IGCAT YOUNG CHEF AWARDS
Celebrating Food Heritage While
Creating Tomorrow’s Cuisine
European Young Chef Award 2026
Americas Young Chef Award 2026
Americas Young Chef Finalists 2026
Peru
Honduras
Costa Rica
Manabí Awarded 2026
First Coast nominated 2031
Martinique Candidate 2030
Bahamas
What is the IGCAT Young Chef Award
These competitions organized by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism (IGCAT) are designed to empower emerging chefs to become ambassadors for their region’s food heritage and sustainable gastronomy.
2026 Americas Competition Highlights
The 2026 edition of the Americas Young Chef Award took place in Manabí, World Region of Gastronomy awarded 2026, from 8 to 12 October 2026. This edition brought together talented young chefs from across the continent to celebrate creativity, sustainability, and regional food heritage through innovative reinterpretations of traditional dishes.
Organised by IGCAT with the support of Fundación FUEGOS and CAF, and hosted by:
News & Updates
Winners of the 1st Americas Young Chef Awards announced!
Giacomo Centurión from Peru was awarded the winner of the 1st Americas Young Chef, on 12 October 2026. With the dish Los Castigos, Giacomo impressed
Young Chefs from the Americas Champion Local Food and Sustainable Gastronomy
The Americas’ Young Chef Award 2026 finalists have joined past honourees as IGCAT Regional Chef Ambassadors, committing to champion their regions’ local foods, celebrate culinary diversity, and promote
Journalist Esperanza Peláez from Spain joins the Jury of the Americas Young Chef Award 2026
Gastronomic journalist and director of the gastronomic web 7 Canibales, Esperanza Peláez joined the jury of the 1st Americas Young Chef Award, which took place