At a glance…
- The winner of MasterChef Australia 2026 is being announced tonight!
- Find out what happened in the Grand Finale episode of MasterChef Australia 2026 here.
- WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
It seems like mere weeks ago that I started writing up my recaps of the 2026 season of MasterChef Australia, from the first episode, where we met Lydia, who learned to cook using The Australian Women’s Weekly cookbooks and magazines, to the most recent episode, when the contestants were whittled down to the top three.
It’s taken 60 episodes, but we made it! And what a wild season it’s been. We’ve had Robert Irwin sharing his enthusiasm for native Australian ingredients, Jane and Jimmy Barnes showcasing their love of home cooking, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, in the kitchen talking about her love of seasonal produce (and taking a FaceTime call with Prince Harry).
One of the contestants (Dot) got married, and seasoned MasterChef winner and judge Andy Allen welcomed his first child, baby boy Jude.
And now the judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, Jean Christophe, and Andy Allen have whittled the 24 contestants down to the top two.
Petro Papathomas and Vinnie Gibaldi are heading into the season’s Grand Finale on Sunday, 9 August on Ten and 10 Play.
Who won MasterChef Australia 2026?
If you want to read our full recap of the Grand Finale, head here.
It was a hectic cook with two rounds, the second of which was a five-hour pressure test.
The first challenge was a Superstar Mystery Box, featuring ingredients inspired by the season’s guest chefs.
Vinnie’s duck breast was badly overcooked, forcing him to pivot with just 15 minutes left. He filleted a flathead, cooked it on the hibachi, and somehow plated a completely new dish in time.
“This dish is better than what you set out to do,” Andy told him. “That is showing the cook you are.”
Petro had a much calmer cook, creating a Sichuan caramel tart with Jerusalem artichoke crisps. However, his two tarts were unevenly cooked, and the judges questioned the balance.
Vinnie won Round One, 37–32.
Pastry chef Cherish Finden presented the finalists with an incredibly intricate Chinese Afternoon Tea.
“My worst nightmare came true,” Vinnie admitted when he saw it was a dessert.
Both cooks made mistakes, but Vinnie impressed the judges with his ability to recover. Cherish was particularly blown away by his mandarin petit gâteau.
“Oh my goodness, the mandarin orange was va va voom; he nailed it,” she said.
Petro, meanwhile, struggled with his mousse and firecracker element.
When the final scores were revealed, Vinnie was the 2026 MasterChef Australia winner!
“I don’t really have any words…that’s just insane. I’m so so grateful for absolutely everything,” Vinnie said.
“Really really happy for Vinnie,” Petro said. “Just missed the mark.”
Petro takes home $40,000 as runner-up, while Aaron receives $10,000 for finishing third.
Watch MasterChef on Ten and 10Play. Catch up with our recaps here.
