” He added that London was “the perfect starting point” for building a global platform connecting chefs, restaurant brands, investors, and hospitality leaders worldwide.
The congress is being positioned as a key hospitality gathering within the broader India Week 2026 ecosystem, further strengthening business, culinary, and cultural ties between India and the UK.
