![\"Jacob](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ctc-beard-nominee-cassella-2_261163444.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\nThe James Beard Foundation Awards will remain in Chicago through 2028, city officials said Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
The coveted extension was announced during Tuesday\u2019s 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\u2019s non-profit tourism and marketing arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis extension is a recognition of Chicago\u2019s 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. \u201cChicago is never done, never outdone, and our culinary scene reflects that spirit every day \u2014 constantly evolving, innovating, and setting the standard for excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Beards, which recognize the best restaurants and chefs in the country, have been held annually in Chicago since 2015. The James Beard Foundation\u2019s current deal with Chicago was to expire in 2027 and there was speculation that the awards could move.<\/p>\n
But the new agreement ensures the ceremony remains at the Lyric Opera at least through the 2026, 2027 and 2028 award cycles.<\/p>\n
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker was quick to applaud the extension.<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
\u201cIllinois 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,\u201d Pritzker said in a statement to the Tribune. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Mayor Brandon Johnson, calling Chicago \u201cone of the world\u2019s great culinary cities,\u201d 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\u2019s vast food scene across 77 neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> for Best Chef: Great Lakes, which went to Noah Sandoval<\/a> of Oriole; Outstanding Bar for Kumiko<\/a> and an America\u2019s Classics award to the South Side gem Lem\u2019s Bar-B-Q<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe city\u2019s incredible independent restaurant community, diverse food culture, and central location make it well-positioned to host a celebration of this scale. We\u2019re 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\u2019s great culinary cities,\u201d said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the Beard Foundation.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Full list of Chicago\u2019s Beard nominees:<\/p>\n Emerging Chef:<\/b>\u00a0Bailey Sullivan<\/a> of Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio<\/a><\/p>\n Best Chef, Great Lakes:<\/b> Norman Fenton of Cari\u00f1o<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Jacob Potashnick of Feld<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Norman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CTC-L-FOOD-BEARD-NOMINEES-08_261163942.jpg\")
Norman Fenton of Cari\u00f1o 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\u2019s River North neighborhood. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n