After months of competition across the business, Aramark chefs from around the world are set to gather in Dublin this June for the 2026 International Chefs’ Cup, marking the ninth year of the global culinary competition. The event brings together top chefs who earned their place by winning country and regional competitions, advancing to compete on a global stage.
Taking place from Tuesday, June 2 through Thursday, June 4, the competition will be held at TU Dublin Grangegorman, with the overall winner announced at a gala evening in Croke Park. Following the 2025 event in Shanghai, this year’s Chefs’ Cup marks a significant moment for Aramark’s global culinary community, with Dublin at the center.
A Showcase of Global Talent
The Chefs’ Cup will feature competitors from Canada, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Korea, Latin America, Luxembourg, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Each chef brings exceptional skill and refined technique, guided by a deep connection to regional ingredients and a distinct culinary identity.
2026 International Chefs’ Cup Competitors
- Belgium-Luxembourg: François Gapihan
- Canada: Eric Jacobs
- China: Mr Guo Qun Li
- Czech Republic: Jiří Janeček
- Germany: Sebastian Bünning
- Ireland: Ana Nechita
- Korea: Jinseop Choi
- Latin America: Sebastián Cavieres Perez
- Spain: Radu Cristian Gerhes
- United Kingdom: Nathan Booth
Arriving in Dublin, each chef brings a distinct perspective shaped by culture, experience, and their work in Aramark kitchens around the world. The final competition will challenge chefs through live cooking scenarios that test not only the finished dish, but also creativity, precision, sustainability, and decision making under pressure.
Judging the Competition
The competition will be judged by a panel of leading culinary experts from Ireland and internationally, assessing both tasting and technical performance.
The tasting panel will be led by Ross Lewis, co-owner of the two Michelin-starred Chapter One and includes, Derry Clarke, one of Ireland’s best-known chefs and former chef patron of the Michelin-starred restaurant l’Ecrivain; Paul Flynn, chef and owner of The Tannery in Dungarvan; Audrey Cronin, culinary specialist with global food company Unilever; Mario Henriquez, winner of the 2025 Aramark International Chefs’ Cup; and Cynthia Morales, a culinary development leader based in Chile.
The technical judging panel will be led by George Smith, an internationally recognized World Master Chef and includes, lecturer Michael Nehrdich, an expert in professional kitchen systems with Rational in Germany; Sinead Corbally, Sustainability Manager at Aramark; and Darren Daly, Aramark’s Quality and Safety Director.
Together, the judges will assess each competitor across a broad range of criteria, including flavor, balance, creativity, presentation, technique, sustainability, preparation, quality, safety, and overall execution. The competition is designed to evaluate not only the finished dish, but also the thinking behind it, from ingredient selection to decision making under pressure.
Culmination of a Global Journey
The Dublin finals mark the culmination of each chef’s Chefs’ Cup journey and will ultimately crown the 2026 International Chefs’ Cup champion, while showcasing the skill, ambition, and global diversity of Aramark’s culinary community.
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