For brands, event planners, and marketing teams searching for celebrity chefs for events, the most exciting culinary talent in 2026 isn’t always the most familiar name. This year’s breakout chefs earned their momentum through historic Michelin promotions, James Beard Awards, TV competition wins, and major social media growth, and Celebrity Chef Network can help you book them. Working with a chef on the rise gives your brand fresh relevance, strong media interest, and often better value than the biggest household names. Below are 15 of the hottest chefs to hire right now, plus one more to watch, organized into four categories.
Michelin-Starred Rising Stars
1. Val M. Cantú: Californios, San Francisco
Val M. Cantú is the chef behind one of 2026’s most historic culinary moments. At the MICHELIN Guide California ceremony in San Diego on June 24, 2026, Californios was awarded Three MICHELIN Stars, making history as the first Mexican restaurant in the world to earn the accolade. A Texas native who grew up in a family where food was central (his father owned a Mexican restaurant and tortilleria), Cantú worked in kitchens from Uchi in Austin to Sons & Daughters in San Francisco before setting out to bring Mexican cuisine into fine dining. He also appeared as a guest judge on the Top Chef Season 23 finale. For luxury brands, spirits companies, Hispanic heritage campaigns, and executive client dinners, a chef appearance, private dinner, or keynote with Val Cantú delivers a once-in-a-generation story.
2. Brian Limoges: Enclos, Sonoma
Brian Limoges has had one of the fastest rises in American fine dining. Within six months of opening, Enclos earned two Michelin stars and a Michelin Green Star, the first Michelin recognition for a restaurant in the City of Sonoma, and it reached three stars after roughly 18 months. His résumé includes Sous Chef at Atelier Crenn, a key role in Quince’s reopening and third Michelin star in 2017, and helping open Birdsong, which earned a star in its first year. Enclos is a project of Stone Edge Farm Vineyards & Winery, making Limoges an ideal partner for wine brands, luxury hospitality, sustainability programs, and high-net-worth client experiences.
3. Jon Yao: Kato, Los Angeles
Jon Yao is one of the most decorated young chefs in America. Kato won the 2026 James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, its second consecutive James Beard honor after Yao received Best Chef: California in 2025, and earned its second Michelin star, becoming one of only four two-star restaurants in Los Angeles. Self-taught, Yao builds tasting menus from memories of his mother’s home cooking, with Taiwanese, Chinese, and Southern Californian influences. Brands seeking an Asian American culinary voice, premium beverage pairing expertise, or a celebrity chef speaker on entrepreneurship will find him an outstanding booking for corporate dinners, product launches, and food and wine festivals.
4. Buddha Lo: Huso, New York City
Buddha Lo combines Michelin credibility with television star power. He is the only chef to win back-to-back seasons of Top Chef, started in his family’s Chinese restaurant in Port Douglas, Australia, and trained at kitchens including Eleven Madison Park before becoming executive chef and co-owner of Huso in Tribeca. Huso earned its first MICHELIN Star in 2025, and in 2026 he was named a James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: New York State and competed on CBS’s America’s Culinary Cup hosted by Padma Lakshmi. He has said he wants to build his personal brand beyond a single restaurant, making him a strong candidate for celebrity brand partnerships, luxury activations, and chef appearances.
2026 James Beard Award Winners
5. Adrian Torres: Maximo, Houston
Adrian Torres is one of the biggest breakout stories of 2026. At the June 15 ceremony in Chicago, the 27-year-old chef leading Maximo was named Emerging Chef, the first Houston chef to win in that category. Raised in Aldine, he fell in love with baking watching Buddy Valastro on Cake Boss, attended culinary school at San Jacinto College, and trained at Hugo Ortega’s Xochi. He has earned a StarChefs Rising Star Award, and Maximo holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Torres is a powerful choice for Hispanic Heritage Month campaigns, community-focused partnerships, education initiatives, and motivational speaking centered on perseverance and opportunity.
6. Serigne Mbaye: Dakar NOLA, New Orleans
Serigne Mbaye has become one of the most influential voices in American dining. Dakar won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2024, Mbaye won Best Chef: South in 2026, and North America’s 50 Best Restaurants ranked Dakar No. 4 in 2026 while naming it the Best Restaurant in South USA. He was also named to the Time 100 Next list in 2024. Born in New York and raised largely in Senegal, he cooked at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Atelier Crenn, Commander’s Palace, and Mosquito Supper Club. His Senegalese-Creole cuisine and storytelling make him ideal for Black History Month programming, cultural heritage campaigns, travel and tourism brands, and refined corporate dinners.
7. Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu: JŪN, Houston
This duo offers brands two TV-recognized talents in one booking. Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu of JŪN won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas. Garcia reached the finale of Top Chef Season 19, and Lu competed on Top Chef Season 22. Their brand experience is already proven: Kikkoman has featured the pair and their “new Asian American cuisine” celebrating their Chinese and Hispanic roots. They opened the daytime café Third Place in 2025 and champion equity in hospitality through I’ll Have What She’s Having and No Kid Hungry. They’re a natural fit for condiment, pantry, and beverage campaigns, cooking demonstrations, and cause marketing.
8. Dave Beran: Seline, Santa Monica
Dave Beran had a banner 2026. Within a single week, Seline received its first Michelin star and Beran won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: California. He was executive chef at Next when it won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, working under Grant Achatz‘s Alinea group, and he won Best Chef: Great Lakes and a spot in Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2014. He also owns the French bistro Pasjoli. With a resilient personal story and innovative tasting menus, Beran is a strong fit for luxury dining activations, leadership keynotes, and high-end corporate hospitality.
TV Cooking Competition Champions
9. Rhoda Magbitang: Top Chef Season 23 Winner
Rhoda Magbitang is the reigning Top Chef and one of the most in-demand new faces in food TV. She became the first Filipina to win the title, the first female winner in six seasons, and only the fourth chef in the show’s history to win through Last Chance Kitchen. Her career spans Mélisse, Suzanne Goin’s A.O.C., République, and Bazaar by José Andrés, and she is executive chef of CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection in Hawaii. Throughout 2026 she is hosting intimate dinners at Auberge properties, including Hotel Jerome in Aspen and Stanly Ranch in Napa Valley. She’s ideal for hospitality, travel, AAPI heritage, and women-in-leadership campaigns.
10. Tristen Epps-Long: Top Chef Season 22 Winner
Tristen Epps-Long is leading the Afro-Caribbean fine dining movement. He won Top Chef and its $250,000 prize with four Elimination Challenge wins. A Johnson & Wales graduate, he rose to acclaim as Executive Chef at Red Rooster Overtown, earning Michelin Guide recognition, a StarChefs Rising Star award, and a James Beard semifinalist nod, with Marcus Samuelsson as his mentor on and off screen. He has appeared at the South Beach and Charleston Wine + Food festivals and is opening Buboy, an intimate Houston restaurant. He’s a strong partner for festival appearances, pop-up dinners, and cultural storytelling campaigns.
11. Bryan Voltaggio: Tournament of Champions VII Winner
Bryan Voltaggio finally claimed the crown in 2026, winning Food Network’s Tournament of Champions VII and its $150,000 prize by a single point on a season that reached nearly 17 million viewers. He and brother Michael Voltaggio rose to fame on Top Chef Season 6, where Bryan was runner-up, and the brothers launched the ultra-premium tequila brand Marcado 28. He has also collaborated with companies like Williams Sonoma. Voltaggio is a proven choice for cookware, spirits, live cooking competitions, and corporate team-building events.
12. Rashad Jones: BBQ Brawl Champion and Food Network Judge
Rashad Jones is one of the most exciting pitmasters in the country, based in Ocala, Florida. He won Guy’s Big Project, landed his own show Eat, Sleep, BBQ, was crowned Food Network’s Master of ‘Que after sweeping Season 3 of BBQ Brawl, and became the first pitmaster to beat Bobby Flay on the show before beating him again on Beat Bobby Flay. In 2026, he returned to BBQ Brawl as the first former brawler invited back as a judge, and TikTok named him to its 2026 list of food creators to watch. He’s an excellent fit for grilling, meat, beverage, sports, tailgating, and Southern hospitality campaigns.
Food Creators and Social Media Chefs
13. Henry Laporte (Salt Hank)
Henry Laporte turned viral videos into a food empire. Known as Salt Hank, he has nearly 5 million followers, a cookbook ranked among Esquire’s best of 2024, and his own New York restaurant, Salt Hank’s, where the high-end French dip sandwiches have become a viral sensation. He also founded Salt Lover’s Club, a gourmet seasoning company, and some of his recipes have passed 100 million views. TikTok also named him to its 2026 list of food creators to watch. Salt Hank is ideal for brands reaching millennial and Gen Z consumers through short-form video, product seeding, snack campaigns, and influencer marketing programs.
14. Meredith Hayden (Wishbone Kitchen)
Meredith Hayden is the new face of refined entertaining. Her cookbook reached No. 2 on the New York Times Best Seller list and led to a sold-out nationwide tour. She has partnered with Barilla and Home Chef, was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and the Time 100 Creators in 2025, and in July 2026 landed a Netflix deal for a Wishbone Kitchen video podcast. Hayden is perfect for Q4 holiday entertaining campaigns, luxury home goods, wine, grocery, lifestyle brands, and hosted dinner series.
15. Nick DiGiovanni
Nick DiGiovanni is one of the most-watched food creators on the internet. He placed third on MasterChef Season 10, returned as a guest judge and mentor in 2024, and has partnered with brands such as Amazon, Nutella, Walmart, and Lavazza. He launched his premium spice brand Osmo at Walmart, Amazon, and on TikTok, and recently teamed with Home Chef to turn recipes from his videos and cookbook into meals. DiGiovanni is ideal for large-scale digital campaigns, retail product launches, YouTube integrations, and youth-focused brand activations.
One More to Watch: Darian Bryan
Darian Bryan is a Jamaican American chef and media personality bringing bold Caribbean flavor to modern cooking. His work spans recipe development, live cooking demonstrations, and culinary consulting, all rooted in Jamaican spice blends, marinades, and slow-cooking traditions. For spice and pantry brands, Caribbean heritage campaigns, and interactive event experiences, he offers authentic storytelling with real crowd appeal.
How to Book Celebrity Chefs for Events in 2026
Rising chefs book up quickly once awards and TV wins hit, and restaurant-based chefs have limited calendars. All talent is subject to availability and approval, so planning early matters. As a celebrity chef booking agency, Celebrity Chef Network helps you confirm availability, negotiate fees and usage rights, and manage every detail of a chef appearance, cooking demonstration, private dinner, or brand ambassador program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book celebrity chefs for events? Three to six months is ideal, and earlier for peak seasons like the holidays. Award-winning and restaurant-based chefs have limited calendars, especially right after a major win.
What can a celebrity chef do at a corporate event? Options include cooking demonstrations, private dinners, keynotes, meet-and-greets, social content, and long-term brand ambassador programs, depending on the chef and your goals.
Why book a rising chef instead of a household name? Rising chefs bring fresh media interest and strong audience curiosity, and they often offer better value than the biggest names in food.
Ready to hire a celebrity chef who is making headlines right now? Contact Celebrity Chef Network to check availability and start planning celebrity chefs for events, product launches, and brand partnerships in 2026.