Lima’s restaurants have twice taken the top spot on the global 50 Best list in recent years. Now the city gets to host the celebration. On November 4, the Peruvian capital will welcome the 2026 edition of The 50 Best Restaurants awards, the first time the global ceremony has taken place in South America.
Central reached No. 1 in 2023, followed by Maido in 2025. They represent distinct approaches to Peruvian cooking: Central explores the country’s ecosystems and elevations, while chef Mitsuharu Tsumura’s Maido draws on the Japanese-Peruvian traditions of Nikkei cuisine. Their success has given diners two very different reasons to travel to the same city.
The awards will bring visiting chefs and restaurateurs into that dining scene, with a program extending beyond the countdown. For diners, the main draw will be the Signature Sessions: ticketed meals pairing chefs from ranked restaurants with local teams. Those collaborations offer a chance to see what happens when visiting cooks work alongside the people who know Lima’s ingredients and kitchens.
The program also includes The 50 Best Talks on November 3 and a Chefs’ Feast featuring local cooking. The following evening, attention turns to the reveal of the 2026 ranking and the restaurant that will take the No. 1 position.
One familiar name will be absent from the competition. Having won in Turin last year, Maido becomes ineligible for subsequent annual rankings and will join the Best of the Best group at the Lima ceremony. Central is already part of that group, reserved for former No. 1 restaurants.
The city’s presence on the list extends beyond those winners. Kjolle, Mérito, and Mayta all appeared in the 2025 top 50, giving the visiting restaurant community plenty of local tables to seek out.
Lima first hosted the Latin American restaurant awards in 2013. This year, it welcomes the global edition in partnership with PromPerú, with S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna sponsoring the event. It replaces the previously announced host, Abu Dhabi.
There is also a new name to get used to. Formerly The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, the awards became The 50 Best Restaurants in September under the organization’s new umbrella brand, The 50.
The extended 51–100 list and several individual awards will be announced before November 4. The ceremony itself will stream live on the organization’s YouTube channel, bringing the countdown to viewers well beyond Lima.
