Season 23 of Bravo's Top Chef premieres at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, March 9, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fifteen chefs from across the United States will compete for the title, with host Kristen Kish and judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons returning. The winner receives $250,000 and other culinary honors.
Season 23 of Top Chef begins with its premiere episode airing at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo on March 9, 2026, set in Charlotte, North Carolina. The competition will later travel to Asheville, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina, bringing a taste of the South to the challenges.
Fifteen chefs are competing, including Sieger Bayer from Chicago, Illinois; Jassi Bindra from Houston, Texas; Sherry Cardoso from Brooklyn, New York; Brittany Cochran from Charlotte, North Carolina; Oscar Diaz from Durham, North Carolina; Brandon Dearden from Hamilton, Montana; Jonathan Dearden from Alexandria, Virginia; Duyen Ha from Los Angeles, California; Jennifer Lee Jackson from Suttons Bay, Michigan/Detroit, Michigan; Anthony Jones from Alexandria, Virginia; Day Anaïs Joseph from Atlanta, Georgia; Laurence Louie from Quincy, Massachusetts; Rhoda Magbitang from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Justin Tootla from Suttons Bay, Michigan/Detroit, Michigan; and Nana Araba Wilmot from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Among the contestants are a pair of twins and partners who own a restaurant.
The show is hosted by Kristen Kish, who won season 10 in 2013. Head judge Tom Colicchio and judge Gail Simmons return to their roles. Guest judges include Madison LeCroy and Craig Conover from Southern Charm.
The winner will receive $250,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, an appearance at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado, the chance to headline an exclusive dinner at James Beard House in New York, and the opportunity to present at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.
Following the premiere, episodes air each Monday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Bravo, with streaming available on Peacock the next day. The season 22 winner was Tristen Epps-Long from Houston.