2026 ncrla chef showdown
cheers to 10 years!
ABOUT
NCRLA’s Chef Showdown is North Carolina’s ultimate statewide culinary and mixology competition, presented by Got To Be NC. Chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and distilleries compete by creating dishes and drinks featuring local ingredients.
The statewide competition starts March 20, 2026 with the call to apply, followed by preliminary and regional rounds taking place May-August.
The competition culminates in a spectacular Grand Finale, where finalists vie for top honors. Winners earn the title of NCRLA Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Mixologist and Distillery of the Year, and Best Mocktail of the Year, promoting North Carolina’s rich culinary heritage.
The NCRLA Chef Showdown is North Carolina’s premier culinary and mixology competition open to all professional chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, mixologists and distilleries currently working in North Carolina.
The highly anticipated competition kicks off in May with Preliminary Rounds, where competitors are challenged to create dishes and drinks that highlight the finest North Carolina proteins, produce, and products. Those who rise to the challenge, advance to the Semi-Finals where they compete to earn their place in the spotlight at the Chef Showdown Grand Finale at Bay 7 in Durham on September 2, 2026.
Winners of this year’s top titles also earn the prestigious title of 2026-2027 Got To Be NC culinary ambassadors, championing North Carolina’s rich food and drink culture.
At the Grand Finale, guests get in on the action—sampling bite-sized portions of sweet and savory creations, sipping competition cocktails and mocktails, and casting their votes for the People’s Choice favorites.
*Note: Preliminary and semifinal rounds are private events open only to competitors, judges, and invited media.
AWARDS + DETAILS
NCRLA is proud to compete at some of North Carolina’s finest community college culinary schools throughout this competition, each one serving to teach and inspire the North Carolina hospitality industry of tomorrow. All preliminary and semifinal rounds are private events open only to competitors, judges, and invited media.
Culinary Preliminary Rounds
- May 4: Carteret Community College, Morehead City, NC
- May 18: Central Piedmont Community College Culinary School, Charlotte, NC
- June 15: Wake Tech Community College School of Baking and Pastry Arts, Raleigh, NC
- June 29: Sandhills Community College, Southern Pines, NC
- July 13: AB Tech Community College, Asheville, NC
culinary Regional Rounds
- July 20: Wake Tech Community College School of Baking and Pastry Arts, Raleigh, NC
- July 27: Central Piedmont Community College Culinary School, Charlotte, NC
mixology Preliminary Rounds
- June 1: Eastern North Carolina Mixology Round, The Hackney, Washington, NC
- June 22: Western North Carolina Mixology Round, James Saint Clair House, Wilkes County, NC
mixology regional Rounds
- August 3: Location TBA
- August 10: Marriott Charlotte City Center, Charlotte, NC
grand finale
- September 2 at Bay 7, American Tobacco Campus, Durham, NC
Preliminary Rounds: The adventure starts with chefs and mixologists entering the arena in five culinary and two mixology preliminary competitions. Chefs whipped up savory or sweet creations, while mixologists, each paired with an NC distillery, blend craft cocktails and mocktails with flair.
Semi-Finals: Scores from the preliminaries decide who advances. The playing field is then narrowed down to eighteen chefs and eight pastry chefs who compete in one of two regional culinary semi-final rounds. Meanwhile, only twelve mixology teams move on to the semi-finals, to craft cocktails and mocktails, shaking and stirring it up for a shot at one of six spots in the Grand Finale.
The Grand Finale: The journey culminates on September 2 at Bay 7 in Durham, where the finalists compete for top honors. Only 15 chefs crafting savory dishes, five pastry chefs, and six mixology teams make it to this stage, all aiming to be named the NCRLA’s best in their field for 2026. This is the only round of competition that is open to the public- and draws 500+ attendees.
2026 People’s Choice Awards, Powered by Sysco
After intense preliminary and semi-final rounds, six teams of mixologists—each championing an NC Distillery partner—fifteen chefs, and five pastry chefs will culminate their journey on September 2, presenting sample-sized versions of their semi-final round creations to the public. There, every competitor has a chance to win People’s Choice honors for Best Savory Dish, Best Dessert, Best Cocktail and Best Mocktail.
The 2026 Undeniably Dairy Awards
Presented by The Dairy Alliance, the Undeniably Dairy Awards honor competitors who creatively use NC cow’s milk dairy products in their dishes and drinks. While dairy use isn’t mandatory for entries, those incorporating it can win one of four awards presented by The Dairy Alliance at the Grand Finale. The Undeniably Dairy Awards will be presented to competitors for the Best Savory Dish, Best Dessert, Best Cocktail and the Best Mocktail.
Competition Rules
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
“NCRLA’s Chef Showdown is a celebration of North Carolina’s culinary and craft beverage excellence creating meaningful opportunities for chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and distillers to elevate their careers while showcasing the incredible farmers and local producers who make our industry thrive.
As the state’s largest culinary and mixology competition, it’s a powerful reflection of the talent and collaboration that define North Carolina hospitality.”
Allen Thomas, NCRLA President & CEO
