The James Beard Awards ceremony could be leaving Chicago
The glittering celebration of independent restaurants will remain in the Windy City for two more years. But a national search has been launched for the next potential site in 2029 through 2033.
July 15, 2026
The glittering James Beard Award ceremony may be moving from Chicago.
The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced it is conducting a national search for the future home of the multi-day event, which is sometimes called the Oscars of the food world.
The ceremony will stay in Chicago for two more years. The 2027 ceremony will be the foundation’s 12th year in the Windy City. Before that, the ceremony was in New York City, where it first began, for 23 years.
But if Chicago wants to keep the ceremony there from 2029 through 2033, the city will have to make a bid for it.
The foundation on Wednesday launched a formal Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) process to choose the next site. Destinations that make the cut to move to the next stage will be notified in mid-August and a final decision is expected by early next year.
The Beard ceremony has become quite a big deal.
First hosted in 1991, the award ceremony has long been an opportunity for independent restaurants and chefs to celebrate culinary excellence and up-and-coming talent.
How restaurants are judged has evolved, along with the foundation itself, to reset priorities and become more inclusive. One goal has been to spread the joy to include more operators nationwide, rather than concentrating focus on New York, Los Angeles, and other major markets.
The ceremony typically includes multiple parts: the Media and Impact Awards, and then the Restaurant and Chef Awards, which have become a fancy-dress affair with red-carpet coverage.
Nominees say recognition by the foundation offers a certain “Beard bump” in business, and that tends to also be true for the host city, the foundation said.
This year’s ceremony was held in mid-June, for example. As of June 25, the awards cycle generated more than 7,300 pieces of media coverage and nearly 140 billion impressions, the foundation said.
As thousands of restaurant industry folks, journalists and culinary leaders descended onto the city of Chicago, the ceremony generated an estimated $8.3 million in direct spending (including the foundation’s operational expenditures to produce the event) and off-site spending by non-local attendees, according to Tourism Economics.
This direct spending had a total economic impact of $17 million, which was estimated to support 175 full-time jobs through the Chicago area. That contributed roughly $1.2 million in total state and local taxes, the foundation said.
“The James Beard Awards weekend is the biggest moment of the year in American food — a celebration unlike any other, bringing together the entire independent restaurant community to honor the creativity, innovation, and leadership shaping our nation’s food culture,” said Clare Reichenbach, James Beard Foundation CEO, in a statement. “We’re deeply grateful to Chicago for a remarkable partnership heading into our 12th year next year, and for helping the Awards grow into the joyous, multi-day celebration they are today. As we look ahead, we’re excited to hear from destinations — including Chicago — ready to champion this vital industry, and who recognize the essential role independent restaurants plan in shaping a thriving future for America’s communities, economy, and culture.”
About the Author
Lisa Jennings
Executive Editor, Restaurant Business
Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Her experience includes other industry publications as well as the daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., where she was Food Editor. Her work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, FoodBeast, The Huffington Post, Time.com and more.
Content Spotlight
The Technomic Top 500: Another tough year for chain restaurants
Top 500 chain restaurant sales slowed again in 2025 as consumers cut back on dining, but sectors like coffee, beverages and snacks and chicken thrived
Featured
Jul 8, 2026
Jul 2, 2026
Recent News
Content Spotlight
Get to know Rick Cardenas, the Darden CEO who started there as a busser
The executive shares his advice, along with his most-binged TV show, favorite sports team, and most-used app
Source: This story originated with Nation's Restaurant News.
View Original Article →