Welcome to Competitions

The Craft Guild of Chefs is proud to celebrate with them.

Here you will find everything you need to know about the various culinary competitions that take place throughout the year - everything from the flagship National Chef of the Year contest through to the specialist Tilda Chef of the Year Competition.

This section will reveal where each is taking place, how you can get involved and those all important winners and runners up.

Current competitions:

Previous competitions:

Latest Competition News

26th Mar 2026

Graduate Awards extend entry deadline to increase opportunity for young chefs

By: Edward Waddell

Entries will now close on Tuesday 7th April 2026, giving kitchens across the UK an extra week to encourage younger members of their teams to take part. Further information and entry details can be

24th Mar 2026

National Chef of the Year extends entry deadline following demand from chefs

By: Edward Waddell

The extension until midnight on Monday 20th April 2026 not only supports chefs who have already begun working on their menus but also opens the door for those who have not yet started an entry, giving

17th Mar 2026

Nestlé Professional reveals 12 finalists for 2026 Toque d’Or competition

By: Edward Waddell

The competition is supported by industry partners including Russums and Savoy Educational Trust, who help champion the development of emerging talent across the hospitality sector. Led by chef Kate

17th Mar 2026

UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year reveals 5 finalists

By: Edward Waddell

The road to restaurant excellence reached a ‘thrilling milestone’ at Lainston House in Winchester, where the semi-final of the UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year 2026 unfolded in ‘spectacular

More Competitions News

07th Jan 2026

Savoy Educational Trust pledges over £21,000 to support Toque d’Or competition

Participating colleges will benefit from prizes awarded at each stage of the competition to drive positive change across the...

01st Jan 2026

Entries open for 2026 Graduate Awards as Sally Abé takes over as Chair of Kitchen examiners

This year brings an exciting development as industry leader Sally Abé, who is head of food at The Bull in Charlbury, will...

01st Jan 2026

Delving deeper into the career of Graduate Awards Achiever Matthew Crane

Matthew Crane’s journey to becoming a Graduate Awards Achiever is a story of persistence and passion. After three attempts...

01st Jan 2026

Dylan Evans talks pushing boundaries and building connections through the Graduate Awards

For Dylan Evans, the Graduate Awards were more than a test of skill. They were an opportunity to grow, network, and step...

01st Jan 2026

Discovering more about the Pastry Graduate Awards Highest Achiever Christi Myburgh

The Graduate Awards celebrate the next generation of culinary talent, challenging young chefs to showcase their skills under...

04th Dec 2025

Craft Guild of Chefs opens entries to 2026 British Culinary Championships

The Salon, managed by Central Bedfordshire College in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs is fast becoming one of the...

02nd Dec 2025

Association of Pastry Chefs launches Dessert of the Year competition

Competitors will be allowed 60 minutes to prepare, cook and present two identical plates of an original dessert suitable for...

01st Dec 2025

Craft Guild of Chefs starts search for National Chef Team of the Year winner

Teams of two will be required to produce eight portions of four distinct small bowl dishes. These dishes should be suitable...

01st Dec 2025

Tilda opens entries to 2026 Chef Team of the Year competition

Tilda is inviting chef teams of two to rise to the challenge of creating a nutritionally balanced, high-protein, high-carb...

18th Nov 2025

International Salon Culinaire 2026 opens for entries

Since 1902, International Salon Culinaire has provided an opportunity for chefs from the UK and around the world to put their...