Valrhona's Dedication to Pastry Excellence: Sponsoring North America's Best Pastry Chef 2026
At Valrhona, we believe in nurturing the artistry and innovation within the pastry industry. Our mission is to support and elevate pastry chefs, celebrating their creativity and dedication. With this commitment at the forefront, we are honored to be the exclusive chocolate sponsor of the second edition of World’s 50 Best North America. This partnership underscores our deep involvement in the culinary world, and we are extremely proud to sponsor the North America’s Best Pastry Chef 2026 award, recognizing outstanding talent in the pastry community.
Event Announcement
50 Best, the organization behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, has announced that North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 will be revealed on May 28, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, the live awards ceremony marks the second edition of the North America ranking, following its inaugural launch in Las Vegas in September 2025, which revealed Atomix as the debut No.1 winner.
Renowned for its dynamic restaurant scene, deep-rooted food culture, and warm hospitality, New Orleans offers a fitting backdrop for a celebration of the region’s restaurant scene. In partnership with New Orleans & Company, the event will bring together chefs, restaurateurs, and industry leaders from across the region for a series of culinary events culminating in the live awards ceremony.
Celebrating Culinary Excellence
“With food so deeply embedded in its identity, we’re excited to gather the North American restaurant community in New Orleans and shine a spotlight on the chefs, restaurants, and stories defining the region’s current dining landscape,” says a spokesperson for North America’s 50 Best Restaurants. “Hosting North America’s 50 Best Restaurants here allows us to celebrate both the city’s enduring legacy and the chefs and restaurants pushing the region's culinary culture forward.”
The awards celebrate the finest food and beverage talent across North America, covering the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, with a live countdown of the list, culminating in the announcement of The Best Restaurant in North America.
The ceremony in New Orleans will be preceded by a number of special announcements in the months leading up to the list announcement, including the Pastry Chef of the Year, Champions of Change Award, One To Watch Award, and Art of Hospitality Award.
Voting Process
The ranking will reflect the best restaurant experiences collated from 300 expert voters – a balanced mix of chefs, restaurateurs, food and beverage journalists, educators, and well-travelled gourmets. The voters, who must remain anonymous, are recruited by a group of industry-leading Academy Chairs across eight sub-regions within North America, including: USA Northeast; USA South; USA Midwest; USA West; Canada East; Canada Central; Canada West; and the Caribbean (excluding Cuba and Dominican Republic). Members of the 50 Best organization and sponsors do not vote.
For more information on how the voting works, visit the 50 Best website here.
