5 Of The Best Things Burger King Has Done In 2026

Burger King is in the midst of a revival. After years of struggles, it's on the rise again, even going so far as to reclaim its spot as the number two burger chain nationwide from Wendy's. Looking at all the changes that the brand has made in recent years, from store remodels to reworking its most steadfast flagship products, the chain is clearly gearing to be a strong competitor. Burger King may never have been able to keep up with McDonald's (no one can, really), but the positive changes it made just this year are indicative of a new and better era on the horizon.

This year has been a year of innovation for Burger King. The menu is in constant flux, with brand new items whetting customer appetites and classic products getting much-lauded updates. Burger King's comeback attempt is on, and for the most part, it's paying dividends. Not everything that the brand is doing has been a win — Burger King does have some of the worst new burgers of the year — but many of the changes are really connecting with customers. With the general reception of the brand's new ideas, we can only expect to see this list continuing to grow.

The history of the Whopper is long, with BK first introducing what would become its flagship product all the way back in 1957 — 11 years before the Big Mac. While the Whopper has long been the emblem of the brand, it has not always been the best-received burger. Customers were known to complain that the large-diameter burger would often arrive with its bun somewhat smashed, and that the sauce and lettuce could lead to a messy eating experience. To remedy these issues, Burger King made a bold decision to release a New Whopper — and the doubly bold decision to do so with the same language as the famous failure, New Coke.

The changes to the Whopper are relatively simple. Burger King is not trying to reinvent this product — only improve it. What that means in practice is minor shifts like a sturdier bun and better-tasting mayonnaise. To ensure that it arrives in good shape, the New Whopper is also packaged in a cardboard carton. It may not seem like much, but these small changes are resonating with customers. "I got the most photogenic Whopper of my life today," wrote one Redditor. "It was actually really, really good." In fact, with a few alterations, this updated classic might just be the best fast food burger of 2026.

Next on the list is a complete revamp of Burger King's chicken nuggets. The chain invited customer feedback about the previous version of its chicken nuggets, and the results were not so good. According to an August 2026 press release, customers described the nuggets as dry, rubbery, and disappointing — not at all what a fast food chain wants to hear. BK's response, however, seems to have hit the mark, delivering an update that customers are celebrating.

According to Burger King, the new chicken nuggets are now made from 100% white meat chicken with a more flavorful marinade, crispier breading, and, again, a cardboard box for serving to improve the customer experience. But the changes don't end with the nuggets, either. The dipping sauces, too, have been altered. The recipes for the honey mustard, sweet and sour, and Buffalo sauces have all been refined — and the brand has even added Special Savory Sauce to the lineup, a limited-time creamy delight made with ketchup, barbecue seasoning, garlic, onion, and black pepper.

Reviews of Burger King's new chicken nuggets are largely positive. As with any change in a product that reaches such a large market, not everyone is pleased, but most customers seem excited. "I think the new nugs beat McDonald's," noted one satisfied customer on Reddit. "They are very good. BK is making a huge comeback lately."

Another area in which Burger King is making some excellent changes is with its new Whopper styles. In 2025, the brand started what it calls the "Whopper By You" program, allowing customers to submit ideas for burgers that they would like to see on the menu. One of the best not just of the year, but of the program, is the Loaded Jalapeño Whopper.

The Loaded Jalapeño Whopper starts off with the same 4.4-ounce flame broiled patty as any other Whopper, but when Burger King says that it's loading the sandwich with jalapeños, it isn't kidding. This burger has three different ingredients made from the popular chile, topping it with pickled jalapeños, crispy fried jalapeños, and a creamy jalapeño sauce.

Despite piling on jalapeño products, customers note that the Loaded Jalapeño Whopper is not overly spicy. It does have a kick — as one would hope for such a chile-laden burger — but not so much as to completely blow out your palate. "As someone who is not big on jalapeños, I was blown away!" one customer shared on Reddit. "They've really been hitting their stride as of late."

The Original Chicken Sandwich at Burger King has always been a strange part of the menu. First released in 1979, it is a chicken sandwich that customers love to hate. Beyond the unusual oblong shape that immediately sets it apart from its competitors, customers often describe the filling of the sandwich as, essentially, a giant chicken nugget. Nevertheless, this menu item has some serious fans. It's hard to say whether BK is reaching out to those diehards or trying to draw new diners into the fold, but either way, the two new chicken sandwiches of the year present a welcome change of pace for customers.

The first of these sandwiches is called the Loaded Jalapeño Original Chicken Sandwich. And, yes, it follows right along the same path as the previously mentioned Whopper. Those same three jalapeño-based ingredients in this case grace the long, slender fried chicken patty, giving it a pleasant kick of heat alongside onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and American cheese.

The other new chicken sandwich offering bears an even more unwieldy name, the Club Chicken Original Chicken Sandwich, but its toppings promise a delightful new experience for those tired of the plain old mayo-and-lettuce treatment. Those two ingredients — lettuce and mayo — are still part of the mix, of course, but the Club Chicken is also stacked with tomatoes, crispy bacon, and melted Swiss cheese. Between these two new sandwiches, both old fans and new have plenty to be excited about.

At the root of nearly all the changes arriving at Burger King this year, there is the same impetus: Listening to the customer. This has long been a core tenet for BK — at least since the brand coined its "Have It Your Way," tagline in the 1970s — but rarely, if ever, has this customer focus felt more present. Not only is Burger King instituting big changes like updating the Whopper and revamping its nuggets, but it is also taking strides to improve its feedback channels across the board.

In February 2026, for example, Burger King launched a somewhat gimmicky campaign in which customers were encouraged to call the company president, Tom Curtis, directly. In the official press release, a phone number was given, alongside the assurance that the president would personally take as many calls as possible. Any and all messages would be reviewed and responded to.

In a slightly less gimmicky move, BK is also making it easier for customers to deliver real-time feedback in restaurants by designating an employee the "Your Way Champion." This employee is a restaurant manager intended to be identifiable by a position-specific uniform, making it easier for guests to get their needs met when something goes awry. Like many of the changes on this list, it may seem like a relatively insignificant shift for the chain to make it easier for guests to interact with the manager while dining out, but just as with the New Whopper, those small changes can yield significant results.