James Beard Foundation Announces 2026 Award Winners
10 reported
The James Beard Foundation revealed the remaining winners of the 2026 James Beard Awards at its annual ceremony in Chicago on Monday, June 15, according to a report from Eater. The ceremony, hosted by cookbook author and Top Chef host Gail Simmons, took place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The awards recognize excellence across categories including Outstanding Restaurant, Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Chef, and regional Best Chef awards, as well as America’s Classics. The restaurant and chef finalists were announced on March 31, narrowing a field of honorees from across the country. The Restaurant and Chef Awards followed the foundation’s Media Awards announcements on Saturday, June 13, which celebrated achievements in cookbooks, journalism, broadcast, social media, and other food storytelling. The Media Awards ceremony was held at the Art Institute of Chicago, where Sallie Ann Robinson was inducted into the Book Awards Hall of Fame. The foundation also announced its America’s Classic Award winners in February, honoring six independently owned restaurants with timeless appeal.
What’s reported
The 2026 James Beard Awards ceremony took place on Monday, June 15, in Chicago at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The host was cookbook author and Top Chef host Gail Simmons.
Restaurant and chef finalists were announced on March 31.
The Media Awards were announced on Saturday, June 13, at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Sallie Ann Robinson was inducted into the Book Awards Hall of Fame.
America’s Classic Award winners were announced in February, honoring six independently owned restaurants.
Humanitarian of the Year Award went to No Us Without You, with honorees Damián Diaz and Othon Nolasco.
Lifetime Achievement Award went to chef and restaurateur Nancy Silverton.
Impact Award honorees included Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen, New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján, ReFED, and the Southern Smoke Foundation.
The Book Awards are open to cookbooks and other nonfiction food- or beverage-related books published in the U.S. in 2025.
Key figures
Gail Simmons, cookbook author and Top Chef host
Sallie Ann Robinson, author and Book Awards Hall of Fame inductee
Damián Diaz, Humanitarian of the Year honoree
Othon Nolasco, Humanitarian of the Year honoree
Nancy Silverton, chef and restaurateur, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico Senator, Impact Award honoree
Sources: eater.com
