A 12-chef delegation from the Maldives participated in the WorldChefs Congress 2026, held from 16th to 19th May 2026 in Newport, Wales. The WorldChefs Congress is the world’s largest international gathering of professional chefs, bringing together culinary leaders from across the globe.

The WorldChefs Congress is a biennial international event that brings together chefs to exchange knowledge, share innovations, and strengthen professional networks within the global culinary industry. The three-day congress featured keynote addresses by Michelin-starred chefs, hands-on skill development ad co-learning workshops, and discussions on contemporary issues shaping the culinary world, including sustainability, food security, and evolving gastronomic trends.

In addition, the highly anticipate Global Chefs Challenge Finals took place on the sidelines of the Congress. This is a cooking competition where the world’s top chefs compete in four competition categories. The finalists were determined through Regional Semi-Finals in 2025.

Through participation international platforms such as the WorldChefs Congress, the Chefs Guild of Maldives continues to advance its commitment to professional development, culinary excellence, and international collaboration, while also exploring opportunities to bring global best practices into the Maldives’ gastronomy scene.

WorldChefs Congress was last held in 2024 in Singapore, where a 30-member delegation of the Chefs Guild of Maldives participated.

The next edition of the WorldChefs Congress & Expo will be held in Paris, France in 2028, marking the 100th anniversary of the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WorldChefs), which was founded in Paris in 1928.

The Chefs Guild of Maldives hopes to expand opportunities for Maldivian Young Chefs to participate in this historic congress, recognizing the important role young culinary professionals play in shaping the future of the industry. Through greater international exposure, networking, and professional development opportunities, the Chefs Guild of Maldives aims to continue empowering and inspiring the next generation of Maldivian chefs.