Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 28, 2026
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Papa John’s International, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior year amounts herein have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
Variable Interest Entity	Variable Interest Entity Papa Johns Domestic restaurants, both Company-owned and franchised, participate in Papa John’s Marketing Fund, Inc. (“PJMF”), a nonstock corporation designed to operate at break-even as it spends all annual contributions received from the system. PJMF collects a percentage of revenues from Company-owned and franchised restaurants in the United States for the purpose of designing and administering advertising and promotional programs. PJMF is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) that funds its operations with ongoing financial support and contributions from the Domestic restaurants, of which approximately 87 percent are franchised, and does not have sufficient equity to fund its operations without these ongoing financial contributions. Based on an assessment of the governance structure and operating procedures of PJMF, the Company determined it has the power to control certain significant activities of PJMF, and therefore, is the primary beneficiary.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Significant items that are subject to such estimates and assumptions include the allowance for credit losses on accounts and notes receivable, property and equipment, net and impairment of long-lived assets, and insurance reserves. Although management bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could significantly differ from these estimates.
Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Papa Johns has joint venture arrangements in which there are noncontrolling interests held by third parties that included 13 and 98 restaurants at June 28, 2026 and June 29, 2025, respectively. Consolidated net income is required to be reported separately at amounts attributable to both the Company and the noncontrolling interests held by third parties.
Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves	Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves We are subject to income taxes in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions. Management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes and the related assets and liabilities. The provision for income taxes includes income taxes paid, currently payable or receivable and those deferred. We use an estimated annual effective rate based on expected annual income to determine our quarterly provision for income taxes. The effective income tax rate includes the estimated domestic state effective income tax rate and applicable foreign income tax rates. The effective income tax rate is also impacted by various permanent items and credits, net of any related valuation allowances, and can vary based on changes in estimated annual income. Discrete items are recorded in the quarter in which they occur. Our effective income tax rate was 36.4% and 36.8% for the three and six months ended June 28, 2026, respectively, as compared to 30.5% and 31.6% for the prior year comparable periods, respectively. The higher effective tax rates during the three and six months ended June 28, 2026 were primarily due to a shift in income between jurisdictions, tax shortfall generated by vesting of restricted shares, and lower projected income tax credits. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are netted by tax jurisdiction. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for the estimated future effects of tax attribute carryforwards (e.g., net operating losses, capital losses, and foreign tax credits). The effect on deferred taxes due to changes in tax rates is recognized in the period in which the new tax rate is enacted. Valuation allowances are established when necessary on a jurisdictional basis to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts we expect to realize. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded within Other assets and Other long-term liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Tax authorities periodically audit the Company. We record reserves and related interest and penalties for identified exposures as income tax expense. We evaluate these issues on a quarterly basis to adjust for events, such as statute of limitations expirations, court rulings or audit settlements, which may impact our ultimate payment for such exposures.
Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures	Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures The Company determines the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability to a market participant. Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: •Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. •Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. •Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Considerable judgment is required to interpret market data to estimate fair value; accordingly, the fair values presented do not necessarily indicate what the Company or its debtholders could realize in a current market exchange.
Allowance for Credit Losses	Allowance for Credit Losses Estimates of expected credit losses, even if remote, are based upon historical account write-off trends, facts about the current financial condition of the debtor, forecasts of future operating results based upon current trends of select operating metrics, and macroeconomic factors. Credit quality is monitored through the timing of payments compared to the prescribed payment terms and known facts regarding the financial condition of the franchisee or customer. Account and note balances are charged against the allowance after recovery efforts have ceased.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets	Impairment of Long-lived Assets The Company evaluates its property and equipment and other long-lived assets for potential indicators of impairment at least annually, or as facts and circumstances arise that indicate the carrying value of the asset group may not be recoverable. For Domestic Company-owned restaurants, the evaluation is performed at the operating market level while International Company-owned restaurants are evaluated at the restaurant level as these respective levels represent the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset group exceeds the amount of estimated future undiscounted cash flows, the fair value of the asset group is estimated and an impairment loss is recorded if the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. The assumptions used in the undiscounted cash flow calculation related to future growth are subjective and may be negatively impacted by future changes in operating performance or economic conditions. In situations in which no impairment indicators are identified at the applicable asset‑group level, but certain assets within the asset group are expected to be used for a shorter period than previously estimated, the Company revises the remaining useful lives of those assets and prospectively records accelerated depreciation over the shortened period. During the three months ended June 28, 2026, we incurred approximately $0.9 million of accelerated depreciation expense, primarily related to the planned retirement of our current point-of-sale system and investments in our omnichannel experience, which required revisions to the useful lives of certain legacy technology assets. We also incurred $0.7 million of accelerated depreciation expense related to the closure or approved closure of 25 Company-owned restaurants under our Enterprise Transformation Plan (as defined and discussed in further detail in “Note 9. Restructuring”).
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses.” The ASU includes required disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of specific information about certain costs and expenses. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted and the standard may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of the new standard, including an evaluation of the Company’s financial systems and availability of data to meet the requirements. In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software”. The ASU modernizes the accounting guidance for costs incurred to develop software for internal use by removing references to project stages of a software development project, which better aligns with current software development methods. Under the new standard, entities will commence capitalizing eligible costs when management has authorized and committed to funding the software project, and when it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance can be applied using a prospective, retrospective, or modified transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard to its consolidated financial statements.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 28, 2026

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Papa John’s International, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior year amounts herein have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Variable Interest Entity

Papa Johns Domestic restaurants, both Company-owned and franchised, participate in Papa John’s Marketing Fund, Inc. (“PJMF”), a nonstock corporation designed to operate at break-even as it spends all annual contributions received from the system. PJMF collects a percentage of revenues from Company-owned and franchised restaurants in the United States for the purpose of designing and administering advertising and promotional programs. PJMF is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) that funds its operations with ongoing financial support and contributions from the Domestic restaurants, of which approximately 87 percent are franchised, and does not have sufficient equity to fund its operations without these ongoing financial contributions. Based on an assessment of the governance structure and operating procedures of PJMF, the Company determined it has the power to control certain significant activities of PJMF, and therefore, is the primary beneficiary.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Significant items that are subject to such estimates and assumptions include the allowance for credit losses on accounts and notes receivable, property and equipment, net and impairment of long-lived assets, and insurance reserves. Although management bases its estimates on historical experience and assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could significantly differ from these estimates.

Noncontrolling Interests

Papa Johns has joint venture arrangements in which there are noncontrolling interests held by third parties that included 13 and 98 restaurants at June 28, 2026 and June 29, 2025, respectively. Consolidated net income is required to be reported separately at amounts attributable to both the Company and the noncontrolling interests held by third parties.

Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions. Management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes and the related assets and liabilities. The provision for income taxes includes income taxes paid, currently payable or receivable and those deferred. We use an estimated annual effective rate based on expected annual income to determine our quarterly provision for income taxes. The effective income tax rate includes the estimated domestic state effective income tax rate and applicable foreign income tax rates. The effective income tax rate is also impacted by various permanent items and credits, net of any related valuation allowances, and can vary based on changes in estimated annual income. Discrete items are recorded in the quarter in which they occur. Our effective income tax rate was 36.4% and 36.8% for the three and six months ended June 28, 2026, respectively, as compared to 30.5% and 31.6% for the prior year comparable periods, respectively. The higher effective tax rates during the three and six months ended June 28, 2026 were primarily due to a shift in income between jurisdictions, tax shortfall generated by vesting of restricted shares, and lower projected income tax credits.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are netted by tax jurisdiction. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for the estimated future effects of tax attribute carryforwards (e.g., net operating losses, capital losses, and foreign tax credits). The effect on deferred taxes due to changes in tax rates is recognized in the period in which the new tax rate is enacted. Valuation allowances are established when necessary on a jurisdictional basis to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts we expect to realize. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded within Other assets and Other long-term liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Tax authorities periodically audit the Company. We record reserves and related interest and penalties for identified exposures as income tax expense. We evaluate these issues on a quarterly basis to adjust for events, such as statute of limitations expirations, court rulings or audit settlements, which may impact our ultimate payment for such exposures.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

The Company determines the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability to a market participant. Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

•Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

•Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Considerable judgment is required to interpret market data to estimate fair value; accordingly, the fair values presented do not necessarily indicate what the Company or its debtholders could realize in a current market exchange.

Allowance for Credit Losses

Estimates of expected credit losses, even if remote, are based upon historical account write-off trends, facts about the current financial condition of the debtor, forecasts of future operating results based upon current trends of select operating metrics, and macroeconomic factors. Credit quality is monitored through the timing of payments compared to the prescribed payment terms and known facts regarding the financial condition of the franchisee or customer. Account and note balances are charged against the allowance after recovery efforts have ceased.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company evaluates its property and equipment and other long-lived assets for potential indicators of impairment at least annually, or as facts and circumstances arise that indicate the carrying value of the asset group may not be recoverable. For Domestic Company-owned restaurants, the evaluation is performed at the operating market level while International Company-owned restaurants are evaluated at the restaurant level as these respective levels represent the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset group exceeds the amount of estimated future undiscounted cash flows, the fair value of the asset group is estimated and an impairment loss is recorded if the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. The assumptions used in the undiscounted cash flow calculation related to future growth are subjective and may be negatively impacted by future changes in operating performance or economic conditions.

In situations in which no impairment indicators are identified at the applicable asset‑group level, but certain assets within the asset group are expected to be used for a shorter period than previously estimated, the Company revises the remaining useful lives of those assets and prospectively records accelerated depreciation over the shortened period. During the three months ended June 28, 2026, we incurred approximately $0.9 million of accelerated depreciation expense, primarily related to the planned retirement of our current point-of-sale system and investments in our omnichannel experience, which required revisions to the useful lives of certain legacy technology assets. We also incurred $0.7 million of accelerated depreciation expense related to the closure or approved closure of 25 Company-owned restaurants under our Enterprise Transformation Plan (as defined and discussed in further detail in “Note 9. Restructuring”).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses.” The ASU includes required disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of specific information about certain costs and expenses. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted and the standard may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of the new standard, including an evaluation of the Company’s financial systems and availability of data to meet the requirements.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software”. The ASU modernizes the accounting guidance for costs incurred to develop software for internal use by removing references to project stages of a software development project, which better aligns with current software development methods. Under the new standard, entities will commence capitalizing eligible costs when management has authorized and committed to funding the software project, and when it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance can be applied using a prospective, retrospective, or modified transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard to its consolidated financial statements.