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A NATIONAL COMPETITION CELEBRATING SOUTH AFRICA’S NEXT GENERATION OF CULINARY TALENT.

Chef of the Year 2026 invites chefs across South Africa to showcase their skill, creativity, and understanding of the Future Menus trends. Through regional cook-offs and a national finale, this competition recognises chefs who are shaping the future of food.

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WHAT IS CHEF OF THE YEAR?

Chef of the Year (COTY) is Unilever Food Solutions’ flagship culinary competition, created to identify and celebrate chefs who are pushing boundaries, refining their craft, and cooking with purpose.

Aligned to Future Menus 2026, the competition challenges chefs to interpret key global trends through their own culinary lens, balancing flavour, technique, and relevance in a fast-changing food landscape.

The journey begins with regional cook-offs and culminates in a national finale, where South Africa’s top emerging chefs compete for the ultimate title: Chef of the Year 2026.

Chef of the Year (COTY) is Unilever Food Solutions flagship culinary competition
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COMPETITION STRUCTURE

The competition is open to two categories. Competitors must enter the category that matches their age on the day of the final competition on 6 May 2026:

  • Junior Division: Ages 18–25 years
  • Senior Division: Ages 26+ years

Proof of age may be required. Participants must be foodservice professionals (chefs) employed by a registered foodservice operator, or culinary school students.

REGIONAL COOK-OFFS

12 Selected entrants, 6 x Junior & 6 x Senior, from each region will compete at the cook-offs held in:

  • Cape Town: 14 April 2026
  • Johannesburg: 15 April 2026
  • Durban: 17 April 2026

From each region, finalists will be selected to progress to the national finale.

THE NATIONAL FINALE

A total of 12 finalists will compete in Durban for the Chef of the Year 2026 title:

  • 4 x finalists from Johannesburg
  • 4 x finalists from Durban
  • 4 x finalists from Cape Town

This includes:

  • 6 x Junior finalists
  • 6 x Senior finalists

The final will take place in Durban on 6 May 2026.

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WHY ENTER?

Chef of the Year is a platform for professional growth. Participants gain:

  • National exposure within the hospitality industry
  • The opportunity to work with Future Menus insights
  • Recognition from industry experts and peers
  • A chance to be crowned Chef of the Year 2026

HOW TO ENTER

Chefs are required to submit a recipe that reflects the Future Menus 2026 Street Food Couture trend, meets the competition criteria, and demonstrates technical skill, flavour balance, and creativity.

Full entry requirements, rules, and recipe criteria are outlined below.

Chefs are required to submit a recipe that reflects the Future Menus 2026 Street Food Couture trend,
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