IIHM Hosts 12th Edition of the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad
The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) will host the 12th edition of the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad, the largest gathering of student chefs of the world from February 1 to 6.
The opening ceremony of this edition will be held, for the first time, in Bengaluru, while the grand finale of this global iconic culinary Olympiad will be held in Kolkata on February 6.
The ‘IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad 2026’ brings together culinary industry student professionals from Hotel Management and culinary institutions from 50 countries, positioning food as a bridge between cultures, nations and future hospitality leaders.
YCO 2026 will once again place India at the centre of this global exchange. Student chefs from across continents will experience the country beyond competition kitchens—engaging deeply with Indian cuisines, regional ingredients, culinary traditions and local cultural practices.
The Olympiad unfolds across five Indian cities in the first round, culminating in the Grand Finale in Kolkata, home to IIHM’s Global Campus.
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Announcing the YCO, and its theme, Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman & Chief Mentor of IIHM and Indismart Group Worldwide, said “The Young Chef Olympiad is not just a competition. It is a global stage for talent, diplomacy, and learning. In the YCO journey, preparation turns into participation, and young chefs begin their role as global ambassadors for cuisine, culture, and collaboration. Each participant here is a proud ambassador of unity and friendship — a Young Chef Olympian — bonded for life.”
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Conceived in India and now celebrated worldwide, YCO has steadily evolved from a competition into a global platform of culinary diplomacy.
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Each participating student chef represents not only a culinary institution, but the cultural identity, traditions and food philosophy of their country—entering a shared learning environment where collaboration is valued as highly as competition.