2026 ncrla chef showdown
cheers to 10 years!
ABOUT
Presented by Got To Be NC, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, the annual NCRLA Chef Showdown is North Carolina’s largest and most prestigious statewide culinary and mixology competition.
Chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and distilleries from across the state, compete in a four-month long series of preliminary and regional rounds of culinary and mixology competition, culminating in a spectacular evening where top title winners are announced.
At each preliminary and semi-final round of the NCRLA Chef Showdown, competitors are tasked with creating savory dishes, desserts and drinks that spotlight the finest North Carolina proteins, produce, and products, all locally sourced, creatively executed, and judged by some of the sharpest palates in North Carolina’s hospitality industry.
Throughout the 2026 competition season, you are invited to follow along with all the action on the NCRLA Chef Showdown’s instagram, Facebook and Tiktok feeds. NCRLA members can enjoy regular updates in the association’s In The Mix email newsletter. Semifinalists will be announced on these pages in mid-July; finalists will be announced in mid-August.
The highly anticipated preliminary and regional rounds run from May to August. Based on scores, competitors continue to advance on the road towards the Grand Finale, held on Sept 2, 2026 at Bay 7 in Durham NC.
At the Grand Finale culinary and mixology finalists vie for top honors, and ticketed guests are invited to get in on the action, sampling bite-sized portions of each sweet and savory creation, sipping competition craft cocktails and mocktails, and casting their votes for the People’s Choice favorites.
Winners of this year’s top titles – NCRLA Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Mixologist of the Year, Distillery of the Year and Mocktail of the Year; in addition to the first runners-up for Chef of the Year and Pastry Chef of the Year also earn the prestigious title of 2026-2027 Got To Be NC Culinary Ambassadors, championing North Carolina’s rich food and drink culture.
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.
*Note: Preliminary and semifinal rounds are private events open only to competitors, judges, and invited media.
MEET THE COMPETITORS
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
