Posted 13 August 2026 in Press Release
Are Media’s prestigious Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year Awards will return next Monday, August 17, bringing together more than 160 of the country’s leading chefs, restaurateurs and industry figures at Sydney’s Olympus Dining to celebrate Australia’s most exceptional culinary talent, restaurants and dining experiences.
This year’s event marks a double celebration, with the country’s longest-running restaurant awards also honouring Gourmet Traveller’s 60th anniversary as Australia’s leading premium lifestyle and fine-dining content destination.
Proudly presented by Lexus Australia, with support from Scanpan, Wedgwood, Porkstar, S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, 1800 Tequila, Yalumba, and Maison Pompadour, the Awards showcase the excellence, creativity and innovation shaping Australia’s restaurant industry.
The Awards return amid strong momentum for Gourmet Traveller, with readership growing 43% year-on-year as audiences continue to seek out trusted food, travel and lifestyle content.
Gourmet Traveller Editor David Meagher said: “For more than four decades, the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year Awards have celebrated the creativity, passion and excellence of Australia’s hospitality industry.
“As we mark Gourmet Traveller’s 60th anniversary, the continued growth of our readership speaks to the important role trusted content still plays in helping Australians decide where to eat, where to travel and how to spend their time. We’re proud to continue connecting our audience with the restaurants, chefs and experiences shaping Australia’s dining culture, and we can’t wait to reveal this year’s winners.”
The 2026 finalists span six key categories: Best New Talent, Best New Restaurant, Best Destination Dining, Restaurant Personality of the Year, Chef of the Year, Bar of the Year, the much-loved Readers’ Choice Enduring Excellence Award, Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality and – the ultimate honour – Restaurant of the Year”.
Lexus Australia’s partnership with the Awards builds on the brand’s focus on premium experiences through Lexus Encore, its ownership offering that provides members with access to exclusive dining, events, travel and luxury hotel stays.
“Great experiences have the power to bring people together, inspire discovery and challenge expectations. That is why we are proud to partner with Gourmet Traveller, a brand that has long celebrated the people and places that embody this same philosophy through their creativity, craftsmanship and commitment to exceptional hospitality,” said Wayne Gabriel, General Manager, Lexus Australia.
Hosted by Olympus Dining, the event will feature a bespoke menu curated by Ozge Kalvo, recipient of the Best New Talent award at last year’s Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year Awards. Profiles of all winners from the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year Awards will appear in the September issue, on sale August 24, alongside the annual Restaurant Guide and its definitive list of Australia’s top 100 restaurants.
*Roy Morgan Single Source Australia, Mar26 – AP14+
For more information, please contact:Luke Robinson – 0417548688 | luke@storydisco.com.au
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