The James Beard Foundation Awards will remain in Chicago through 2028, city officials said Tuesday morning.
The coveted extension was announced during Tuesday’s ceremony at The Wellsley that revealed the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees and Achievement Award honorees. The ceremony, which was held in Chicago for the first time as part of the extended agreement, was sponsored by Choose Chicago, the city’s non-profit tourism and marketing arm.
“This extension is a recognition of Chicago’s extraordinary culinary community and the chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality professionals who make our city one of the great food destinations in the world, said Kristen Reynolds, president and CEO of Choose Chicago. “Chicago is never done, never outdone, and our culinary scene reflects that spirit every day — constantly evolving, innovating, and setting the standard for excellence.”
The Beards, which recognize the best restaurants and chefs in the country, have been held annually in Chicago since 2015. The James Beard Foundation’s current deal with Chicago was to expire in 2027 and there was speculation that the awards could move.
But the new agreement ensures the ceremony remains at the Lyric Opera at least through the 2026, 2027 and 2028 award cycles.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker was quick to applaud the extension.
Jacob Potashnick, center, of Feld, attends the nominating ceremony for the James Beard Awards in Chicago on March 31, 2026. Potashnick is nominated for Best Chef, Great Lakes. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
“Illinois hosts one of the most dynamic and diverse food scenes in the world, with a growing number of restaurants and chefs using their culinary skills to cultivate community and bring international interest to the table,” Pritzker said in a statement to the Tribune. “The James Beard Awards showcase this rich talent on a global stage, and we are grateful that they will continue to call Chicago home and remain in our great state through 2028.”
And Mayor Brandon Johnson, calling Chicago “one of the world’s great culinary cities,” said the tireless, creative and diverse hospitality workers define the entrepreneurial spirit of the city as the Beards continue to bring global attention to Chicago’s vast food scene across 77 neighborhoods.
In addition to hosting the Beards for more than a decade, Chicago is home to more than 50 previous award honorees, including the 2025 winners for Best Chef: Great Lakes, which went to Noah Sandoval of Oriole; Outstanding Bar for Kumiko and an America’s Classics award to the South Side gem Lem’s Bar-B-Q.
“The city’s incredible independent restaurant community, diverse food culture, and central location make it well-positioned to host a celebration of this scale. We’re proud to extend our partnership with Choose Chicago and to keep building an Awards weekend that unites the national food community in one of America’s great culinary cities,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the Beard Foundation.
Norman Fenton of Cariño smiles after being nominated in the Best Chef, Great Lakes category for the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards on March 31, 2026, at The Wellsley in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The 2026 James Beard Awards programming will begin with the Media Awards on June 13 at the Art Institute of Chicago, followed by the Impact Awards on June 14 at The Dalcy. The Restaurant and Chef Awards will be held on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Full list of Chicago’s Beard nominees:
Emerging Chef: Bailey Sullivan of Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
Best Chef, Great Lakes: Norman Fenton of Cariño and Jacob Potashnick of Feld
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