Top Chef is gearing up to surprise viewers with major new features and exciting changes in its 17th season. Although the exact air date hasn’t been officially announced yet—traditionally airing around late March or early April—the beloved culinary show on M6 has already started revealing some tantalizing details, just enough to whet fans’ appetites.
It was announced on Thursday, January 29, 2026, that the brigade system will not be renewed this year. However, contestants will still have the opportunity to work in teams throughout the competition, as explained by the production company behind the show, Studio89.
"If the goal is to identify which talent can adapt to any environment and rise to any challenge, then we need to put the candidates back in charge of their own craft— their cooking, their unique style, their signature. This year, they will arrive alone and present their culinary creations to the jury, demonstrating their versatility wherever they take them," explains the production team to justify their decision to change the format of the competition.
In fact, more teams also mean... more hidden teams! Scheduled to air late at night on M6, the Hidden Team first appeared in 2023 and allowed a eliminated contestant to make a comeback in the quarter-finals, supported by a renowned star chef to assist them. After Hélène Darroze and Pierre Gagnaire, it was Eric Fréchon and Fabien Ferré who stepped in to help and judge the contestants during season 16.
For this new season, the production company announced the end of the hidden squad as viewers knew it until now... but a parallel competition will still be held on M6 in the late evening slot, featuring François-Régis Gaudry.
"There are no more secret crews, since there are no crews left, but yes, there will be a parallel competition operating in the same way: two eliminated in the first episode, two in the second. These four contestants will join this parallel contest, and one will be eliminated each time. However, the candidate who makes it back won't be supported by an officer, because there are no crews anymore!"
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