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MEET THE 2026 GOLDEN CHEF'S FINALISTS

After an incredible season of regional heats across Australia and New Zealand, our Grand Finalists for the 2026 Nestlé Golden Chef's Hat Award have been selected. Get to know the 11 talented young chefs who will be battling it out for the title of Golden Chef of the Year at Fine Food Australia in Melbourne this September.

Finalists 2026

Developing the Next Generation of Chefs since 1965

 

For over 60 years, we’ve given young chefs the opportunity to kick start their careers in the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award competition.
The culinary competition provides a platform for emerging talent to benchmark themselves against their peers, learn from leading industry experts and experience the opportunity of a lifetime.

At a Glance

61

Year Legacy
8k+

Participants
since inception
12

Regional Finals 
across ANZ
11

Grand finalist
chefs
1

Nestlé Golden
Chef of the year
$28k

in prizes 
to be won
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Stay up to date on Socials

 

Follow us on Instagram @golden_chefs and Facebook @goldenchefs #GC2026 #GoldenChefs