A process for producing 2,6-dialkylnaphthalene from a hydrocarbon feedstock that contains at least one component selected from the group consisting of dialkylnaphthalene isomers, monoalkylnaphthalene isomers, polyalkylnaphthalenes, and naphthalene, is provided that includes the following steps: I. separating the hydrocarbon feedstock and/or a dealkylation product fed from step III into a naphthalene fraction, a monoalkylnaphthalene fraction, a dialkylnaphthalene fraction and a remaining products fraction; II. separating and purifying 2,6-dialkylnaphthalene from the dialkylnaphthalene fraction of step I; III. dealkylating the hydrocarbon feedstock and/or the remaining products fraction of step I and feeding the dealkylation product to step I; and IV. alkylating the naphthalene and monoalkylnaphthalene fractions of step I; wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is fed to step I or step III.