ACF National Competitions
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ACF National Competitions
Monday, June 29, 2026
6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Located in the Competition Kitchens in Exhibit Hall C
U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year
Created in 1963, the U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year Award was developed to acknowledge Walter Roth, AAC, for his efforts to promote and elevate the profession. Each year, the top competitive chefs from each region face off in a savory cooking competition at the ACF National Convention to win the title. The award has grown in prestige and today is one of the highest honors annually bestowed by ACF.
Pastry Chef of the Year
Established in 2004, ACF Pastry Chef of the Year was launched to recognize the top baking and pastry chefs in the industry. Each year, the top competitive pastry chefs from each region face off in this baking and pastry competition at the ACF National Convention to win the title. Combining a high level of culinary and visual art, this is one of ACF’s most prestigious competitions and titles.
Student Chef of the Year
Similar to U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year, ACF Student Chef of the Year was developed in 1987 to recognize the skills and talents of the young, up-and-coming culinarians in the industry. Each year, the top competitive student chefs from each region face off in a savory cooking competition at the ACF National Convention to win the title. This award recognizes the student chefs who have gone above and beyond in their culinary studies.
Student Pastry Chef of the Year
Similar to ACF Pastry Chef of the Year, ACF Student Pastry Chef of the Year was first presented in 2022 to recognize the skills and talents of the young, up-and-coming baking and pastry culinarians in the industry. Each year, the top competitive student pastry chefs from each region face off in a baking and pastry competition at the ACF National Convention to win the title. This award recognizes the student pastry chefs who have gone above and beyond in their culinary studies.
Student Team of the Year
Each year, five student teams from culinary programs across the country face off at the ACF National Convention in a cooking competition to earn the title of Student Team of the Year. This competition category, created in 1992, was introduced to encourage culinary students to work as a team in the kitchen while testing the many skills they’ve learned in the classroom.
Monday, June 29, 2026
6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Located in the Competition Kitchens in Exhibit Hall C
U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year
Created in 1963, the U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year Award was developed to acknowledge Walter Roth, AAC, for his efforts to promote and elevate the profession. Each year, the top competitive chefs from each region face off in a savory cooking competition at the ACF National Convention to win the title. The award has grown in prestige and today is one of the highest honors annually bestowed by ACF.
Pastry Chef of the Year
Established in 2004, ACF Pastry Chef of the Year was launched to recognize the top baking and pastry chefs in the industry. Each year, the top competitive pastry chefs from each region face off in this baking and pastry competition at the ACF National Convention to win the title. Combining a high level of culinary and visual art, this is one of ACF’s most prestigious competitions and titles.
Student Chef of the Year
Similar to U.S.A.’s Chef of the Year, ACF Student Chef of the Year was developed in 1987 to recognize the skills and talents of the young, up-and-coming culinarians in the industry. Each year, the top competitive student chefs from each region face off in a savory cooking competition at the ACF National Convention to win the title. This award recognizes the student chefs who have gone above and beyond in their culinary studies.
Student Pastry Chef of the Year
Similar to ACF Pastry Chef of the Year, ACF Student Pastry Chef of the Year was first presented in 2022 to recognize the skills and talents of the young, up-and-coming baking and pastry culinarians in the industry. Each year, the top competitive student pastry chefs from each region face off in a baking and pastry competition at the ACF National Convention to win the title. This award recognizes the student pastry chefs who have gone above and beyond in their culinary studies.
Student Team of the Year
Each year, five student teams from culinary programs across the country face off at the ACF National Convention in a cooking competition to earn the title of Student Team of the Year. This competition category, created in 1992, was introduced to encourage culinary students to work as a team in the kitchen while testing the many skills they’ve learned in the classroom.
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Where is it happening?
DeVos Place Convention Center, 303 Monroe Ave. NW,Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherAmerican Culinary Federation
