NYC $26 Dining Deals During the World Cup 2026: 800+ Restaurants, James Beard Dinners & More

Published 2026-06-15 · WorldCup.NYC Editorial

New York City has launched what may be its most accessible World Cup initiative yet: $26 food and drink specials at more than 800 restaurants across all five boroughs, running from June 11 through July 19, 2026 — the entire length of the tournament.

Called the Five Borough Winners Special, the program was announced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in partnership with NYC Tourism + Conventions. The $26 price point is deliberately tied to the tournament number — this is the FIFA World Cup 2026. For a city where a casual dinner for two can easily run $100 before drinks, this is a genuine deal, and one that spans neighborhoods far beyond tourist zones.

Who's Participating

The full restaurant list is available at nyctourism.com/worldcup26. Participants range from well-known names to beloved neighborhood spots, including:

• Minetta Tavern (West Village) — classic French bistro, NYC institution
• Central Park Boathouse — the iconic lakeside setting
• Eataly NYC Flatiron — Italian market and restaurants
• Red Rooster Harlem — Marcus Samuelsson's landmark
• Awaze Ethiopian Cuisine, Ribalta, Veselka Lorimer, Gui Steakhouse — neighborhood favorites
• Naro at Rockefeller Center — the Michelin-starred Korean restaurant in the center of the action
• Harry Potter New York — yes, even a Butterbeer bundle qualifies

Each participating restaurant can also opt into offering a limited-edition commemorative cup with eligible purchases — a different design for each of the five boroughs, created by design consultant Arsh Raziuddin.

James Beard Foundation Dinners at Pier 57

For a more elevated culinary experience, the James Beard Foundation is hosting a series of inventive fusion dinners at Pier 57 on the Hudson, where chefs representing competing nations cook for a single ticketed evening:

• June 9 — Brazil vs. Morocco
• July 8 — England vs. Australia
• July 15 — Colombia vs. Argentina
• July 16 — Mexico vs. Korea

Tickets for the James Beard dinners are available through the NYC Tourism website at nyctourism.com/worldcup26.

NYC's Food Scene as World Cup Experience

One of the most underrated ways to experience the World Cup in New York is simply eating your way through the city's immigrant neighborhoods. Jackson Heights in Queens — reachable via the 7 train — has restaurants representing virtually every South American and South Asian country in the tournament. Flatbush in Brooklyn covers the Caribbean. Arthur Avenue in the Bronx covers southern Europe. The $26 deals are citywide, which makes this a logical nudge to explore beyond Midtown.

NYC Tourism has also refreshed its NYC Halal Travel Guide specifically for the tournament, spotlighting dining options and World Cup resources for Muslim travelers — a meaningful addition given the large number of Muslim-majority nations competing in 2026.