It’s that time of year again. After months of research, late-night scrolling, and reading more “Best Of” lists than we can count, we’re getting ready to unveil the 18th Annual af&co + Carbonate Hospitality Trends Report.
Each year, our report captures what’s shaping hospitality now — and what’s coming next. It’s become a trusted resource for the industry—featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Restaurant Hospitality, Forbes, and more. We’ve shared it everywhere from university classrooms to corporate boardrooms, and this year’s edition might just be our best yet.
Sign-Up for one of our webinars or download the report when it drops next week!
Before the big reveal, we wanted to share a trend we’re really excited about that didn’t make it in. It’s still incredibly relevant—and continuing to develop—but we can only pack so much into one report! Take a look at an “extra” trend we have our eye on.
Women’s Sports Bars
The past several years have seen a growing interest in women’s professional sports. Viewership for the WNBA grew 21% in 2025, with marquee matchups pulling in audiences over 1.7 million. And according to data from ESPN, 60% of the TV viewers are men! In cities across the country, operators are leveraging this enthusiasm, creating a new kind of sports bar that centers around women’s sports, inclusivity, and community.
The women’s sports bar scene is growing fast. One map of U.S. openings shows at least 11 bars have opened, and another 17 are in the pipeline. (Axios)
These bars aren’t just places to watch a game; they’re working hard to offer something for everyone; many are community funded. They are dedicated to showing women’s sports, and swapping out bro-y energy for something more welcoming and social — especially for women and the LGBTQ audience. They often include a social-first layout, trivia nights interspersed with gameday programming including female athletes/panel discussions, and watch-parties that transcend the “throw the game on the big screen” model. Menus that—while typical of a bar—often cover a diversity of options.
Take a look at some of the leading women’s sports bars popping up across the country:
A Bar of Their Own (Minneapolis, MN) opened in 2024 and focuses exclusively on women’s sports. The menu includes vegan and gluten-free food, and all of their draft beers are woman/non-binary/trans owned, made or led.
Babe’s Sports Bar (Chicago, IL) opened September 2025 in Chicago’s Logan Square and is only showing women’s sports across eight flatscreens. Upcoming events include tarot readings, and a Paige Bueckers (the #5 guard for the Dallas Wings) lookalike contest.
Rikki’s (San Francisco, CA) the crowd-funded bar opened in June 2025, attracting sports fans of all ages—especially women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Untamed Spirits (Los Angeles, CA) opened this year offering premium food, creative cocktails, and immersive viewing experiences that bring people together. The goal of being “an all inclusive sports bar for everyone” is even printed on the menu, which somehow manages to offer vegetarian, vegan and healthy options, despite its limited size.
Insight-OUT: Women’s sports bars are a concept with cultural currency, experiential appeal, and social-media potential. They can appeal to a wide audience and capitalize on a growing movement—building community in the local area, and being accessible to all.
We’ve only scratched the surface here. The real fun begins next week when we reveal the full 2026 af&co + Carbonate Hospitality Trends Report — packed with surprises, inspiration, and a few predictions that might just change how you think about what’s next.