LEXINGTON, KY (July 8, 2026) – Organizers of Lexington Restaurant Week have officially announced the return of the highly anticipated community event for 2026, once again placing a spotlight on the city’s vibrant, independent, locally-owned restaurant scene.

Established in 2013 by Connie Jo Miller, Lexington Restaurant Week remains the only time each year when exclusively locally owned eateries unite to showcase their best work.

“Over 40 of our best restaurants are strutting their stuff this year,” notes event founder Connie Jo Miller. “They truly appreciate this celebration and go all out for it. We’re incredibly lucky here in Lexington to have more excellent, locally owned restaurants per capita than most cities. Our goal is to keep it that way!”

11 Days, Two Weekends, Unbeatable Value Thursday, July 23- Sunday, August 2

Designed to drive a massive wave of diners into local establishments during a traditionally slow end-of-summer stretch, the 11-day event spans two full weekends. The lineup features a diverse array of Lexington’s most popular culinary hubs, ranging from casual neighborhood spots to sophisticated, chef-driven destinations.

Diners can enjoy exclusive, fixed-price three- and four-course dinner menus at three accessible price tiers:

  • $25 Menus – Casual favorites and hidden gems.
  • $35 Menus – Mid-tier staples and dynamic ethnic dining.
  • $45 Menus – High-end, sophisticated, and destination dining experiences.

Many of the prix-fixe menus offer multiple options within each course, allowing guests to customize their experience while enjoying the signature dishes that made these restaurants famous. Note for Diners: Tables book up incredibly fast. Most participating locations require or strongly recommend reservations which can be made right on the event website.

Diners can view full menus under each restaurant’s logo, filter by price tier, and directly book reservation links by visiting www.LexingtonRestaurantWeek.com.

Sustaining Lexington’s Small Businesses. Beyond the incredible food, Lexington Restaurant Week serves a critical economic purpose by supporting the local hospitality workforce.

Miller adds. “We developed this event to directly encourage and sustain our locally owned restaurants. A lively restaurant scene is a massive economic engine for our city and deeply enhances the quality of life for those of us lucky enough to live here. We’ll keep it thriving, thanks in large part to the steadfast support of community-minded sponsors like C-Worth Superstore, who equip many of these kitchens, and Central Bank, Lexington’s most benevolent corporate citizen, Maker’s Mark and WLEX-TV.”