Canadian Culinary Championship 2026
A Celebration of Canadian Culinary Excellence!
January 30th and January 31st, 2026
On January 30th and 31st, 2026, ten of Canada's finest chefs - winners of competitions held nationwide in the fall of 2025, will gather in the nation's capital to test themselves against their peers and push their limits. Three gruelling competitions, each requiring the highest level of skill, creativity and technique, and judged by a panel of chefs, authors and culinary experts, put these competitors through their paces in every conceivable way. Their efforts inspire the next generation of culinary talent and will help shape the direction of the nation's cuisine for years to come.
The three competitions are not to be missed. They include the Mystery Wine on Friday, January 30th, the Black Box on the morning of Saturday, January 31st, and the Grand Finale on the evening of January 31st. For more information on the contenders from each region in Canada and the competitions, see below.
We are pleased to announce that for the Grand Finale, we will be pairing the elevated flavours of the chef's dishes with electrifying live music! It will be a 'Spirit of the West' Celebration featuring the band's frontman Geoffrey Kelly, the legendary Barney Bentall and Matthew Harder! Get ready to relive the iconic sounds of one of Canada’s most beloved bands with unforgettable hits like Home for a Rest, And If Venice Is Sinking, and Political!
We will be supporting youth regionally: for music education (MusiCounts), for sport and play (SpiritNorth) and food security (Nutrition Blocs and ONFE)
The Culinary Contenders
Montréal
Isaël Gadoua
Restaurant Chez Jean-Paul
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About CCC
Staged in many cities across Canada in the fall, the regional events are a celebration of Canadian Excellence and include a regional culinary competition. The mission: ensure Canadian youth have equitable opportunities in music education, sport opportunities and food security.
In each of the cities, 5 – 10 chefs compete with a dish of their choice paired with a Canadian wine, beer or spirit. To be invited to compete locally is a notch in the belt. To win regional gold and be on the podium is a major achievement. To be eligible to compete against each of the regional gold winners in Ottawa the following year is a thrill. To be crowned the top chef in Canada at the Canadian Culinary Championship is a career changer!
Click here to see our past winners
The Competitions
Mystery Wine
Chefs are given a mystery bottle of wine and are challenged to create a dish with local ingredients that best complement the mysterious vintage. They have a limited time window and are given a minimal set budget. Guests will have the pleasure of tasting the mystery wine and sampling these creations on the opening night of the competition, in a stand-up cocktail reception format. The event will also feature a selection of wines, local craft beer, cocktails and artisanal food products. Food and beverages included.
Friday, January 30 – 6:00 pm
Rogers Centre
Black Box
One of the most exciting parts of the competition! Chefs will be given a black box containing a small array of diverse foods, and must produce and plate two spectacular dishes for the national judges – all in one short hour! Guests won’t get much closer to watching an Iron Chef-type competition than this! La Cité culinary students will create a fantastic spread of food during the competition for you to enjoy, and there is a mini-market featuring local products!
Saturday, January 31 – 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
La Cite College
Grand Finale
On the final night of the competition, anything goes and chefs plate a dish for guests and judges alike – one they have been working on for months! In addition, guests enjoy a selection of fantastic wines, cocktails, craft beer and some tasty local delights while bidding on some amazing silent auction items. By evening’s end, the 2026 Canada’s Culinary Champion is crowned, the Winery of the Year is announced and a victory celebration will be staged including performances by some of Canada’s great musicians. In addition, a live auction of unique experiences will be available for purchase. Food and beverages included.
Saturday, January 31 – 6:15 pm
Rogers Centre
Information
Partners
Thank you to the partners and supporters who provide vital support to the project!
National Partners
Regional Partners
Media Partners
Supporting
Photos from 2025
