<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001847250</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0000769520</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-09973</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>ELGIN</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>IL</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>60120</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>8477413300</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>JAMES KELLY POOL III &amp;CHRISTINE M POOL JT TEN</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>38th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>1250</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>183344.18</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>10400</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>08/30/2023</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASD</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>02/28/2022</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Executive Compensation Program</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1250</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>02/28/2022</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Services Rendered</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>JAMES KELLY POOL III &amp; CHRISTINE M POOL JT TEN</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>ELGIN</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>IL</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>60120</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>08/14/2023</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1500</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>223510.60</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>JAMES KELLY POOL III &amp; CHRISTINE M POOL JT TEN</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>ELGIN</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>IL</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>60120</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>08/11/2023</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1250</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>188468.75</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>08/30/2023</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ James Kelly Pool</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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144
0001847250
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000769520
THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
001-09973
1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE
ELGIN
IL
60120
8477413300
JAMES KELLY POOL III &CHRISTINE M POOL JT TEN
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
38th Floor
New York
NY
10004
1250
183344.18
10400
08/30/2023
NASD
Common
02/28/2022
Executive Compensation Program
Issuer
N
1250
02/28/2022
Services Rendered
N
JAMES KELLY POOL III & CHRISTINE M POOL JT TEN
1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE
ELGIN
IL
60120
Common
08/14/2023
1500
223510.60
JAMES KELLY POOL III & CHRISTINE M POOL JT TEN
1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE
ELGIN
IL
60120
Common
08/11/2023
1250
188468.75
08/30/2023
/s/ James Kelly Pool