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Culver's Is Opening 59 Locations Across America (Are You Finally Getting One?)

The fast food secret of the Midwest is getting out, and fast.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Aug. 3, 2026

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If you've ever wished a Culver's would open in your neighborhood, this might be your lucky year. The Midwest burger chain is on an expansion spree, with 59 new restaurants planned across the country, according to the company's franchise disclosure filing with the state of Wisconsin.

For aficionados who've been waiting their turn, it's welcome news, and maybe even a good excuse to go out to eat more. Here's where Culver's is expanding next and whether (or not) your state is getting a new one.

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Culver's has big expansion plans

While Culver's started in the Midwest, it continues expanding across the country. If you had a feeling it's not just in the Midwest anymore, you'd be right!

Culver's opened 45 new restaurants in 2025, pushing its numbers up to 1,041 restaurants in 26 states. The burger and custard purveyor is adding 59 more franchise-owned locations in 2026.

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Where Culver's ranks among fast-food chains

Culver's may feel like it's everywhere already for some, but it still has room to grow. The chain is the 29th-largest restaurant in the country, right in front of Jersey Mike's and just after Buffalo Wild Wings.

Even with over 1,000 locations, however, Culver's is still tiny compared to McDonald's. That fast food juggernaut has roughly 13,500 outlets nationwide. Translation: plenty of places are still waiting for their first Culver's.

Florida is getting the most new Culver's locations

The Sunshine State is set to get 14 sparkling new Culver's this year, bringing the total up to 140 from 126. That's consistent with the state's growth prior in 2024 and 2025, when it added 17 and seven locations, respectively.

Four restaurants are expected in Central Florida, including in Orlando and Tampa. San Antonio, Bartow, Deltona, and Okeechobee are also slated to get a Culver's of their own.

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Ohio, Alabama, Indiana, and North Carolina get 18 total

Ohio is opening the doors on six Culver's locations in 2026, including in Marion, Heath, and Lancaster. Alabama is welcoming four, including in Huntsville and Fairhope.

Indiana and North Carolina are getting a total of eight split down the middle, including in Whiteland, Richmond, and Fort Wayne and Elkin, respectively.

24 more Culver's locations are coming to 14 states

Additional states are getting a particularly generous smattering of ButterBurgers. Michigan and Iowa will each welcome three new Culver's restaurants, while Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Tennessee are all adding two locations apiece.

The expansion doesn't stop there, either, as six additional states are each getting one new Culver's: Arkansas, Illinois, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.

Wisconsin remains Culver's home base

It likely won't surprise fans that Wisconsin still wears the Culver's crown. The chain's home state leads the way with 155 restaurants, followed by Illinois with 140 and Michigan with 107. Wisconsin isn't sitting out the 2026 expansion, either. It's slated for three new locations of its own.

Indiana and Minnesota round out the top five with 90 and 65 locations each, showing that Culver's Midwestern roots are as strong as ever, even as the brand spreads its footprint.

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The growth makes fiscal sense

Culver's expansion isn't happening on a wing and a cheese curd, as the business is booming. In 2025, the company reported $337.7 million in operating revenue, up 13.1% from the year before, while net income jumped 20.6% to $125.6 million.

Those robust numbers help explain why Culver's is going full steam ahead as opposed to being more conservative with its growth strategy.

The secret behind Culver's franchise success

Instead of looking outside of the company for new franchise owners, Culver's trains and mentors managers from existing locations, helping them take the leap into actual ownership. It's a recipe that's been working well for them.

This way, Culver's has kept its planned expansion on track while driving traffic and increasing sales. Better yet, customers get restaurants run by people who already know the brand inside and out.

States not currently getting a Culver's in 2026

While it's not to say that these states will never have one in their backyard, Culver's is not expanding in states like California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, or Hawaii in the West at this time.

New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Oklahoma also don't have a Culver's…yet.

Notably, folks in California and the Pacific Northwest said they want a Culver's when polled, so perhaps their wish will come true.

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Bottom line

2026 is shaping up to be a delicious year for Culver's fans. With plenty of new restaurants on the way, there's a good chance your next ButterBurger run could be closer than ever.

If your state made this year's expansion list, keep an eye out for construction updates and grand opening announcements in the coming months. While splurging on frozen custard won't necessarily help you get ahead financially, having more dining options close to home surely satiates the palate.

FAQs

What states have a Culver's?

Culver's operates in 26 states as of early 2026, with the heaviest concentration across the Midwest. Wisconsin leads with about 155 locations, followed by Illinois and Michigan. The chain does not yet have restaurants in states like California, Oregon, Washington, New York, or Pennsylvania.

Is Culver's a franchise?

Yes. Culver's is a franchise, and nearly all of its restaurants are franchisee-owned, with only a handful company-owned. New franchisees complete an intensive training program at Culver's ButterBurger University in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, before opening.

Who owns Culver's?

Culver's is primarily family-owned. It was founded in 1984 by Craig Culver, his wife Lea, and Craig's parents, George and Ruth Culver. The family sold a minority stake to private equity firm Roark Capital Group in 2017, but the Culver family still plays a major role in the business, and Julie Fussner became CEO in 2025.

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