Hard Rock International terminated its licensing agreement with Indian franchise operator JSM Corporation on 16 March 2026, effective immediately, shutting all 10 Hard Rock Café outlets across the country.
The closures span seven cities: Bengaluru (St Marks Road, Whitefield, and Kempegowda International Airport), Hyderabad (Banjara Hills and HITEC City), New Delhi (Connaught Place), Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, and Chandigarh. Hundreds of hospitality employees across these locations have been left without clarity on transition or severance arrangements, with no public statement issued on staff welfare as of the time of reporting.
Hard Rock Café entered India in 2005 through a partnership with JSM Corporation, co-founded by Sanjay Mahtani and Jay Singh. The brand expanded steadily across metros, becoming a landmark for live music and branded dining over two decades.
Hard Rock International confirmed in a statement that it is “exploring new ways to remain in the Indian market,” including potential new partnerships or direct operations. The Hard Rock Hotel in Goa, managed by a separate entity, will continue to operate normally.
The hospitality sector, already grappling with rising commercial real estate costs and post-pandemic revenue pressures, now faces fresh questions about the stability of franchise models in India’s urban dining space.
