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.
2025 European Competition & Gala Highlights
The 2025 edition of the European Young Chef Award took place in Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy awarded 2025, from 24 to 28 November 2025. This edition brought together talented young chefs from across Europe to celebrate creativity, sustainability, and regional food heritage through innovative reinterpretations of traditional dishes.
Organised by IGCAT and hosted by:
News & Updates
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
Food Scientist Pia Sörensen from the United States joins the Jury of the Americas Young Chef Award 2026
Teaching faculty at the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Director of the Science and Cooking program, Pia Sörensen joined the