Finalists for one of the UK hospitality industry’s most respected culinary accolades, the 2026 AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year award, have been revealed ahead of this year’s AA Hospitality Awards in September.
Widely considered among the sector’s most prestigious honours, the award celebrates chefs who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and leadership over the last 12 months.
First launched in 1996, the honour is decided entirely by fellow chefs, with AA Rosette holders voting to recognise the peer they believe has made the biggest impact on the hospitality industry over the past year.
This year’s shortlist features some of the UK’s most respected culinary voices spanning celebrated fine-dining destinations and innovative regional restaurants continuing to shape the future of British hospitality. From five Rosette restaurants in London and Scotland to standout dining destinations in Cumbria and the North East, the prestigious list of finalists reflect both the calibre and diversity across the UK food scene today.
The winner of the AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year, sponsored by Woods Foodservice, will be announced at the AA Hospitality Awards on Monday 21 September 2026 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London. The event will also celebrate a major milestone for AA Hotel & Hospitality Services, marking 70 years of the AA Rosette award. To honour the anniversary, the awards menu has been reimagined, with three leading chefs collaborating on the menu for the first time.
Culinary leaders Steve Smith, Tom Aikens and AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year 2026 finalist Hrishikesh Desai will each bring their own style to what promises to be an exquisite menu. The awards, hosted by broadcaster, singer and presenter Fleur East, are set to welcome more than 1,000 leading figures from across the hospitality sector for an evening celebrating the very best of British hospitality.
Simon Numphud FIH, Managing Director at AA Media, said: “What makes the AA Chefs’ Chef Award so special is that it is peer recognition at the highest level. This year’s shortlist is a real snapshot of modern British hospitality, showcasing many different styles and perspectives, yet all united by the same passion, innovation and uncompromising commitment to excellence. From neighbourhood restaurants to internationally recognised dining rooms, the calibre of talent on this year’s list shows just how exciting and dynamic the UK food scene continues to be.”
The 2026 shortlist highlights chefs from across the UK who continue to shape and influence the country’s dining scene. The full shortlist is:
- Kenny Atkinson, Solstice by Kenny Atkinson (Newcastle)
- Adam Byatt, Trinity (London)
- Mark Donald, The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant (Perthshire, Scotland)
- Brett Graham, The Ledbury (London)
- Roberta Hall-McCarron, The Little Chartroom (Edinburgh)
- Adam Handling, Frog by Adam Handling (London)
- Angela Hartnett, Murano (London)
- Lorna McNee, Cail Bruich (Glasgow)
- Spencer Metzger, Row on 5 (London)
- Clare Smyth, Core by Clare Smyth (London)
Voting for the AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year is open exclusively to AA Rosette holders and closes on Friday 31 July at 8pm. Tickets for the AA Hospitality Awards on 21 September are available to purchase here.
