The 18th edition of Culinary Art India (CAI) 2026 concluded recently at Pragati Maidan, marking a historic milestone for India’s gastronomic landscape. Organised by the Indian Culinary Forum (ICF) in collaboration with ITPO and Hospitality First, the five-day event was held alongside the 40th AAHAR exhibition and featured over 700 competing chefs.
WACS Endorsement Raises the Bar
For the first time, CAI 2026 operated as a national-level competition endorsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS). This prestigious alignment ensured that the "18th Professional Culinary Contest and Display Excellence Challenge" met internationally benchmarked standards. A distinguished panel of WACS-certified global jurors, led by Chef Rick Stephen, Vice President of WACS, evaluated participants from India, Nepal, Thailand, and the USA.
Diverse Competitions and Masterclasses
Chefs competed across 18 rigorous categories, ranging from high-skill displays like 3-Tier Wedding Cakes and Artistic Pastry Showpieces to live challenges such as Contemporary Sushi Platters and Authentic Indian Regional Cuisine.
Beyond the heat of the competition, the event served as a knowledge hub. Renowned culinary figures, including Chef Ajay Chopra and Chef Nishant Choubey, conducted masterclasses curated by Chef Mahendra Khairiya. These sessions provided students and professionals with rare insights into evolving global food trends and technical precision.
Celebrating Excellence
The awards ceremony saw top honours go to both seasoned professionals and rising stars. Notable Gold Award winners included Chef Vikki Saini (Hotel Westin Gurugram) for his wedding cake design, and international winners like Kantapong Khamponkaew (Dusit Thani College, Thailand) in the Live Rice Dish category.
Chef Davinder Kumar, President of the ICF, noted that the record participation reflects the growing professionalism of India’s culinary community. By aligning with WACS, Culinary Art India has successfully placed the country on the global map of elite culinary competitions.