Generation Chef 2026 launched to spotlight Northern Ireland’s rising culinary talent
Rotary and six Further Education colleges launch expanded 2026 Generation Chef Competition, with regional finals and a grand showdown aimed at fast-tracking student talent into the professional hospitality sector
Business leaders are backing the search to find and promote the next generation of Northern Ireland’s top chefs for restaurants and other hospitality outlets.
Eleven Rotary Club, Northern Ireland’s leading business network and six regional Further Education colleges here are collaborating in the 2026 Generation Chef Competition, a unique initiative, spanning 10 hospitality campuses across six colleges that’s designed to propel Northern Ireland’s top student talent into the upper echelons of the professional food industry.
The 2026 competition cycle marks a significant expansion, with Rotary securing major commercial sponsorship for six regional finals, according to Dale Orr for Generation Chef.
“These heats feature generous food budgets, ensuring that every student chef works exclusively with premium, high-quality Northern Ireland produce,” adds Dale.
The competition will reach its peak on Thursday, April 30, at the Grand Final hosted by 2025 winners Southern Regional College (SRC) Newry East Campus. Six regional winners will go head-to-head under the scrutiny of industry giants, supported by key sponsors including Henderson Foodservice, Hastings Hotels, and new for 2026, TMR Windward Hotels.
“This is a massive logistics operation involving clubs from across the region,” says project founder Trevor Stewart of Lisburn Rotary Club. "By providing students with elite ingredients and a platform at SRC Newry, we are showing the next generation that the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland offers a truly world-class career path.”
The rewards for students flowing from the prestigious competition are unrivalled, continues Trevor.
“Beyond the prestige of the title, Rotary has curated a suite of prizes aimed at the professional development of aspiring chefs. The competition culminates in an exclusive four-day Culinary Tour of Ulster.”
This immersive experience includes: expert masterclasses; and learning advanced techniques from the province’s top culinary minds.
Included, in addition, are: producer safaris - behind-the-scenes visits to Northern Ireland’s award-winning food and drink producers; executive mentorship - hands-on kitchen experience alongside 5-star executive chefs from the Hastings and Windward hotel portfolios.
Trevor continues: “In an era where the hospitality sector faces significant recruitment challenges, Generation Chef serves as a beacon for vocational excellence, proving that culinary arts offer a dynamic and rewarding career path.”