Who has left MasterChef Australia 2026?

Megs was the first contestant to go home on MasterChef Australia this season. In the first elimination, the cooks had to make a dish that was a window into their home lives. Megs loves to cook for people and serve up lots of food. That was sadly her undoing. Her dish had lots of elements and required her oven to be at different temperatures at different times. Sadly, her grilled prawns were undercooked and “inedible”. That led to the judges sending her home.

“I really want to thank you all, it was everything I hoped and a million times more,” Megs said on her elimination.

She was “heartbroken” but “extremely grateful”. 

No one likes being the first to go; hopefully, we haven’t seen the last of Megs in the culinary world.

Jeff was the second person to leave the MasterChef Australia kitchen in a pressure test set by legendary home cook, Maggie Beer AO.

He has applied to MasterChef numerous times over the years, to the point where his friends call him MasterJeff!

Jeff adores baking, and for his dishes to be precise. That was sadly his downfall. He spent too much time scoring the top of his pie that it didn’t have enough time to bake in the oven.

“Jeff, your dream doesn’t end now, it’s only starting, says Jean-Christophe. “You will always be a MasterJeff.”

“I’m proud of what I achieved,” says Jeff. “I’ll always be part of MasterChef.”

Belinda has always wanted to work with food. Her inspiration to join the show was the original MasterChef herself, and columnist for The Australian Women’s Weekly, Julie Goodwin!

Sadly, in episode nine, Belinda’s dish was lacking, and so the judges sent her home.

“It’s been fantastic,” Belinda said of her time. “I’ve been watching MasterChef since series one, and now I’m on the show, so you know, dream accomplished. I’ve learned that I would like to now take my cooking to another level. I don’t think you’re ever too old to start again. I’ve had eight career paths, so let’s make number nine.”

Bella has a huge passion for baking. Sadly, she went home on a dessert! In the episode before her elimination, she cooked one of the best cakes that the judges had, but it was a team task, and overall, their dish was found lacking. In the elimination round, she decided to make an entremet, but the time pressure got to her, and there were flaws in every element of her dish.

“Cooking with this amazing bunch of people has just been so inspiring, I’ve enjoyed every moment,” Bella said on her elimination.

“I know you are going to be a superstar,” says a teary Poh. “And I want you to promise me that you’re not going to let this moment define you, it’s what you actually do after this,” she says before asking for a hug.

“I’ve learned so much from this experience,” Bella said afterwards. “Poh made me promise that this is only the beginning and I’m going to keep that promise.”