The 2026 season of MasterChef Australia is set to return in 2026.
Here’s everything we know about the season, from guest judges to contestants and more.
Who are the MasterChef Australia judges for 2026?
The judges for this year’s season are the same as last year: Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Read more about Andy, Poh, Sofia and Jean-Christophe here.
Who are the guest judges on MasterChef Australia 2026?
Every season, MasterChef Australia brings out some stellar guest judges. More often than not, MasterChef stars like Gordon Ramsay shows up as well as Curtis Stone. MasterChef alums also return for an episode or two, as well as culinary legends like Maggie Beer.
Some other stars set to join are Adriano Zumbo, Rick Stein, and Justin Schofield. In the preview for the 2026 season, two very special guests are slated to come to the kitchen: Robert Irwin and Jimmy Barnes!
Then, in the middle of her visit to Australia, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, joined the panel of judges for an episode while Andy was off on parental leave.
When does MasterChef Australia 2026 start?
Channel Ten has announced MasterChef will return on April 19, 2026, on 10 and 10Play.
You can catch up on the episodes on 10Play or read our episode recaps here.
Who are the MasterChef Australia 2026 contestants?
As of yet, the contestants for the upcoming season have not been confirmed, given that 40 aspiring chefs will enter the kitchen, but only 24 will officially compete. However, you can meet the top 20 here.
In 2025, previous contestants returned with a fire in their belly, hoping to win. But this year, the MasterChef kitchen will be all newbies.
“It’s just good to be back to fresh faces, bright-eyed bushy-tailed, getting stuck in just trying to get the best out of each individual cook,” Andy Allen told TV Tonight.
It is also an exciting year for the judges, because it is their first time, they’ll have a say in who makes it to the Top 24.
How much do MasterChef Australia contestants get paid?
The contestants are not ‘paid’ during their time on MasterChef Australia. However, they are given a small allowance to cover any expenses they may have.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that the 2013 contestants were given $630 a week.
How long does MasterChef Australia take to film?
An average episode of MasterChef runs for about an hour or so.
But it actually takes about a full day to film one episode.
Who is the most successful chef from MasterChef Australia?
Multiple MasterChef Australia alumni have become incredibly successful since their time on the show.
For instance, the first ever MasterChef Australia winner Julie Goodwin went on to become a household name – releasing multiple cookbooks, writing for The Weekly, and hosting her own cooking show, Home Cooked.
Poh Ling Yeow, Adam Liaw, Justine Schofield, Billie McKay, Reynold Poernomo and Callum Hann are some other MasterChef contestants who went on to have great success in the food industry.
Who was the winner of MasterChef Australia Season 17?
The winner of 2025’s season was three-time participant, Laura Sharrad!
