The Best Chef Awards 2025 returns to Europe with Milan set to host global culinary stars

This year’s Best Chef Awards will be held in Milan in October, marking the event’s return to Europe after its previous edition in Dubai. The annual gathering will bring together prominent chefs and food professionals from across the globe to recognise innovation and excellence in contemporary gastronomy. Joanna Slusarczyk, COO and founder of the institution, said: “Milan is more than a city. It is a culinary identity. It embodies everything we stand for at The Best Chef: tradition, creativity and a commitment to excellence.” 

Now in their ninth year, the awards aim to honour influential figures in the industry, including chefs, thinkers and pioneers. The UK had a strong showing in Dubai for 2024, with experts such as Clare Smyth, Gareth Ward and Santiago Lastra receiving top honours. A number of other British entrants, including Heston Blumenthal, Simon Rogan and Sally Abe, were also recognised across various categories. Among the first confirmed attendees for the 2025 edition are Massimo Bottura (Italy), Yoshihiro Narisawa (Japan) and Joan Roca (Spain), with additional participants expected to be announced in the coming months.

The programme will begin on 1^st October with Area Talks, hosted at Bellavista in Franciacorta – an important region for wine production. The opening evening will feature discussions on the cultural and social roles of food, concluding with a standing dinner showcasing regional cuisine. On 2^nd October, the awards gala will follow at Studio 90, a converted early 20^th century aircraft factory located in Milan’s Via Mecenate district. Part of the East End Studios complex, the venue will host a reception, product showcases and the announcement of the 2025 award recipients, with an after-party to conclude the festivities. This year’s event will also introduce a new accolade, selected independently by the Best Chef board, to honour individuals providing food relief in challenging circumstances, and to highlight resilience and community service in the culinary world.

Massimo Bottura, chef patron of the much acclaimed Osteria Francescana in Modena, commented: “Milan is preparing to shine a spotlight on the world of contemporary cuisine. The Best Chef Awards will bring ideas, visions and flavours to the city; a moment where food will be imagined, narrated and experienced as both a form of art and a universal language.”

Food Desk

The Best Chef Awards 2025 are on from 1^st until 2^nd October 2025 in Milan, Italy. For further information, visit the organisation’s website here.