Segment Information Reconciliation of Profit from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2025	Dec. 29, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	$ 343,452	$ 371,359	$ 381,984
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(80,975)	(67,688)	(57,243)
Advertising funds surplus	2,816	2,702	4,344
Unallocated general and administrative	(252,679)	(255,208)	(249,964)
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)	(152,222)	(143,234)	(135,789)
Amortization of cloud computing arrangements	18,647	14,701	12,778
System optimization gains, net	1,030	1,219	880
Reorganization and realignment costs	125	(8,528)	(9,200)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(12,095)	(9,713)	(1,401)
Unallocated other operating income, net	22,073	11,513	13,768
Interest expense, net	126,467	123,881	124,061
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt, net	(642)	0	2,283
Investment (loss) income, net	(1,718)	11	(10,358)
Other income, net	12,621	24,924	29,570
Income before income taxes	227,246	272,413	279,418
Corporate Segment and Other Operating Segment
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(2,239)	(1,316)	(831)
Unallocated general and administrative	(122,354)	(134,195)	(132,344)
Unallocated other operating income, net	4,458	1,316	1,563
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	642,580	677,809	667,540
Operating Segments | Wendy's U.S.
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	489,096	525,954	528,352
Unallocated franchise support and other costs	(65,524)	(54,047)	(47,554)
Unallocated general and administrative	(84,464)	(79,664)	(75,734)
Operating Segments | Wendy's International
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	43,134	43,268	35,704
Advertising funds surplus	(2,570)	(827)	(950)
Unallocated general and administrative	(29,680)	(26,048)	(26,226)
Operating Segments | Global Real Estate & Development
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Profit from Segment to Consolidated
Segment profit	110,350	108,587	103,484
Unallocated general and administrative	$ (16,181)	$ (15,301)	$ (15,660)