The III International Culinary Championship “Delicious Uzbekistan 2026” is an international professional, educational and cultural event that will take place from 25 to 27 November 2026 at CAEx – Central Asian Expocenter in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.
Recognized as one of the leading culinary and gastronomic events in Central Asia, the Championship provides a multidisciplinary platform for the presentation of professional competence, culinary creativity and contemporary industry practices. It brings together established chefs, emerging culinary talents, students, educators, mentors, national and professional teams, educational institutions, industry associations and representatives of the tourism and hospitality sectors from different countries.
The Championship is organized with the support of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and is officially endorsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies – Worldchefs. This international status strengthens the professional significance of the event and supports the application of recognized principles of culinary competition, professional ethics, transparent evaluation and international cooperation.
The principal objectives of the Championship are to:
promote professional excellence and continuous development in the culinary arts; facilitate the international exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices; strengthen cooperation among culinary professionals, educational institutions and hospitality organizations; support the development and internationalization of culinary education; provide young chefs and students with opportunities for professional growth and international exposure; encourage innovation, creativity and the responsible application of modern culinary technologies; promote gastronomic tourism and enhance the international visibility of Uzbekistan’s national culinary heritage.
The Championship is open to professional chefs, cooks, pastry chefs, bakers, chocolatiers, chocolate-sculpture specialists, fruit and vegetable carving professionals, culinary artists and food decorators. Participation is also available to young chefs, students, national and regional teams, corporate culinary teams, professional associations and industry organizations.
Educational participation represents an important component of the Championship. Culinary schools, professional colleges, institutes, universities, academies and institutions specializing in culinary arts, gastronomic tourism, hotel management, restaurant management and hospitality are invited to present their students, academic programmes and professional expertise.
By connecting education with professional practice, the Championship contributes to the development of industry-relevant competencies and closer cooperation between training institutions and employers. It creates opportunities for mentoring, professional networking, institutional partnership and the exchange of contemporary teaching and assessment practices.
The event also supports the broader national priorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the fields of tourism, gastronomy, hospitality, professional education and cultural heritage. These priorities are being advanced under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, His Excellency Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev, with particular emphasis on developing highly qualified specialists, strengthening international cooperation and promoting Uzbekistan as a globally recognized tourism and gastronomic destination.
Through professional competition, education and intercultural dialogue, the III International Culinary Championship “Delicious Uzbekistan 2026” is intended to contribute to the sustainable development of the culinary and hospitality sectors, strengthen professional relations between participating countries and promote gastronomy as an important element of cultural identity, tourism and international cooperation.
To learn more, download the official rulebook below.
For more information, please contact Abdurakhmon Abduvokhidov.
Venue: CAEx – Central Asian Expocenter, Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan
Dates: 25th to 27rh November 2026
Organizer: Association of Cooks of Uzbekistan
APPLY FOR A WORLDCHEFS ENDORSEMENT
Take your competition to the next level with Worldchefs competition endorsement, a prestigious recognition, achieved by competitions that meet the highest standards of quality. This endorsement provides exceptional opportunities for visibility to an audience of culinary professionals.
Benefits include:
- Tap into a global community of chefs for greater networking and business opportunities.
- Unlock new possibilities with optional digital badging and event competition software.
- Gain free of charge digital badges for competitors and winners with co-branding opportunities.
- Gain access to downloadable evaluation and scoring sheets on Worldchefs website.
Learn more and apply to endorse your competition: https://worldchefs.org/Endorsement/
