IIHM hosts 40 countries in a global event to protect culinary heritage & future proof hospitality education
The 12th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad 2026 opens today in Bengaluru, where young chefs from 40 countries congregate for the grand opening ceremony. Marking the start of the world’s largest competition for young culinary talent, the event brings together student chefs mentored by legends from leading global hospitality institutions. With the theme “Preserving Culinary Heritage in the AI Age,” YCO 2026 sets the stage for a powerful exchange of tradition, innovation, and the human touch that defines the future of hospitality.
30 MINS to Go
Just 30 minutes to go before the 12th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) 2026 opens in Bengaluru with a scale, theatre, and emotion that instantly signals a world event—an evening designed not just to begin a competition, but to ignite a global movement of young culinary talent.
From the very first moments, the ceremony is expected to set the mood of an international arena. Contesting teams wearing their traditional attire, their mentors, and a star-studded international jury have arrived at Signature Club Resort, Brigade Orchards, Bengaluru.
IIHM students assigned to look after their comfort and wellbeing are visibly excited. There is a charged sense of anticipation in the room—an atmosphere where tradition, innovation, and youthful ambition share the same spotlight.
The countdown begins…
6:30 PM – The marchpast begins. IIHM COO Abdullah Ahmed who is the master of ceremonies initiates the historic and spectacular marchpast of nations beginning. Student Chefs and their mentors dressed in the culinary finery of their nations, marched around the venue, a cricket stadium inside the signature club. But today it was culinary diplomacy that scored.
Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Botswana, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Egypt, England, Equatorial Guinea, France, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho; Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal; Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, UAE, Uganda, USA; Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
Mr Abdullah speaks about India’s tech rise and AI powered solutions shaping the future. The build up to YCO Chairman Dr Bose’s speech begins as Mr Abdullah introduces him.
6:45 PM- Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman, IIHM Young Chef Olympiad, Chairman, IIHM & Indismart Group, Chairman, IHC, UK sets the tone of the YCO with an emotive powerful and warm address.
Excerpts from his speech: This year marks a shift in the vision of an educative YCO. We need to restore the culinary heritage of the world, and this is possible because of the power we have in AI—and that is the theme of this year’s Young Chef Olympiad.
I thank my dear friend Vineet Verma of the Brigade Hospitality Group. YCO has been a celebration, and I take this opportunity to thank everyone associated in creating the atmosphere to bring the world together—a fragmented world, a turbulent world. We have been fortunate to get 40 countries.
The world is a living laboratory, and thus YCO exemplifies this living laboratory. For the first time, we have an amazing United World of Young Chefs, where we are celebrating each of the cities where participants will be.
India will be teaching all the contestants Indian food. In each venue, there will be master chefs teaching regional Indian cuisine. In Kolkata, Padma Shri Sanjeev Kapoor himself will be doing a masterclass. He will be teaching millet khichdi.
AI will play a very important role this year. I had promised the world that in three months’ time, IIHM would be launching the world’s first hospitality GPT. As an Indian, we are very proud that it is not in Silicon Valley, but in India.
We have more power, and AI will play a very important role in this year’s YCO.
The Global Declaration will share the knowledge of all of us, and the Global Declaration will articulate culinary heritage, AI, and how we can learn from each other. That is the vision of this year’s YCO.
We are very fortunate to have an extraordinary elite group of judges. I would like to put on record my own sincere gratitude and thanks, without whom this competition would not have been possible.
Special mention to David Foskett for showing us the way.
At YCO, everyone is a winner, but winning is also a part of responsibility and not entitlement.
AI will not cook food. AI will not eat food. You and I will. The human touch is most important. We call it High Tech, Higher Touch—a tagline.
AI will help us research, but it is the human who will take us forward.
At a time when the world faces uncertainty and division, the Young Chef Olympiad stands as a shining reminder that:
We can still come together.
We can still cook together.
We can still celebrate together.
You will cook together.
And we will eat together.
Because food unites humanity.
With that, I once again welcome you all to this great festival of culinary bonding.
Let us write a proud story—of India hosting the world’s largest celebration of young culinary talent.
7:15 PM– The Secretary, Tourism of Karnataka, Dr. Trilok Chandra, in a warm welcome to delegates, congratulated IIHM for its initiative of organising the Young Chef Olympiad and thanked IIHM.
Welcoming young chefs and all country participants, the Tourism Secretary made special mention of the Honestly Bengaluru Food Trail organised by IIHM and curated by Make It Happen, where contestants sampled Bengaluru’s local food in an iconic heritage area. He also made a very generous gesture by inviting participants to come and visit any of Karnataka’s beautiful tourism spots as guests of the Karnataka Government.
Excerpts from his speech:
Today marks a remarkable milestone — not just for India, not just for the culinary world — but for global youth, cultural exchange, and international collaboration. We are honoured that after 12 extraordinary years of the Young Chefs Olympiad’s journey, IIHM has chosen Bengaluru to host this historic opening ceremony — a city that stands as a testament to innovation, culture, diversity, and global engagement.
The Young Chefs Olympiad is recognised as the world’s largest culinary competition for student chefs, bringing together young talent from countries across every continent. This year, we celebrate the participation of 50 nations — a powerful affirmation of the Olympiad’s growth and global impact.
This Olympiad is far more than a contest of skills. It is a celebration of global harmony, culinary heritage, and the transformative potential of learning. As Dr. Suborno Bose has rightly articulated, this edition is evolving into a platform where competition meets collaboration, and where every participant is both a learner and an ambassador of their national food cultures.
The Government of Karnataka believes that “Bengaluru isn’t just a city — it’s a vision”. A vision of innovation and enterprise, a vision of cultural diversity and global dialogue, and a vision that deeply resonates with the spirit of the Young Chefs Olympiad. It is this shared vision that encouraged me to graciously accept the invitation from IIHM to be part of this historic moment.
Bengaluru now becomes a global stage where young ambassadors from around the world will gather not only to compete, but to exchange ideas, share traditions, and build lifelong connections. Here, they will see, feel, and carry home the essence of a city that is not only India’s technology capital but also a vibrant, cultural, and community-driven metropolis.
On behalf of the Government of Karnataka, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to IIHM for organising the Young Chefs Olympiad for the past twelve years and for bringing this prestigious opening ceremony to Bengaluru. We congratulate all the young chefs whose passion, creativity, and commitment to excellence have brought them here today. You are not just competitors — you are the architects of the future of global gastronomy.
I’m especially thrilled to see that this year, the Olympiad goes beyond competition to become a learning platform — with seminars, masterclasses, AI integration, cultural dossiers, and knowledge exchanges that exemplify the ethos of “learning through diversity.” This innovative combination of culinary arts and education mirrors the transformational power of AI with human warmth — a philosophy that will shape the future of hospitality, creativity, and global collaboration.
In the ever-evolving world of hospitality and global exchange, opportunities that combine prestige, learning, and international exposure are rare — and the Young Chefs Olympiad stands distinct among them.
The Young Chefs Olympiad is a matter of immense pride for the Indian hospitality fraternity. Born in India, it has become a global benchmark, showcasing how this nation can nurture talent and export a truly world-class initiative. It is rightly described as a “melting pot of culinary diplomacy” — where food becomes the language of friendship, innovation, and unity.
To the youth of the world gathered here today — on behalf of the Government of Karnataka — we welcome you. Your journey here is both an invitation to explore India’s rich heritage and an opportunity to shape the future of global culinary arts with compassion, creativity, and courage.
Thank you, and may the 12th Young Chefs Olympiad 2026 be a celebration of excellence, learning, and enduring global friendships.
7:25 PM– And now comes one of the most significant addresses, that of the Chairman of the Jury, Professor David Foskett. He is the one who leads one of the most eminent jury panels in any culinary competition in the world. YCO is not just a competition; it is a gathering of friends and like-minded individuals who understand culinary art and bring the world together through shared values in this much-travelled world. It is about friendship, food, and culture. We will witness the absolute best of humanity.
Culinary arts and hospitality influence us all. Food is far more than sustenance; it is a reflection of our history and personal identity. It helps us to appreciate our diverse cultures.
AI will help because it will preserve the stories of each community and each nation. It is a celebration of our cultures and identity. We are celebrating cooking techniques.
Food is a universal language understood by all. Food builds our relationships and helps us understand many cultures. It is an important symbol of belief and faith.
The fusion of creativity and innovation represents the very best of culinary diplomacy. YCO demonstrates goodwill, passion, and diplomacy. The YCO in India is globally recognised as a culinary competition shaping the future of gastronomy. It is a global platform for young talent. It gives young chefs an opportunity to display their creativity on a global scale.
This celebrates culinary diversity, promotes mutual respect and understanding among nations, and encourages excellence in culinary education by working with culinary institutions worldwide.
India is a global culinary hub, attracting international attention and boosting tourism. It highlights India’s rich food heritage while showcasing India’s hospitality industry.
7:30 PM– The evening’s drama was not only in speeches and dignitaries—it was in culture, rhythm, and symbolism. A highlight was the Karnataka folk dance, Dollu Kunitha, bringing the thunder of local tradition into a global arena. It reminded every international delegate present that Bengaluru was not just a venue, but a host city with living heritage—welcoming the world with identity and pride.
7:35 PM– One of the most meaningful moments of the ceremony followed: the handover of the Culinary Dossier, executed through the IIHM students. This was presented as culinary diplomacy in action—a symbolic exchange that captured YCO’s theme for 2026: “Preserving the World’s Global Culinary Heritage through AI.”
As Dr. Bose said, “For the first time, we are consciously positioning the 40 participating countries as a living laboratory of global culinary heritage.”
UPDATE: The time has now come for one of the key highlights: the trophy unveiling. Mr. Abdullah Ahmed calls the judges, jury, and the YCO Chairman to unveil the YCO trophy. This symbolises the power of food as a uniting force.
7:45 PM– NSN Mohan, Vice President of Skål International for 2026, warmly mentioned his appreciation of IIHM and its organisation of YCO.
YCO is the brainchild of these legends. As you know, the Vice President of Skål International,
“I proudly announce that Skål International India, and the global Skål International, will support the YCO. IIHM went ahead and conducted the YCO during COVID times.
I am so happy to see 40 to 50 countries participating. 330 million jobs come from the tourism and hospitality industry.
We are all global ambassadors and citizens of the world, and we carry the legacy of hospitality and tourism to the world.”
He mentioned how AI will play a part in taking hospitality forward.
7:55 PM– YCO is all about the meeting of cultures and showcasing of traditions, the electrifying Krishna Vandana, composed and sung by the great maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj ji, choreographed by Dr. Swapnil Satyambada, and performed by Kathak exponents, made the entire audience immerse itself in the divine elegance of this dance form. This was India’s culture showcased to the world at its very best.
8:15 PM – As the evening drew to a close under the moonlit sky, the world put its hands together to welcome the YCO torch, as the ‘mashal’ entered the stadium shining bright while the YCO anthem played in the backdrop. Then, in a poignant moment, the India contestant, Kotamsetti Satya Teja, took the oath on behalf of all contestants to respect and abide by the rules of the competition in the true spirit of the Olympiad, for the glory of the culinary world and the honour of our country. This was followed by Ms Cajsa Sofia Rye from Sweden, who took the oath on behalf of all the mentors. Finally, senior international chef John Wood took the oath on behalf of all judges to officiate YCO with absolute impartiality.
For the next six days, teams will travel to different cities for the first round of the competitions before converging in Kolkata for the final round of competitions.
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