Hyderabad, Jan 30 (TNT) : The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) will host the 12th edition of the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) 2026, the world’s largest congregation of student chefs, bringing together young culinary talent from 50 countries.
Conceived in India and celebrated globally, the Young Chef Olympiad has evolved beyond a competition into a powerful platform for culinary diplomacy, education, and cultural exchange, positioning food as a unifying force among nations and future hospitality leaders.
The theme for YCO 2026 — “Preserving the World’s Global Culinary Heritage through AI” — reflects the Olympiad’s transformation into a global knowledge ecosystem where technology, ethics, and human creativity converge, the Institute said in a release on Friday.
The Opening Ceremony of YCO 2026 will take place in Bengaluru on February 1, 2026, officially marking the start of the Olympiad with participation from all competing nations.
As part of the YCO 2026 journey across India, Hyderabad will host two landmark events, firmly placing the city on the international culinary map.
On February 2, 2026, Hyderabad will host the United World of Young Chefs (UWYC) International Food Festival, one of YCO’s most distinctive cultural showcases celebrating global friendship and culinary diplomacy through food.
The festival will be held at The Glass Onion, Gachibowli, with special thanks to Chef Shankar Krishnamurthy for his support and partnership in curating this global culinary gathering.
The UWYC International Food Festival is a non-competitive event featuring 10 participating YCO countries, each presenting their traditional and signature dishes, prepared live by international mentors and young chef contestants.
Participating Countries: France, Scotland, Belarus, Greece, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Ireland, and Switzerland.
Each nation will operate an exclusive food counter, showcasing its culinary heritage, culture, and traditional techniques from across continents.
A key highlight of the evening will be the felicitation of 15 distinguished chefs, who will be conferred the prestigious title of “ICON Chefs of Hyderabad.”
This honour recognises their outstanding contribution to the city’s vibrant culinary ecosystem and their role in establishing Hyderabad as one of India’s leading food destinations.
TNT TS
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