Special to the Times
Birmingham Restaurant Week 2026 kicks off this week with dozens of participating restaurants, bars, and food trucks. BRW 2026 presented by Spire, is set for Thursday, July 30 through Saturday, Aug. 8. The 10-day event brings patrons the opportunity to indulge in two, three, and four-course meals at a prix-fixe price at dozens of participating eateries.
From fine dining to down-home cooking, food and drink lovers with a taste for adventure can enjoy special breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner prix-fixe menus ranging from $5 to $60 per person, making it easy and affordable for everyone to enjoy a taste of Birmingham’s diverse dishes and sips.
Now in its 16th year, the 10-day culinary affair provides an opportunity for the public to revisit old favorites or experience new restaurants. BRW also allows many of our local chefs to showcase delicious recipes that put Birmingham on the foodie road map. BRW promotes and supports local restaurants, and most importantly, helps create real change around issues of food insecurity. BRW inspires diners to taste all that Birmingham’s thriving culinary scene offers.
“From the very beginning, Bill Stoeffhaas, the co-founder of BRW had a vision for Birmingham Restaurant Week to make sure restaurants across the Greater Birmingham area get their moment to shine, whether they’re a brand-new addition to the scene or a beloved veteran that’s been serving our community for years,” said Ashley Gooden, Director of Public Relations and Digital Media at Style Advertising, the organizer of BRW.
Diners can also enjoy Sipology, a reimagined version of BRW signature event Wineology. This flight tasting, mixing and food pairing event featuring local caterers is set for Sunday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakeview Marina (518 32nd St S, Birmingham, AL 35233).
This year’s Sipology will be Sunday brunch themed to encourage Birminghamians to have a “Sunday Funday” in the city. Attendees will explore their palette for new favorites provided by United, Tanteo Tequila, Porch Beer, Ole Smokey Distillery and more while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres.
“Our culinary scene is always booming, and there’s something new to discover no matter how many years you’ve been eating in this city,” said Gooden. “BRW 2026 carries that founding goal forward, giving every restaurant the spotlight they deserve and helping our community fall in love with even more of what Birmingham has to offer.”
The Magic Ingredient
For the second time, Birmingham Restaurant Week has featured an art exhibit celebrating the city’s culinary scene, and this year’s theme is The Magic Ingredient. BRW Featured Artist Mary Fehr has created a collection of photographs that goes beyond what’s on the plate to show the behind-the-scenes story of what makes Birmingham’s restaurants really run.
Birmingham is known for its rich food culture, and Fehr’s work captures the heart of it: the people. Through simple, honest photographs, her collection looks at those who make each meal possible, highlighting the care and effort that often go unseen. From fresh local ingredients to a beautifully plated dish, these images are a small but meaningful way of recognizing the human connection at the center of it all. Food is never just consumed. It is built through the hands, dedication, and daily work of the people who give this city its flavor. The exhibit will be available for viewing through the end of August on the second floor of Birmingham City Hall.
Current participants for Birmingham Restaurant Week 2026 include: Bayleaf Modern Indian Cuisine and Bar, The Beyond Tikka, B’ham ThirsTea, Cafe Dupont, Craft’s on 280, Curry Up Now, The Essential, Full Circle Donuts, Gus’s Hotdogs, House Eleven, Hyderabad House, Ironwood Kitchen & Cocktails, Melt – Hoover, Michael’s Restaurant, Olexa’s Cafe, Cakes and Catering, Phil Sandoval’s, The Refinery, Rocky’s Pizza, Rojo, Roll Cajun Boudin, Saw’s BBQ – Hoover, Solcial Veg, Sticks-n-Stones Cocktail Bar and Restaurant, Taj India, Tortugas Pizza Birmingham, Toujours, Uncle G’s Pizza, Vino, and Zoe’s Home Cooking, with more restaurants to be announced.
“At Spire, we know just how important restaurants and other businesses in the food and beverage industry are to this community,” says Joe Hampton, president of Spire Alabama. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Birmingham Restaurant Week and to support the local restaurants that make Birmingham such a special place to live, work, and eat. Each year this event brings our community together in a meaningful way, and BRW 2026 is shaping up to be the best edition yet. We look forward to seeing the impact it makes on the businesses and the people who call this city home.”
During each event, BRW helps connect the community to local restaurants and benefits Birmingham’s restaurant community but also gives back to a food-based nonprofit. Birmingham Restaurant Week benefits Magic City Harvest.
Magic City Harvest acquires perishable and non-perishable food from schools, wholesale food distribution centers, restaurants, caterers, churches, event venues, and grocery stores. They donate this food to feeding agencies on the front lines feeding hungry people in their communities. Over the past 14 years, BRW has donated over $100,000 to local nonprofits and community organizations.
For more information about BRW, visit www.bhamrestaurantweek.com. Tickets are $35 per person in advance for Preview Party and Sipology and can be purchased at bhamrestaurantweek.com/events/. If not sold out, a limited number of tickets will be sold at the events for $40 each.
