INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis-area culinary talent took center stage at the 2026 World Food Championships (WFC), as Craig Baker of Indianapolis captured the World Chef Championship and Jordan Davis of Carmel claimed the World Barbecue Championship. The two Hoosier champions emerged from four days of high-stakes culinary competition that brought more than 400 teams representing more than 35 states and 14 countries to Indianapolis October 15-18.
The World Food Championships, the global leader in Food Sport, returned to the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center for its third consecutive year in Indianapolis. Presented by Sam’s Club, WFC2026 featured competition across 10 championship categories, with competitors battling for titles and a share of the $400,000-plus prize purse. The event also offered live demonstrations, food tastings, entertainment, and interactive experiences for fans.
For Baker, Executive Chef at the InterContinental Hotel in Indianapolis, the World Chef Championship represents a hometown triumph on an international stage. His second World Chef Championship victory puts Indianapolis in the spotlight among the world’s leading culinary competitors and adds to the city’s growing reputation as a destination for food, culinary talent and competition.
Davis’s World Barbecue Championship adds another major title to Indiana’s 2026 results, showcasing the range of talent represented at this year’s competition. Known as the Smoking Pastor, Davis continues to use food as a way to unite and uplift within the community. Together, the victories demonstrate the depth of culinary skill on display in Indianapolis and the ability of Hoosier competitors to rise to the top of Food Sport.
“Every year, the World Food Championships brings exceptional culinary talent to Indianapolis, and it’s especially meaningful to see local competitors earn their place among the world’s best,” said Mike McCloud, founder and CEO of the World Food Championships. “Craig Baker and Jordan Davis delivered championship performances in two highly competitive categories. Their victories are a great point of pride for Indiana and a reminder of the talent that can be found in the Hoosier State.”
Baker and Davis are among the 10 category champions crowned at WFC2026. Each champion advances to the Final Table in Spring 2027, where the category winners will compete for the title of World Food Champion.
The 2026 World Food Championships category champions are:
- World Bacon Championship: David Casey from Brockton, Massachusetts
- World Barbecue Championship: Jordan Davis from Carmel, Indiana
- World Burger Championship: Tatewaki Takano from Tokyo, Japan
- World Chef Championship: Craig Baker from Indianapolis, Indiana
- World Dessert Championship: Bethany Boedicker from Galveston, Texas
- World Live Fire Championship: Adi Melkman from Utrecht, Netherlands
- World Noodle Championship: Pablo Aquije from Hyattsville, Maryland
- World Sandwich Championship: Phil Johnson from Phoenix, Arizona
- World Seafood Championship: Ricardo Viesca Gutierrez from Sarasota, Florida
- World Vegetarian Championship: Jacquelyn Gausemel from Washington, DC
In addition to its 10 category champions, WFC2026 named Chef Preston Nguyen of Arlington, Texas, winner of the inaugural Culinary Combine skills challenge. The fast-paced competition tested culinary talent across ten timed challenges demanding speed, precision, and accuracy. Nguyen, the only two-time World Food Champion, set records in nine of the ten skills to claim the overall Culinary Combine title.
WFC2026 featured more than championship competition. Across four days, attendees experienced culinary demonstrations, food tastings, live entertainment and new fan experiences, including Burger Battle, Dessert Smash, the Culinary Combine and the Taste of Indiana Zone. The event brought together culinary competitors, food brands, industry partners and fans to celebrate the skill, creativity and passion behind Food Sport.
Presented by Sam’s Club, WFC2026 was supported by community partners including Visit Indy and the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center, which welcomed the event back to Indianapolis for the third consecutive year.
Full championship results are available at worldfoodchampionships.com/results.
Since its debut in 2012, the World Food Championships has helped define and grow Food Sport, creating a platform where talented cooks, chefs and culinary teams compete through a structured judging system and innovative competition formats. The WFC platform has helped inspire more than 10,000 new dishes while supporting communities through partnerships with local nonprofits, charities and food banks across the United States.
Competitors, partners, and fans can stay up to date on the World Food Championships at WorldFoodChampionships.com or by following World Food Championships on Facebook and Instagram (@WorldFoodChampionships), and LinkedIn (@WorldFoodChampionshipsHoldings).
About World Food Championships
The World Food Championships (WFC), recognized by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards as a “Best City Food Festival,” is the premier Food Sport competition globally. This multi-day, live culinary event highlights some of the world’s best cooks competing for food, fame, and fortune across multiple categories. Each year, thousands of teams vie for a coveted Golden Ticket at official qualifiers to earn their spot at WFC. Since its debut in 2012, the event has attracted participants from nearly 40 countries and every state in the U.S. The 2026 World Food Championships took place October 15-18 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis. For more information, visit WorldFoodChampionships.com.
