North American 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Announced in New Orleans
On May 28, New Orleans will host the unveiling of North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2026.
The annual event is organized by The World's 50 Best Restaurants, in partnership with New Orleans & Company, and will take place in New Orleans for the second time.
The live awards ceremony, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, features a countdown to the reveal of the top 50 restaurants in the region, preceding the announcement of the Best Restaurant in North America 2026. Before this event, there was also the inaugural North America ranking, which was held in Las Vegas in September 2025, where the restaurant Atomix took the number one position.
New Orleans
New Orleans is widely known as one of America's top food cities, known for its Southern dining scene, warm hospitality, and traditions. The festivities will also include a series of curated gastronomic events that were designed to honor the region's culinary history.
"Welcoming the North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 event program is truly a milestone for New Orleans and part of a larger effort to amplify our culinary scene," Walt Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans & Company, said in a press release. "In the past few years, we at New Orleans & Company have worked to raise the profile of New Orleans as a global travel destination and a culinary center of excellence. Selecting our city as the backdrop for North America's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony and its ancillary events is another reminder to the world of our culinary pedigree."
Event Details & Voting Structure
The 2026 program will also feature special awards that are announced before the ceremony. This includes the Champions of Change Award, One To Watch Award, and Art of Hospitality Award.
Head of International Partnerships and Events of Sanpellegrino Paolo Passoni emphasized the brand's continued partnership with North America's Best 50 restaurants in a press release.
"We're thrilled to continue our partnership with North America's 50 Best Restaurants, celebrating the chefs and restaurants shaping North America's culinary landscape," Passoni said. "New Orleans is a natural home for this year's awards ceremony, from its rich culinary heritage to its innovative contemporary cuisine, the city embodies the passion, quality, and creativity our brands proudly stand for."
The rankings are organized from the votes of 300 anonymous culinary experts, which include chefs, restaurateurs, journalists, educators and other professionals. The voters are selected by Academy Chairs across the sub-regions of USA North, South, Midwest, and West; Canada East, Central, and West; and the Caribbean, excluding Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The members of the 50 Best Restaurants organization and its sponsors do not participate in the voting.
In addition to the event, there will be a thought leadership forum #50BestTalks and a Chefs' Feast, which highlights standout dishes and cooking techniques from chefs across the region.
