Is the Windy City losing its grip on the Oscars of the restaurant world?
Earlier this week, the James Beard Foundation announced it has launched a nationwide search for a future home for the prestigious restaurant and journalism awards programs that have been held in Chicago since 2015. While the annual awards presentation will continue from Chicago through 2028, the foundation’s “request for information” process signals that the multi-day extravaganza could have a new host city from 2029 to 2033 (Chicago will have to compete to keep the event).
This is big news for the restaurant industry and a potential boon for a new host city. The awards, considered the highest and most prestigious culinary honor in the U.S., come with a significant economic boost: Chicago saw $8.3 million in direct spending for the most recent awards, held in June at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. With a total economic impact of $17 million for the area, the awards are a potential blockbuster for a new host city – just as they are for restaurants and industry professionals who often cite a “Beard Bump” following the recognition.
“As we look ahead, we’re excited to hear from destinations—including Chicago—ready to champion this vital industry and who recognize the essential role independent restaurants play in shaping a thriving future for America’s communities, economy, and culture,” Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, said in a statement.
While the Illinois Restaurant Association confirmed that Chicago will participate in the bidding process, the possibility of a new host city is now creating a buzz within the industry. Could Houston have a good shot at being the new home for the JBF awards?
Concluding its role this weekend as a host city for World Cup action, Houston has proved it has the infrastructure and ability to host major cultural events. Houston First, the city’s official destination marketing organization, has successfully flexed its muscle in this regard. It helped bring the World Cup to Houston by leading the tourism and marketing efforts during the official bidding process. It also was a driving force in bringing Bravo’s Top Chef to Houston for the series’ 19th season in 2022—a marketing triumph for the city’s vast, multicultural food scene.
Houston also has an enviable reputation within the awards program, having earned national and regional honors for the city’s restaurant and bar professionals. Houston chefs brought home major JBF honors last month, winning Best Emerging Chef (Adrian Torres of Maximo) and Best Chef: Texas (Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu of Jun). The Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation also was also a recipient of an Impact Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations dedicated to building a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable food system.
Houston’s history with the JBF awards program, however, has not been without bumps. In 2019, when the nation’s culinary eyes were on Houston as the host city for that year’s finalists announcement—a coup for Houston First—the city was shockingly shut out. Out of 11 possible chances for Houston semifinalists to advance as finalists for the 2019 Beard chef and restaurant awards, not a single chef, restaurant, wine or spirits professional received nominations for that year’s JBF awards.
As chef Chris Shepherd (who won for Best Chef: Southwest in 2014 for his work at Underbelly) succinctly put it that year: “We got skunked.”
So, will Houston be in contention as the new JBF awards host city? We reached out to Houston First and have yet to receive a response.
But the process, nationwide, is underway. Destinations that have submitted RFIs (request for information) will be considered for selection to move on to the second stage of the process, which is to complete a more extensive and detailed RFP (request for proposal) response. RFI respondents will be notified on Aug. 17, 2026 if they have been selected to submit an RFP response.
A final location selection will be announced in early 2027.
