Pizza Hut Store Closures See 250 U.S. Locations Shut in 2026

Pizza Hut store closures will see 250 U.S. locations shut in 2026 as Yum Brands reviews strategy, cuts underperforming units, and weighs a potential sale

Pizza Hut will shut down around 250 restaurants across the United States in the first half of 2026, marking one of the most significant Pizza Hut store closures in the brand’s recent history. The move is part of an ongoing strategic review by parent company Yum Brands, as the chain struggles to regain momentum in a highly competitive quick-service pizza market.

Speaking during Yum Brands’ Q4 2025 earnings call, CFO Ranjith Roy said the closures are tied to an internal initiative known as “Hut Forward,” which aims to stabilize the business and position it for long-term growth. Despite those efforts, Pizza Hut’s U.S. performance continues to lag behind major rivals.

Sales Declines Drive Store Closures

According to Yum’s earnings release, Pizza Hut’s U.S. same-store sales fell 3% in the fourth quarter and declined 5% for the full year. These weak results have accelerated plans for Pizza Hut store closures, particularly among underperforming locations.

While Yum did not disclose an updated U.S. store count, a Q3 10-Q filing showed that about 32% of Pizza Hut’s nearly 19,900 global restaurants were located in the U.S., totalling roughly 6,360 units. Closing 250 stores would reduce the domestic footprint by about 4%, a retrenchment comparable in scale to Starbucks’ 400-store closure announced in 2025.

“Hut Forward” Program Explained

Roy described Hut Forward as a short-term bridge to longer-term growth. The program includes refreshed marketing campaigns, modernization of select technologies, updates to franchise agreements, and a one-time contribution from Yum to support marketing efforts. However, even with these investments, Pizza Hut store closures remain a key lever to streamline operations and focus on stronger-performing markets.

Potential Sale Still on the Table

Yum Brands CEO Chris Turner confirmed that the company’s strategic review of Pizza Hut is ongoing and could still result in a sale of the brand. “As of now, we intend to complete the review of options this year,” Turner said, adding that further details cannot yet be shared.

Yum has already spent $36 million on the review process in 2025 and wrote off $5 million in franchise incentive assets related to rationalizing the Pizza Hut estate ahead of a possible transaction. These steps underscore how central Pizza Hut store closures are to preparing the brand for a potential ownership change.

Global Footprint Shrinks

Pizza Hut’s global store count fell from 20,225 at the end of 2024 to 19,974 by the end of 2025. Many of those closures occurred internationally, including 254 restaurants shuttered in Turkey following the termination of a master franchise agreement. Still, the planned U.S. Pizza Hut store closures highlight the depth of the challenges facing the iconic pizza chain.