The 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees
Here are the Restaurant and Chef nominees for the 2026 James Beard Awards, plus our Impact Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Humanitarian of the Year honorees.
www.jamesbeard.orgThe James Beard Awards 2026 featured finalists and honorees across Restaurant, Chef, Media, and Humanitarian categories with the Restaurant and Chef ceremony scheduled for June 15, 2026 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago while the Media Awards took place on June 13, 2026 in Chicago. Semifinalists were announced in January 2026, followed by nominee announcements in March and May 2026, leading to the final winners announced in mid-June. The Foundation also highlighted Lifetime Achievement, Impact Awards, and Humanitarian of the Year as part of the lineup. The James Beard Awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system often described as the Oscars of the food world.