The awards are seen as the chefs’ Oscars recognising the exceptional talent across the whole of the UK's chef industry – from apprentice and young chefs just starting out to chefs who are established in their careers in hospitality, pubs and restaurants. View the 2026 shortlisted finalists.

There will be an exciting new format to the 2026 awards ceremony, with the changes being led by Craft Guild of Chefs chair Mark Reynolds. He said: “It’s a huge opportunity to give someone some recognition and then they could win at one of the most prestigious awards events in our industry.”

The Craft Guild of Chefs will present a Special Award (sponsored by Sodexo) to the chef who, above all others, has made an outstanding contribution to the industry. Previous winners include Clare Smyth, Asma Khan and Simon Rogan.

The Competition Chef Award will celebrate a chef with a proven record in culinary competitions. The four finalists are Christopher Beavis - CSCAT Team, Simon Coulter – ESS, Anna Korziarska - Meallmore Ltd and Terry O'Riordan - Team Manager, Craft Guild of Chefs.

The Culinary Hero Award will honour a chef who go above and beyond for their team, community, or industry. The six finalists are Mark Belford from HIT Training, Fraser Cameron from The Globe Inn, Matt Davies from the British Culinary Federation, Paul Foster from Food Unfiltered, Robert Kennedy from Compass Group and Chloe Pattisson from Meallmore. For this category alone people can vote for their winner.

The Restaurant Chef Award will go to a chef who demonstrates exceptional quality in standalone restaurants, groups, or hotels. The four finalists in this category are Tom Heywood - Pignut and The Hare, Scott John-Hodgson - Solstice by Kenny Atkinson, Daniel Rogan - AO by Daniel Rogan and David Smith - The Dipping Lugger.

The Young Chef Award is for chefs under 23 who demonstrate passion, technical skill, and commitment to their career path. The finalists are Tom Brassington - Restaurant Associates, Mitch Collins - L'Enclume, Phoebe Lawson - Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and Fin MacDonald - The Dipping Lugger.

Book your place at the 2026 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards to find out the winners.