Walgreens is closing stores in 2026, continuing a multiyear downsizing effort that's reshaped the pharmacy chain's national footprint — but not nearly as many as the company originally planned. New private ownership has scaled the pace of closures back sharply, from internal projections once as high as 700 down to fewer than 100 for the year.

How Big the Cuts Actually Are This Year

The pharmacy giant is closing stores across at least a dozen states in 2026 as it works to shrink its footprint to a more profitable base. The closures aren't limited to traditional retail locations — the company has also moved to shutter larger operational sites, including a roughly 500,000-square-foot distribution center in Houston. Walgreens currently operates more than 8,500 stores nationwide, making it the second-largest pharmacy chain in the U.S., and remains a dominant presence in most major markets even with hundreds of closures already completed over the past year.

Where the Plan Started

Walgreens originally announced in October 2024 that it would close roughly 1,200 underperforming stores over a three-year period, framing the move as a response to declining profits driven by low drug reimbursement rates and sluggish retail sales. At the time, then-CEO Timothy Wentworth said about 25% of Walgreens stores were "not currently contributing to our long-term strategy." The company closed 70 stores in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 alone, and said it planned roughly 450 more closures through the rest of that year — part of a broader pattern that's already seen Walgreens close about 2,000 locations over the past decade.

The Ownership Change That Slowed Things Down

The trajectory shifted meaningfully after Walgreens went private in a roughly $10 billion deal with private equity firm Sycamore Partners in August 2025, ending the chain's nearly century-long run as a publicly traded company. Under the new ownership, the pace of closures has slowed considerably: Walgreens now expects to shutter fewer than 100 stores in 2026, down sharply from earlier internal projections that had put the figure closer to 700 for the year.

Layoffs Alongside the Closures

Beyond store closures, Walgreens has confirmed at least 628 job cuts across two states — 469 positions in its home state of Illinois and 159 in Texas, tied to the shuttered Houston distribution center. A company spokesperson framed the moves as part of a broader push to improve operations: "We're focused on becoming America's best retail pharmacy, beginning with improving the in-store experience for our customers and patients." Executives have consistently described the current round of cuts as a "store optimization strategy" aimed at concentrating resources on higher-performing locations, rather than a broader retreat from the pharmacy business.

Not Entirely One-Directional

Even amid the closures, Walgreens is reportedly planning to open four new locations this year — a modest but notable signal that the company isn't simply in wholesale retreat, even as its overall store count continues to shrink. Recent local reporting has also flagged specific closures continuing to roll out, including two additional New Jersey stores announced this week as part of the ongoing restructuring.

Part of a Much Larger Retail Retrenchment

Walgreens' downsizing is one thread in a considerably larger story: more than 1,400 stores from familiar national chains are expected to close in 2026, with names including Kroger, Macy's, Francesca's, Carter's, Pizza Hut, and Wendy's all appearing on various closure lists. Rival pharmacy chain Rite Aid has already wound down its remaining stores entirely through bankruptcy, further redrawing the U.S. pharmacy landscape. Much of the broader pressure stems from changing consumer habits — same-day delivery and online prescription refills have chipped away at foot traffic, while competition from e-commerce giants like Amazon continues to intensify.

What to Do If Your Local Store Closes

Anyone concerned about a nearby Walgreens location can check its status directly on the Walgreens website or by calling the store. When a location closes, prescriptions are typically transferred automatically to the nearest open Walgreens pharmacy, though customers are advised to confirm where their records will land before a store shuts its doors for good.

What's Next

With fewer than 100 closures now expected for 2026 — a steep climbdown from earlier, far larger projections — Walgreens' new private ownership appears focused on a more measured, targeted approach to trimming its footprint rather than the aggressive nationwide retreat once outlined under public ownership. Customers in affected states should watch for individual store notices as the remaining 2026 closures continue rolling out.