World Culinary Awards 2026 crown The Cullinan Dubai
The seventh edition, held in Jamaica, also named the United States the top culinary destination. The titles are decided by online votes, not by inspectors.
The World Culinary Awards 2026 named The Cullinan Dubai the world's best restaurant at a gala held on 14 October at the Princess Grand Jamaica resort in Green Island, on Jamaica's north-west coast. The United States was named the world's best culinary destination and New York City the best culinary city.
It was the seventh edition of the awards, which the organiser presents as the sister event of the World Travel Awards, launched in 1993. Both are run by World Luxury Media Group. The gala's partners were Princess Hotels & Resorts Jamaica and the Jamaica Tourist Board. For the city behind the top prize, see our guide to what to eat in Dubai.
The other headline titles went to Don Alfonso 1890 in Toronto (world's best fine dining experience), La Pergola at Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel (best hotel restaurant), Quipas Restaurante in Peru (best new restaurant) and Nobu (best restaurant brand).
A title decided by online votes measures reach as much as it measures cooking.
World Culinary Awards 2026: hotels and destinations
A large share of the trophies went to hotels and resorts. Lebua at State Tower in Bangkok was named best culinary hotel, Forte Village Resort in Sardinia best culinary resort and Sandals Dunn's River, in Jamaica, best all-inclusive culinary resort. At.Mosphere, in the Burj Khalifa, took best culinary experience. The list also rewards a cruise ship (Star Princess), an airport lounge (Turkish Airlines International Lounges), a shopping mall (Mall of America) and a cookery school (The Culinary Institute of America).
Among the regional destination titles, Jamaica was named the Caribbean's best culinary destination, Peru Latin America's and South Africa Africa's, while Bangkok, Barcelona and Sydney took the city titles for Asia, Europe and Oceania. See also our list of the best restaurants in Barcelona.
Canada took eight North American titles, according to To Do Canada, including North America's best restaurant for Baan Lao in Richmond, British Columbia.
“Our 2026 winners demonstrate the extraordinary talent, imagination and dedication driving the global culinary industry,” said Rina van Staden, director of the World Culinary Awards.
A ranking decided by votes
Unlike Michelin stars, which are awarded by anonymous inspectors, these titles go to the nominees with the most valid votes. Voting ran online from 25 June to 14 August 2026 and was open to the public and to registered industry professionals, whose vote counts double. The published rules do not explain how the shortlist of nominees is drawn up.
That is the frame in which to read a world's best restaurant title: it measures how well a restaurant, hotel or tourist board mobilises its supporters. It is useful information, just not the same thing as a jury's verdict on the cooking.
