Chefs Baker and Davis Win Food Championship Titles
The 2026 World Food Championships concluded in Indianapolis with category wins for Craig Baker and Jordan Davis.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Food and Drink
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Craig Baker and Jordan Davis claimed category titles at the 2026 World Food Championships held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The duo secured their spots in the upcoming Final Table competition scheduled for next year.
Why it matters
The victory marks a significant achievement for the culinary competitors, as they now advance to vie for the title of World Food Champion. Their success highlights the high level of talent displayed across the event's various cooking categories.
The event featured 10 distinct championship categories with a total prize purse exceeding $400,000. Over 400 teams from 35 states and 14 countries participated in the competition.
The players
Craig Baker
He is the winner of the World Chef Championship at the 2026 event.
Jordan Davis
He is the winner of the World Barbecue Championship at the 2026 event.
The details
The competition took place over several days, featuring live demonstrations and tastings for the local community. Ten total category champions were selected to move forward to the Final Table.
Timeline
The 2026 World Food Championships occurred from October 15-18, 2026.
The Final Table competition is scheduled for Spring 2027.
Industry Dynamics
This event continues the pattern established by the three-year residency of the World Food Championships in Indianapolis. The ongoing hosting contract reflects a broader effort to cement the city as a major hub for large-scale culinary competitions.
Local residents and visitors were able to engage with the event through live demonstrations and public tastings held throughout the weekend. Fans can follow the upcoming Final Table competition to see which category champion takes home the top prize.
The takeaway
The World Food Championships provides a platform for top culinary talent to demonstrate their skills in highly competitive categories. Aspiring chefs can look to these winners as examples of the precision and technique required for top-level competition.
What happens next
The ten category champions, including Craig Baker and Jordan Davis, will compete at the Final Table in Spring 2027 to determine the next World Food Champion.
Further reading
For more details on the event, view the Indianapolis Food and Drink section.
More information
View the complete championship competition results on the official organization website.
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