The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan Announces the 'Gran Concorso di Cucina (GCC)' National Italian Cooking Competition!

Event Overview Gran Concorso di Cucina (17th National Italian Cooking Competition) hosted by The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan

【Eligibility】 Professional chefs currently working in Japan (non-Italian nationals)

● Semi-finals (8 contestants) October 19, 2026 (Mon) [Venue] Cooking studio in Tokyo (tentative) ● Finals (2 contestants) November 20, 2026 (Fri) [Venue] Cooking studio in Tokyo (tentative)

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan will once again host the "Gran Concorso di Cucina (GCC)" in 2026, a cooking competition dedicated to professional chefs. This competition is exclusively for professional chefs and aims to discover new talent within Japan and promote Italian regional cuisine. The judging will be conducted primarily by renowned Italian chefs active in Japan, ensuring evaluation from an authentic perspective.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan will once again host the "Gran Concorso di Cucina (GCC)" in 2026, a cooking competition dedicated to professional chefs. This competition is exclusively for professional chefs and aims to discover new talent within Japan and promote Italian regional cuisine. The judging will be conducted primarily by renowned Italian chefs active in Japan, ensuring strict evaluation from an authentic perspective.

We have now begun accepting entries for the 17th National Italian Cooking Competition (GCC). Upon entry, participants must submit an original recipe and a photograph of the dish; only those who pass the document screening will advance to the semi-finals. The semi-finals will consist of a practical skills test where contestants must complete their dishes within a limited time, with comprehensive evaluations based on taste, presentation, creativity, thematic relevance, and understanding of Italian cuisine.

The two finalists who emerge from the semi-finals will advance to the final round, held in front of an audience, where they will compete with one final dish for the title of "GCC 2026" Champion. The semi-finals are scheduled to be held as a closed event, while the finals will be open to the public. The winner and runner-up will receive luxurious prizes.

We look forward to receiving challenges from confident professional chefs.

Event Overview GCC (17th National Italian Cooking Competition) Gran Concorso di Cucina

【Eligibility】 Professional chefs currently working in Japan (non-Italian nationals)

【Judges】 Famous Italian chefs *The judging panel is composed primarily of Italians.

【Schedule (Tentative)】 ・Recipe Preliminary Round: September 1, 2026 (Tue) – September 11, 2026 (Fri) ・Semi-finals (8 contestants): October 19, 2026 (Mon) ・Finals (2 contestants): November 20, 2026 (Fri)

【Application & Details】 https://www.cognitoforms.com/TheItalianChamberOfCommerceInJapan/GranConcorsoDiCucina2026

【Registration Deadline】 August 31, 2026 (Early bird discount available)