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2026 – Sign up

by | Apr 17, 2026 | Uncategorized

Arctic Young Chef returns for 2026 — applications open 15 May

The search has begun again. After the success of the 2024 series — which crowned Norway’s Rune Helgeland as Arctic Young Chef in the grand finale at Harpa, Reykjavík — the Arctic Young Chef competition returns in 2026 with a new generation of culinary talent stepping up to the kitchen.

This year, three national semi-finals will be held across the NORA region, with Greenland following in 2027 and the grand finale taking place in Iceland in 2027.

The 2026-2027 season

  • Faroe Islands — Klaksvík · 22 August 2026
  • Iceland — Reykjavík · 5 September 2026
  • Norway — Mosjøen · 28 October 2026
  • Greenland — Ilulissat · 2027 (date to be announced)
  • Grand Finale — Iceland · 2027

Who can apply

Arctic Young Chef is open to young chefs aged 24 and under who are either qualified chefs or apprentices currently completing their culinary education. Up to eight competitors take part in each national semi-final, representing the next generation of cooks across the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Greenland.

What the competition stands for

AYC is more than a cooking competition. It is a celebration of the unique culinary heritage of the North Atlantic and a platform for sustainable, creative cooking. Competitors are challenged to:

  • work with underutilized ingredients — offal, lesser-known fish, and other resources that are often overlooked
  • merge tradition with innovation
  • consider sustainability and food waste in every dish
  • create dishes that could also be served in a simpler version in schools and public kitchens

Each competition includes a mystery box on the day, with selected ingredients announced one week in advance to allow competitors to prepare.

Prizes and opportunities

Semi-final winners in each country receive ISK 100,000 and advance to the grand finale in Iceland in 2027, where the overall winner takes home ISK 250,000 and the title of Arctic Young Chef 2027.

Beyond the prize money, every finalist gains access to the AYC professional network, with the opportunity to arrange a stage at a leading restaurant in another NORA country.

How to apply

How to Apply

Registration for the 2026 national semi-finals opens on 15 May 2026 for the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Norway. Registration for the Greenland semi-final will open in 2027 — date to be announced.

To apply, complete the registration form for your country: