Back in July 2025, Bravo announced that Season 23 of “Top Chef” would take place in the Carolinas, primarily in Charlotte but with visits to Greenville.
On Jan. 29, Bravo dropped the trailer and the release date. The season will premier March 9 at 9 p.m. with early access March 3 on Peacock. Starting March 16, the show will move to 9:30 p.m., its regular air time. Each episode will total 75 minutes.
This season is hosted by longtime judge Gail Simmons, Kristen Kish, who won Top Chef in Season 10, and Gramercy Tavern co-founder Tom Colicchio.
The network announced the first episode will take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway and feature NASCAR legends Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch. Other celebrity guests include comedian Fortune Feimster and “Southern Charm’s” Madison LeCroy and Craig Conover.
The Greenville episode will feature the Swamp Rabbit Trail and include actress Danielle Brooks, and Keith Habersberger and Rachel Ann Cole of YouTube channel “Try Guys.” The contestants will make a stop in Asheville to observe reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Helene.
The contestants are:
- Sieger Bayer, Chicago
- Jassi Bindra, Houston, Texas
- Sherry Cardoso, Brooklyn, New York
- Brittany Cochran, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Oscar Diaz, Durham, North Carolina
- Brandon Dearden, Hamilton, Montana
- Jonathan Dearden, Alexandria, Virginia
- Duyen Ha, Los Angeles
- Jennifer Lee Jackson, Suttons Bay, Michigan/Detroit, Michigan
- Anthony Jones, Alexandria, Virginia
- Day Anaїs Joseph, Atlanta
- Laurence Louie, Quincy, Massachusetts
- Rhoda Magbitang, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
- Justin Tootla, Suttons Bay, MI/Detroit, Michigan
- Nana Araba Wilmot, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Notable guest judges and diners include Lewis Donald of Sweet Lew’s BBQ; Emeril Lagasse; Charlotte restaurateur Jeff Tonidandel; and Greenville’s own Carl Sobocinski of Table 301.
The winner of Top Chef will receive a $250,000 grand prize, their own headlined dinner at the James Beard House in New York, and an opportunity to present at The James Beard Awards this year.
