Welcome to the National Restaurant Awards Rising Stars 2026. To be considered a rising star, age is not important, it will be dependent more on experience and their current position. The initiative will consider chefs, business owners, front of house team members including sommeliers, and people in other aspects of the restaurant sector.
Individuals picked for the ‘Class of 2026’ will be invited to attend a special lunch where they can network with their peers and participate in a Q&A with a special industry legend. The deadline for nominations is Friday 7 November 2025.
Please note: We do not allow people to nominate themselves, people can only be nominated by a restaurateur, senior chef or business owner.
