WFC 2026 — October 15–18 — Indianapolis, INCongratulations to our WFC2026 Champions!Welcome Back Presenting Sponsor Sam's ClubCheck back for updates!WFC 2026 — October 15–18 — Indianapolis, INCongratulations to our WFC2026 Champions!Welcome Back Presenting Sponsor Sam's ClubCheck back for updates!
🔥The World's Largest Multi-Food Sport Competition
The Global Leaderin Food Sport.
Established in 2012, the annual World Food Championships and qualifying event series features competitors from across the globe and all 50 United States competing across ten categories for a shot at $100,000 and the coveted title of World Food Champion.
2026 Main Event
WFC 2026
// Indianapolis, Indiana
October 15 – 18, 2026
Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis
Multi-Day Championship Event
Championship Countdown
--Days
--Hours
--Mins
--Secs
40+Countries
1,500+Competitors
10Food Categories
$400K+Annual Prizes Distributed
See What the Final Table is All About
The Final Table.
After crowning 10 category winners, those champions then go on to compete at The Final Table event presented by Sam's Club, hosted at Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food in Bentonville, AR. Champions must navigate three culinary challenges for a chance to take home the World Food Championship Crown and a Grand Prize of $100,000!!
10 Category Champions Compete
3 Culinary Challenge Rounds
Presented by Sam's Club · Brightwater, Bentonville AR
Grand Prize: $100,000
2026 Final Table — Bentonville, AR
Meet the Champions
Click any champion, or the arrow, to read a sample of their interview.
🔥 Barbecue Category
Al Lino
World Barbecue Champion
Rio Hondo, Texas
Tell us about your culinary journey.
Kind of born into it. Helping my mom at a young age breading chicken, making salsas and trimming meats for our convenient store. I've been cooking in a commercial kitchen since I was 8 years old.
How many times have you competed at WFC?
3 times in Barbecue
What was it like being named Champion for the second time?
Surreal. After coming up short the year before we worked harder and put a lot more late nights in around the bbq pit. The Ring of Fire was a nail biter!
Any advice for future competitors?
Practice. Order your silver platter and plate your turn ins. Time yourself. Walk with the plate. Then when you think you are satisfied, do it again.
Interesting fact few people know about you?
I'm Batman. 🦇
🎂 Dessert Category
Cindy Hawkins
World Dessert Champion
Indianapolis, Indiana
What does winning the World Dessert Championship mean to you?
Dessert is often the last thing someone tastes at a meal — and the first thing they remember. Winning means my vision of what a dessert can be — technically refined, emotionally resonant, and unforgettable — was recognized at the highest level in the world.
What is your philosophy in the kitchen?
Sugar and butter can do extraordinary things when you treat them with respect. I push every dish to be both a visual statement and a flavor experience. The plate should stop you before you even taste it — and then the first bite should make you close your eyes.
🥓 Bacon Category
Daniel McDonald
World Bacon Champion
Franklin, Indiana
Tell us about your culinary journey.
I fell in love with restaurants when I got my very first job as a server. The pacing, rush and attention to detail were enamoring to me. Shortly thereafter, I attended culinary school in Indianapolis. Through my 10+ years as an Executive Chef, my culinary journey included working in small-scale family run Italian restaurants, large-scale catering, elevated boutique hotels, and everything in between. I am currently a full-time chef instructor at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis.
How long have you been cooking?
15 years
How many times have you competed at WFC?
1 time
How would you describe being named a Champion?
The feeling of being recognized on stage surrounded by Team Indiana was amazing! We came in as unexpected underdogs and simply got to do what we do best; we got to cook! Right when I was being awarded category champion, the emcee stopped and said "oh man this is going to be loud" — and then announced me. Team Indiana absolutely erupted. I swear the floor shook!
Any advice for future competitors?
Be flexible. It's about the flavor and about the authenticity to how you want to cook!
🍔 Burger Category
Dave Elliott
World Burger Champion
Olathe, Kansas
What makes Dave Elliott a WFC legend?
Dave Elliott is a two-time World Burger Champion and past World Food Champion from Olathe, Kansas. A marketing professional by trade, Dave is living proof that passion and precision can take a home cook all the way to the world championship stage.
What is your philosophy on burger competition?
The burger is the great equalizer. Every level of cook can make a great one — but making the world's best requires understanding balance, texture, temperature, and storytelling in every single bite.
🥪 Sandwich Category
David Casey
World Sandwich Champion
East Bridgewater, MA
Tell us about your culinary journey.
Started at age 14 in the dish pit. 25+ years later, still rocking the back of the house. In 2015 I opened my first Mediterranean Bar and Grill. In April 2020 I opened Perfectly Flavah'D Cafe. In 2021, I launched Wicked Flavah Food Truck — now one of the hottest trucks on the south shore of Massachusetts.
Was this your first WFC?
First time — Sandwich category.
How would you describe being named a Champion?
One of the most electrifying moments of my life. To be named a champion amongst WFC legends was truly amazing. It was surreal — I stood there in shock thinking someone else's name was called. I'm just a kid from Brockton who had to keep believing in himself.
Any advice for future competitors?
Be yourself, have fun, and enjoy one of the most memorable chef experiences you will ever have. Never be afraid to step a little out of your comfort zone.
🦞 Seafood Category
Michael Everd
World Seafood Champion
Bel Air, Maryland
What does winning the World Seafood Championship mean to you?
Winning represents the culmination of years of dedication, refinement, and passion for ocean-to-table cuisine. Every dish tells a story, and bringing that story to the world's largest food sport competition is an honor beyond words.
What's your approach to seafood competition?
Precision, freshness, and respect for the ingredient. The ocean gives us extraordinary things to work with — my job is to elevate them without overpowering what makes them great.
🪵 Live Fire Category
Mike Johnson
World Live Fire Champion
St. Louis, Missouri
What is Live Fire cooking all about to you?
Fire is the oldest cooking method in human history. There's no hiding behind equipment — it's just you, the flame, and your instincts. Reading the heat, understanding the smoke, knowing exactly when to move the protein — that's the art. And when you get it right, there's nothing more primal or more satisfying.
What made your 2025 WFC run special?
St. Louis showed up. We put everything into that competition — every late night practice session, every failed cook that taught me something. To bring that championship home to Missouri meant everything.
👨🍳 Chef Category
Preston Nguyen
World Chef Champion
Arlington, Texas
What makes Preston Nguyen the most decorated WFC competitor?
Preston Nguyen is a two-time World Chef Champion and the 2021 World Food Champion — the most decorated competitor in WFC history. Born in Arlington, Texas, Preston brings Vietnamese-American heritage and fine-dining precision to every dish he creates.
What is your approach to competition cooking?
Every plate has to tell a story. Technical execution matters, but so does emotion. When a judge takes a bite and feels something — that's when you know you've done your job. That's what I chase every single time I compete.
🍜 Noodle Category
Rocky Julianelle
World Noodle Champion
East Hartford, Connecticut
Tell us about your culinary journey.
I am a competition chef that has been competing for over 14 years. The son of two parents who were both professional cooks and chefs. I eventually ran a building and construction company, but felt the need to get back in the kitchen. In 2019 I won the WFC Open World Chili Championship. In 2022 I won a second world championship in the Soup category. After WFC eliminated the soup division in 2024, I moved to Noodle — and won.
What drives you as a competitor?
The competitive nature and the creative challenge keep me coming back. Each category is a new puzzle to solve. I've now won three world championships across three different categories — and I'm not done yet.
🥗 Vegetarian Category
Surabhi Suri
World Vegetarian Champion
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tell us about your culinary journey.
My culinary journey began in the kitchens of my mother and grandmother. Having lived and worked across six countries, my food reflects a balance of heritage, travel, and creativity. I blend Indian traditions with global influences to create vibrant, nourishing, and sustainable dishes rooted in Indian and Mediterranean flavors.
Was 2025 your first WFC?
Yes! 2025 was my first time!! Being named a Champion was a deeply emotional moment. It felt like a celebration of years of hard work, persistence, and belief in my craft as a self-taught chef.
What is your favorite WFC memory?
After the awards ceremony, one of the judges came backstage to meet me. He said that in his 25 years of judging food competitions he had never come backstage to meet a contestant. My food had moved him. I keep this memory very close to my heart.
Interesting fact few people know about you?
I'm a trained classical music singer, and music remains my greatest joy. The rhythm and harmony I explore in music quietly influence the way I approach cooking — balancing flavors, textures, and colors almost like composing a melody on a plate.
The World Food Championships (WFC) is the premier Food Sport competition on the planet. This multi-day live culinary event pits the world's most talented cooks against each other — competing for food, fame, and serious fortune.
Since its debut in 2012, WFC has drawn competitors from nearly 40 countries and every U.S. state. Thousands of teams earn Golden Tickets at sanctioned qualifiers to secure their seat at the championship table.
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Earn your Golden Ticket at one of hundreds of official qualifier events held year-round across the U.S. and internationally.
