2026 Chef Showdown

Join us for NCRLA’s Chef Showdown Grand Finale on September 2, 2026, at Bay 7 in Durham.

Presented by Got To Be NC, NCRLA Chef Showdown is North Carolina’s premier culinary and mixology competition—bringing together the state’s top chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists and distilleries for an unforgettable night of flavor, creativity and competition.

The journey begins with a statewide call for competitors in March, followed by preliminary and regional rounds held May through August. The top competitors advance to the Grand Finale, where they compete live for the industry’s most coveted titles: Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Mixologist & Distillery of the Year and Best Mocktail of the Year.

At the Grand Finale, guests become part of the experience—sampling sweet and savory bites, sipping creative cocktails and mocktails, and casting their votes in the People’s Choice Awards, powered by Sysco.

Winners will also serve as 2026–2027 Got To Be NC culinary ambassadors, representing and promoting the state’s rich food and beverage culture.

This one-of-a-kind event celebrates the people, products and passion that define North Carolina hospitality.

*Attendees must be 21 or older to attend.

Learn More: https://www.ncrla.org/ncrla-events/2026-ncrla-chef-showdown/

For sponsorship inquiries, contact Heidi Billotto at heidibillotto@gmail.com.