The restaurants and chefs named as semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards were announced Wednesday and nearly every category had Chicago representation. The culinary awards are set to take June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The official James Beard Restaurant and Chef nominees will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, followed by a ceremony reveal of the winners at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 15. In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for additional announcements, including James Beard America’s Classics recipients.

The 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists list is out, and more than 20 Chicago restaurants, chefs and bartenders have made the grade.