Ready for the return of Top Chef? The iconic cooking competition is making its grand comeback on M6 in March 2026 for a highly anticipated 17th season. As always, 16 contestants (including 4 female chefs) will battle it out under the watchful eyes of five renowned judges: Hélène Darroze, Stéphanie Le Quellec, Philippe Etchebest, Paul Pairet, and Glenn Viel.
But the biggest change this year: the "brigades" are disappearing. This announcement was made on Thursday, January 29, 2026, during the traditional press conference at the George V, the renowned Parisian palace where, just three weeks ago, the Top Chef 2026 final was secretly filmed.
So, who will take over from Quentin Mauro, the big winner of the 2025 season? And what are the exciting new features in store for this 17th edition of Top Chef? We’ve got all the details for you!
While the now-essential panel consisting of Hélène Darroze, Stéphanie Le Quellec, Philippe Etchebest, Paul Pairet, and Glenn Viel will definitely return as judges, they will once again assume the classic role of reviewers — reminiscent of the show's early days on television.
"They adopt a very formal jury stance. They're there to support, of course, but mainly to spot the next big stars of the culinary world. This is the biggest cooking competition on television, so we wanted to create a sense of pressure and tension for the contestants," explains Studio89 Productions.
The 5 jurors are stepping away from their traditional roles as team leaders... and for good reason! There’s also a major shake-up in the show’s format, as the usual color-coded teams are no longer part of the equation this year. "If the goal is to identify which contestants can adapt to any environment and any challenge, it’s crucial to make them responsible for their own cooking, their talent, their style, their signature. This year, they will arrive completely on their own and present their culinary skills directly to the jury, showcasing their adaptability wherever the competition takes them."
However, candidates will still have to work as part of teams throughout the challenge. In multiple rounds, they will have opportunities to earn points for their team during one-on-one duels against another candidate.
And the production continues to develop: "More crews, more colors, but also, now and then (because it’s a highly effective approach), team collaboration. It brings back that team dynamic—brigades and groups—that was naturally present when the coaches were guiding, but now it’s exclusively among the contestants. Watching the challenge unfold on screen, they become supporters, making it lively! It fosters a sense of solidarity among them, helping to avoid the somewhat cold feeling of solitary pursuits."
Goodbye to the legendary studio adorned with bold orange lettering, and hello to the scenic French roads, stretching from the Abbaye de Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or in tribute to Paul Bocuse, to the Touquet, passing through Tignes, Amiens, and even the Château of Fontainebleau for a pastry-themed challenge.
"As usual, we're going to try to uncover the next big star of French cuisine, while also testing their adaptability through a wide range of culinary challenges in diverse locations. This approach has led to a key mantra for this season: the kitchens of Top Chef are closing!
The flagship challenges — from the tense "restaurant war", to the daunting "black box", and the nerve-wracking "who can beat" — will remain unchanged, much to the delight of fans of the show. Among the guest chefs already announced are David Toutain, Alexandre Mazzia, Sébastien Vauxion, Jeffrey Cagnes, Christophe Michalak, and Yann Couvreur.
Stay tuned to M6 very soon to find out what's in store!
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