IFA Names 2026 Franchisees of the Year as Advocacy Summit Turns Toward the American Franchise Act

The International Franchise Association named 89 individuals as its 2026 Franchisees of the Year on September 2, recognizing franchise owners for entrepreneurship, community outreach and workforce development. The honorees will be recognized at the IFA26 Advocacy Summit, set for September 14-16 in Washington, D.C.

This year's summit carries extra weight because it doubles as a lobbying push for the American Franchise Act, federal legislation meant to establish a narrower, clearer joint-employer standard for franchise businesses. The bill cleared the House Education and Workforce Committee on a 23-18 vote in late July and now has 142 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House, while a companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Angus King (I-Maine).

IFA leaders have framed the coming weeks as a pivotal moment for the bill's chances of reaching a full floor vote, and are encouraging Advocacy Summit attendees to press lawmakers directly during the Washington gathering.

A clearer joint-employer standard matters beyond U.S. borders too: it shapes how comfortable international franchisors, including Southeast Asian brands eyeing eventual U.S. master franchise deals, can be about the liability and compliance exposure of entering the American market.