The nominations for the 2026 James Beard Awards have been released, with two notable Australian names on the list.

Helen Goh and Patti Chimkire have both cored nominations for the prestigious award for their recently released cookbooks.

Helen released Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes in September 2025, while Patti’s Mali Bakes was released last October.

James Beard Foundation chief executive officer Clare Reichenbach said they were honoured to announce the 2026 James Beard Media Awards nominees.

“… exceptional storytellers who are shaping how we understand the world through food,” she said.

“Through their work, they bring meaning and perspective to the stories behind what we eat and drink, illuminating the people, places and experiences that move our culture forward.

“It is a privilege to recognise them.”

James Beard Foundation VP of Awards Dawn Padmore congratulated all the 2026 nominees.

“Congratulations to the 2026 Media Award nominees, whose work beautifully captures the richness, complexity, and depth of our ever-evolving culinary landscape,” she said.

“We are deeply grateful to our subcommittees and judges, whose thoughtful consideration makes recognising excellence across so many forms of media possible.”

The James Beard Media Awards ceremony will take place in Chicago on June 13.

Established in 1990, the James Beard Awards celebrates storytelling about food culture, spanning dining and beverage culture, home cooking, foodways, identity and place as well as food-related issues and advocacy.