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Event
2026 James Beard Awards in Chicago
The James Beard Foundation awards weekend in Chicago includes media, impact, restaurant and chef awards, plus a post-awards celebration.
About the event
A James Beard Foundation awards weekend
The 2026 James Beard Awards are part of a James Beard Foundation awards weekend in Chicago. The weekend includes the James Beard Media Awards, the James Beard Foundation Impact Awards, the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, and the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Post-Awards Celebration.
The 2026 edition also marks the James Beard Foundation’s 40th anniversary. The Foundation is described as recognizing and celebrating excellence within the culinary arts and serving as a standard bearer for the independent restaurant industry.
Media, impact, restaurant, and chef ceremonies
The program begins with the James Beard Media Awards Ceremony for Book, Broadcast Media, and Journalism at the Art Institute of Chicago on Saturday, June 13, 2026. The James Beard Foundation Impact Awards Ceremony follows at The Dalcy in Chicago on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
The Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, followed by the Post-Awards Celebration. Gail Simmons is named as host of the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony.
Nominees, honorees, and Chicago-wide panels
The awards coverage includes the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award nominees, along with the Impact Award, Lifetime Achievement, and Humanitarian of the Year honorees. Named Restaurant and Chef nominee entries include Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar of Cal-India Collective, Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani of Chai Pani Restaurant Group, and Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski of Link Restaurant Group.
Weekend programming also includes free panel discussions featuring culinary and beverage industry leaders at locations throughout Chicago. The awards weekend is organized by the James Beard Foundation and hosted across multiple Chicago venues.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the 2026 James Beard Awards weekend?
The weekend includes the James Beard Media Awards, James Beard Foundation Impact Awards, James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, and the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Post-Awards Celebration.
What awards areas are covered by the Media Awards Ceremony?
The James Beard Media Awards Ceremony covers Book, Broadcast Media, and Journalism and is scheduled at the Art Institute of Chicago on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Who hosts the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony?
Gail Simmons is named as host of the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony.
Where are the main ceremonies scheduled in Chicago?
The Media Awards Ceremony is at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Impact Awards Ceremony is at The Dalcy, and the Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony is at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Are there panel discussions during the weekend?
Yes. Weekend events include free panel discussions featuring culinary and beverage industry leaders at locations throughout Chicago.
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