Lima Lands the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 in a First for South America

Verified key facts

• Organisers announced in July 2026 that The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards will be held in Lima, Peru, on Wednesday 4 November 2026.
• It is the first time the ceremony will take place in South America in the ranking's 24-year history.
• Restaurant magazine reported the event was originally slated for Abu Dhabi before the host destination changed to Lima.
• Lima's Maido, led by chef Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumura, was named The World's Best Restaurant at the 2025 ceremony in Turin, Italy.
• The Lima ceremony will also hand out special awards including Best Female Chef and the Icon Award.

The Food World's Biggest Night Heads to Peru

The World's 50 Best Restaurants, the awards list that can remake a chef's career overnight, is going to Lima. Organisers confirmed in July that the 2026 ceremony will be staged in the Peruvian capital on Wednesday 4 November, Restaurant magazine reported.

It is a landmark decision. In the ranking's 24-year history, the ceremony has never been held in South America. The Upcoming reported that the Lima event will be the first South American edition, bringing the world's most famous chefs to the continent that has increasingly dominated their conversation.

The announcement also involved a change of plan. Restaurant magazine reported that the 2026 edition had originally been slated for Abu Dhabi before organisers confirmed the switch to Lima. The Gulf city had been announced as host, making the reversal one of the more notable behind-the-scenes stories in the awards' recent history.

Why Lima, and Why Now

The short answer is Maido. At the 2025 ceremony in Turin, the Lima restaurant led by chef Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumura was crowned The World's Best Restaurant, the organisation announced. Its Nikkei cooking, blending Peruvian ingredients with Japanese technique, became the standard-bearer for an entire culinary movement.

Maido's win was no isolated event. Lima restaurants such as Central, named the world's best in 2023, have kept Peru at the top of the list for a decade. The 50 Best organisation said Lima is now recognised as a destination for its diverse food scene, from street-corner cevicherias to tasting-menu temples.

Hosting matters commercially too. Previous host cities have used the ceremony as a global advertisement for culinary tourism. For Peru, where gastronomy is a matter of declared national pride, the event is effectively a state-level marketing moment.

What Happens on 4 November

The ceremony will reveal the full 1-50 ranking and name The World's Best Restaurant 2026, according to the 50 Best organisation. The days around it typically include chef talks, collaborative dinners and the #50BestTalks programme, drawing hundreds of chefs, restaurateurs and journalists.

Special prizes will be handed out alongside the main list. The organisation confirmed the Lima edition will include individual accolades such as the Best Female Chef Award and the Icon Award, honours that often generate as much discussion as the ranking itself.

What It Means for Food Travellers

For culinary tourists, the announcement is a signal flare. Lima's top tables already book out months ahead, and a 50 Best ceremony historically supercharges demand in the host city. Anyone hoping to eat at Maido, Central, Kjolle or Mayta around November should plan far in advance.

• Ceremony date: Wednesday 4 November 2026, in Lima.
• First South American host city in 24 years of the awards.
• Lima is home to Maido, the reigning World's Best Restaurant.
• Special awards include Best Female Chef and the Icon Award.

Beyond the famous names, Lima's broader scene stands to gain. Neighbourhood spots in Barranco and Surquillo, market stalls and regional Peruvian kitchens all benefit when global food media descends on a city for a week.

A Shift in Gastronomy's Centre of Gravity

The symbolism is hard to miss. For most of its history, the 50 Best ceremony lived in London before touring to cities such as New York, Melbourne, Singapore and Turin. Taking the event to Lima acknowledges what the list itself has been saying for years: South America is no longer a guest at fine dining's table, it is a host.

It also reflects the awards' strategy of using geography to tell a story. Moving the ceremony to the home city of the reigning champion turns the 2026 edition into a celebration of Peruvian cuisine's long climb, from a regional secret to arguably the most influential food culture in the Western Hemisphere.

What Comes Next

Attention now turns to the list itself. Maido's title defence will dominate speculation, as no restaurant is eligible to win twice under the Best of the Best rule once it reaches number one. That guarantees a new champion in Lima and a genuinely open race.

Between now and November, the organisation will roll out its usual sequence of regional lists and individual award announcements. For Lima's hotels, airlines and restaurants, the countdown to the food world's biggest night has already begun.

Sources

• Restaurant magazine - Lima to host The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 (10 July 2026)
• The World's 50 Best Restaurants - The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 to take place in Lima (July 2026)
• The Upcoming - World's 50 Best Restaurants awards to be held in Lima for first South American ceremony in 2026 (10 July 2026)