The influential gastronomic hub of Lima will host the world's top culinary talent on 4 November.
For the first time in its 24-year history, The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 will take place in Peru. Held in Lima, a growing creative force in the global dining community, the world's best chefs and restaurateurs will gather to celebrate the unveiling of 1-50 ranking on 4 November.
The city will host the event programme in partnership with the Trade, Tourism and Investment Commission of Peru (PromPerú). Now a recognised destination for its diverse food scene – not least because it is home to The World's Best Restaurant 2025, Maido – Lima's rich cultural heritage and exciting culinary community make the ideal setting for the annual global gastronomic celebrations.
The awards ceremony will amplify boundary-pushing chefs and restaurants, recognising emerging talent alongside established names. Last year's ranking reveal saw Maido named The World's Best Restaurant 2025, along with Lima's Kjolle, Mérito and Mayta all celebrating a place in the 1-50 list alongside restaurants from 32 cities in 22 countries.
At the 2026 awards ceremony, in its home city, Maido will join the Best of the Best group, formed of all the restaurants that have topped the annual poll of The World's 50 Best Restaurants over its history, which are no longer eligible to be voted on new editions of the list. It will be the second Lima restaurant to be voted into the prestigious No.1 spot, alongside Central, The World's Best Restaurant 2023.
While the unveiling of the official 1-50 ranking is the highly anticipated apex of the week, there will be ample chances for connection, knowledge exchange and exploration of different cuisines during the event programme.
#50BestTalks returns for 2026 on 3 November, staging thought-provoking discussions with some of the world's most creative culinary minds. Last year's sessions featured meaningful presentations from Dominique Crenn and Jeremy Chan, and world-class martinis from the Connaught Bar's Ago Perrone and Giorgio Bargiani.
To champion Peru's exciting dining scene, local restaurants will host visiting chefs from The World's 50 Best Restaurants list in a series of ticketed 50 Best Signature Sessions. Local and visiting diners will be able to book seats at the Signature Sessions, with more information on the full line-up coming soon.
The event schedule will culminate with the awards ceremony, where The World's Best Restaurant 2026 will be revealed, as well as special accolades like the Best Female Chef Award and the Icon Award. The awards ceremony will be streamed live on the 50 Best YouTube channel for people across the world to see the 1-50 reveal as it unfurls.
In the run up to the event, there are three exciting pre-announced awards to keep the momentum until the big reveal. The Champions of Change Award, the Art of Hospitality Award and the One To Watch Award will all be revealed prior to the ceremony, as well as the extended 51-100 restaurant list.
The 2026 edition of The World's 50 Best Restaurants will now take place in Lima, Peru, on Wednesday 4 November, following a change to the originally announced host destination of Abu Dhabi.
