Birmingham’s food scene has always been built around the people who bring it to life—from chefs creating unforgettable dishes to neighborhood restaurants that become gathering places for generations of diners. This summer, Birmingham Restaurant Week returns to celebrate the local restaurants, food trucks, bars and hospitality workers who continue to shape the city’s culinary identity.

Presented by Spire, Birmingham Restaurant Week will take place July 30 through Aug. 8, bringing 10 days of special prix-fixe menus, community events and opportunities to experience some of the city’s most beloved dining destinations. Participating restaurants will offer two-, three- and four-course meals ranging from $5 to $60, giving diners the chance to revisit longtime favorites or discover somewhere new.

Now in its 16th year, Birmingham Restaurant Week has become a yearly celebration of the city’s thriving food culture while also supporting the locally owned businesses that make it possible.

Ashley Gooden, director of public relations and digital media at Style Advertising, the event’s organizer, said Birmingham Restaurant Week was founded with the goal of making sure restaurants across the Greater Birmingham area have the opportunity to shine—whether they are new additions to the culinary scene or longtime establishments that have become community staples.

She said that mission continues today as Birmingham’s food scene continues to evolve, offering diners new experiences while celebrating the restaurants that have helped shape the city’s reputation as a destination for food lovers.

This year’s celebration will include several signature events, including the Birmingham Restaurant Week Preview Party on Tuesday, July 28, at Theodore by Tre Luna and Sipology on Sunday, Aug. 2, at Lakeview Marina. The event will also partner with Magic City Sips for a Food Truck Pop-Up Park on Friday, July 24, at Linn Park in front of Birmingham City Hall.

The partnership with Magic City Sips reflects a shared commitment to supporting Birmingham’s hospitality industry and creating more opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the city’s food and drink culture throughout the year.

Beyond the meals and events, Birmingham Restaurant Week continues its commitment to giving back. The 2026 event will once again benefit Magic City Harvest, a nonprofit organization that rescues surplus food and distributes it to community agencies serving people facing food insecurity. Over the past 14 years, Birmingham Restaurant Week has donated more than $100,000 to local nonprofits and community organizations.

This year’s event will also highlight the people behind Birmingham’s restaurants through a new art exhibit from Birmingham photographer Mary Fehr. Titled “The Magic Ingredient,” the collection focuses on the chefs, owners and hospitality workers whose dedication often goes unseen but remains at the heart of every meal served across the city.

Fehr’s photographs capture the human stories behind Birmingham’s dining scene, from the people preparing ingredients to those welcoming guests through restaurant doors. She said food is never simply consumed—it is created through “the hands, dedication and daily work of the people who give this city its flavor.”

Participating restaurants this year include Bayleaf Modern Indian Cuisine and Bar, The Beyond Tikka, B’ham ThirsTea, Café Dupont, The Essential, Full Circle Donuts, Gus’s Hotdogs, House Eleven, Ironwood Kitchen & Cocktails, Melt – Hoover, Michael’s Restaurant, Olexa’s Café, Phil Sandoval’s, The Refinery, Rojo, Saw’s BBQ – Hoover, Solcial Veg, Taj India, Toujours, Uncle G’s Pizza, Vino and more, with additional participants expected to be announced.

Diners can explore participating restaurants and special menus through the BRW website, where they can search by neighborhood, meal, price point and other preferences to plan their dining experiences.

Joe Hampton, president of Spire Alabama, said the company is proud to continue supporting Birmingham Restaurant Week because of the important role local restaurants and food businesses play in the community. He said the annual event brings people together while celebrating the restaurants that make Birmingham a special place to live, work and eat.

For Birmingham, a city whose identity has long been tied to hospitality and a shared table, Restaurant Week is more than a chance to try a new dish. It is an invitation to celebrate the people, places and stories that continue to shape the Magic City’s food culture.