DoorDash’s Surprise 2026 Partnership Is About to Transform Food Delivery

DoorDash is starting 2026 at full throttle, posting record-breaking metrics and signing headline-grabbing partnerships that position the food-delivery giant for its next phase of growth. Record Q1 numbers signal sustained demand In its first-quarter earnings, DoorDash reported 933 million completed orders, a 27 percent jump year over year, while revenue surged 33 percent to $4 billion. Marketplace gross order value climbed 37 percent to $31.6 billion, driven by both new users and rising order frequency. Even after absorbing Deliveroo, the company managed a healthy adjusted EBITDA of $754 million, underscoring improving unit economics and disciplined spend. Strategic alliances widen the delivery funnel Just days before releasing earnings, DoorDash announced a multiyear sponsorship deal with the National Hockey League across the U.S. and Canada, deepening its sports marketing footprint and unlocking exclusive in-app promotions for hockey fans. The move follows an expanded partnership with Costco that adds thousands of new SKUs to DoorDash’s grocery marketplace and bolsters same-day delivery coverage nationwide. Together, the deals extend the brand beyond restaurants, a priority as the company scales grocery, retail, and convenience verticals. Membership momentum keeps the flywheel spinning DashPass, Wolt+, and Deliveroo Plus subscriptions all accelerated in Q1. U.S. DashPass sign-ups hit an all-time high, while churn fell, proving that fee-free delivery and exclusive discounts remain sticky incentives for price-sensitive consumers. DoorDash also highlighted early traction from SevenRooms restaurant reservations and its unified global tech platform, both designed to deepen engagement and cross-sell more services to merchants. Relief at the pump for Dashers To hedge rising fuel costs, DoorDash will spend more than $50 million in Q2 on a targeted gas-relief program for drivers, partially offset by cuts in other discretionary spending. Management argues the stipend protects delivery capacity during peak demand periods without derailing the company’s path to expanding EBITDA margins later this year. What’s next DoorDash projects Q2 gross order value of $32.4–$33.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA up to $870 million. With a $4.8 billion share-buyback war chest and fresh partnerships filling the top of the funnel, the company is doubling down on profitability while aggressively diversifying beyond takeout. Bottom line A record quarter, marquee sports and retail tie-ups, and fast-growing memberships suggest DoorDash is not just winning the food-delivery race—it’s rewriting the playbook for last-mile commerce in 2026.