Held alongside AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair
10–14 March 2026 | Hall 1, First Floor, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
The 18th edition of Culinary Art India (CAI) 2026, organized by the Indian Culinary Forum (ICF) in collaboration with the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Hospitality First, was successfully conducted from 10th to 14th March 2026 at Hall 1, First Floor, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, alongside the 40th edition of AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair.
Culinary Art India continues to be recognized as India’s largest and most prestigious professional culinary competition, providing a structured platform for chefs, apprentices and culinary students to demonstrate their skills and creativity under internationally aligned competition standards. The 2026 edition was particularly significant as the competition was endorsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs), ensuring adherence to globally benchmarked culinary sport standards.
Participation and International Presence
This year’s competition witnessed participation from over 600 professional chefs, apprentices and culinary students representing leading hotels, restaurants, culinary institutes and hospitality organizations from across India. The event also saw international participation from Nepal, Thailand and the United States, further strengthening the global character of the competition.
The entries across display and live cooking categories reflected high levels of technical skill, creativity, discipline and innovation, reinforcing the growing interest in structured culinary competitions within the professional culinary community.
International Jury Panel
The competition was evaluated by a distinguished panel of six WACS-certified international jurors, ensuring transparent and globally aligned judging standards. The jury panel was led by:
- Chef Rick Stephen – Vice President, World Association of Chefs’ Societies
- Chef Muller Andreas – Observer, World Association of Chefs’ Societies
- Chef Alan Palmer
- Chef Jatuporn Juengmeesuk
- Chef Kimwah Lim
The jury assessed entries on internationally recognized parameters including technical skill, taste, presentation, hygiene, organization and creativity.
Competition Categories
Over the five days, the competition featured a diverse mix of display and live culinary challenges, designed to test a wide spectrum of culinary competencies.
Day One – 10 March 2026
The competition opened with four categories:
- 3-Tier Wedding Cake
- Three Course Set Dinner Menu
- Authentic Indian Regional Cuisine
- Live Cooking Competition (CDP & Above – Rich Dish)
The display categories showcased intricately designed cakes and thoughtfully conceptualized menus, while the Authentic Indian Regional Cuisine category celebrated India’s rich culinary heritage and regional diversity. The live cooking segment added energy to the opening day as chefs competed in a timed professional cooking challenge.
Day Two – 11 March 2026
- Artistic Pastry Showpiece
- Artistic Bakery Showpiece
- Plated Appetizers
- Live Sandwich Making
- Live Rice Dish Competition
Day Three – 12 March 2026
- Petit Fours or Pralines
- Contemporary Sushi Platter
- Chocolate Mania
- Cake Decoration – Dress the Cake (Live)
- Live Cooking Competition for Students & Apprentices
Day Four – 13 March 2026
- Plated Desserts
- Live Cooking Competition for Students & Apprentices
Day Five – 14 March 2026
- Fruit & Vegetable Carving
- Mocktail Competition
- Egg Benedict Challenge
These categories collectively ensured comprehensive coverage of culinary arts including pastry, bakery, hot kitchen, artistic presentation and beverage preparation.
Culinary Art India Master Classes
Alongside the competitions, Culinary Art India Master Classes were organized to enhance the learning experience for participating chefs, culinary students and visitors attending AAHAR.
The master classes featured demonstrations and knowledge-sharing sessions by leading industry professionals including:
- Chef Kevin Duthel
- Chef Amit Kumar
- Chef Vikram Khatri
- Chef Tarathip Nooriengsai
- Celebrity Chef Ajay Chopra
- Chef Anirudh Sethi
- Chef Chef Tushar Dhingra
- Chef Kitipat Songsaeng
- Chef Prajuab Shoosridam
- Chef Nishant Choubey
- Chef Vaibav Bhargava
- Chef Ashish Bhasin
These sessions provided valuable insights into global culinary trends, modern techniques, ingredient innovation and professional kitchen practices, contributing to the educational objectives of the event.
International Collaboration
A significant highlight of Culinary Art India 2026 was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Culinary Forum (ICF) and the Youth Chefs Club of Ceylon, Sri Lanka.
The MoU was signed by Chef Vivek Saggar, General Secretary – Indian Culinary Forum, and Chef Chamodh Peiris, Founder & Chairperson – Youth Chefs Club of Ceylon in the presence of leading chefs and culinary professionals.
The partnership aims to strengthen culinary collaboration between India and Sri Lanka, facilitating opportunities for:
- Chef exchange programmes
- Participation in culinary competitions
- Joint training programmes and workshops
- Cultural and gastronomic knowledge exchange
This initiative represents an important step in building stronger regional culinary networks and encouraging the development of young chefs through international exposure.
Industry Support
Culinary Art India 2026 received strong support from key hospitality industry bodies including:
- HOTREMAI
- ARCHIE
- Eastern India Culinary Association
- Western india Culinary Association
- Federation of Food importers
- South Indian Culinary Association
- Himanchal Chef’s Association
- India Trade Promotion Organisation
Their continued support reflects the collective commitment of the hospitality industry towards nurturing culinary talent and maintaining high professional standards.
Conclusion
Over nearly two decades, Culinary Art India has evolved into one of the most credible and professionally respected culinary competition platforms in the country. The 2026 edition once again reaffirmed its importance as a national platform for culinary excellence, professional benchmarking and knowledge exchange.
The enthusiastic participation of chefs, the presence of an internationally respected jury, the inclusion of global culinary professionals and the signing of an international collaboration agreement collectively contributed to making Culinary Art India 2026 a landmark event in the Indian culinary calendar.
The Indian Culinary Forum expresses its sincere appreciation to all participants, jury members, partners, volunteers and industry stakeholders whose support and commitment ensured the successful execution of this prestigious culinary event.
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