Hyderabad, Jan 27: The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) will host the 12th edition of the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO 2026), the world’s largest congregation of student chefs, bringing together young culinary talent from 50 countries.

Conceived in India and celebrated across the globe, the Young Chef Olympiad has evolved from a culinary competition into a powerful platform of culinary diplomacy, education and cultural exchange, positioning food as a unifying force between nations, cultures and future hospitality leaders.

The theme for YCO 2026, “Preserving the World’s Global Culinary Heritage through AI,” highlights the Olympiad’s transformation into a global knowledge and learning ecosystem where technology, ethics and human creativity converge.

The Opening Ceremony of YCO 2026 will be held in Bengaluru on February 1, 2026, officially commencing the Olympiad with participation from all competing nations. Hyderabad to play a key role in YCO 2026. As part of the Young Chef Olympiad 2026 journey across India, Hyderabad will host two landmark YCO engagements—a global cultural celebration and a competitive round—firmly placing the city in the international culinary spotlight.

On February 2, 2026, Hyderabad will host the United World of Young Chefs (UWYC) International Food Festival, one of YCO’s most distinctive cultural showcases, celebrating culinary diplomacy and global friendship through food.

The festival will be hosted at The Glass Onion, Gachibowli, with special thanks to Chef Shankar Krishnamurthy for his gracious support and partnership in curating this landmark global culinary gathering.

The UWYC International Food Festival, a non-competitive event, will feature 10 participating YCO countries, each presenting their traditional and signature dishes, prepared live by international mentors and young chef contestants. Guests will experience an authentic taste of world cuisines under one roof.

The participating countries are France, Scotland, Belarus, Greece, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Ireland, and Switzerland

Each country will operate an exclusive food counter, celebrating its culinary heritage, culture and traditional techniques from across continents.

A key highlight of the UWYC evening will be the felicitation of 15 distinguished chefs from Hyderabad, who will be conferred the prestigious title of “ICON Chefs of Hyderabad.”

This honour recognises their outstanding contribution to the city’s vibrant culinary ecosystem and their role in establishing Hyderabad as one of India’s leading food destinations.

Complementing the international flavours, the festival will also spotlight exclusive Telangana and Andhra Pradesh cuisine counters, presented by renowned speciality restaurants, celebrating regional authenticity and culinary pride.

Regional Cuisine Presenters include: Chittoor Naidu, Palle Vindu, Pondy Parottas and other speciality cuisine partners

A dedicated dessert counter by Cream Stone will add a delightful sweet finale to the evening.