The 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists highlight Washington, D.C.’s vibrant culinary scene with numerous local chefs and establishments recognized for excellence.
WASHINGTON — The semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Award were announced on Wednesday.
Many of the nominees are from the area. If you’re unfamiliar, the James Beard Awards are held to recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system.
The awards were established in 1990 and consist of three programs,
- Restaurant and Chef Awards
- Media Awards
- Achievement Awards
For this year’s awards, the following chefs have been nominated for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic,
- Matthew Adler – Cucina Morini, Washington, D.C.
- Fernando Gonzalez – 2Fifty TX BBQ, Washington, D.C.
- Miguel Guerra & Tatiana Mora – Mita, Washington, D.C.
- Johanna Hellrigl – Ama, Washington, D.C.
- Cagla Onal – My Little Chamomile, Washington, D.C.
- Suresh Sundash – Taipori, Washington, D.C.
- Darmyelesh Alemu – Beteseb, Silver Spring, MD
- Matthew Oetting – Marta, Baltimore, MD
- Leah Branch – The Roosevelt, Richmond, VA
- Tarik Sengul – Smyrna, Charlottesville, VA
For Outstanding Pastry Chef,
Susan Bae – Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.
For Outstanding Restaurant,
-
Anthony Jones, Marcus DC, Washington, D.C.
For Outstanding Hospitality,
For Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service,
-
Brent Kroll, Maxwell Park, Washington, D.C.
For Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service,
-
Christine Kim, Service Bar, Washington, D.C.
-
Doug Atwell, Southpaw, Baltimore, MD
Restaurant and chef nominees will be announced on March 31. Winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 15, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.