The 2025 edition of The Best Chef Awards brought together chefs, industry leaders, and culinary enthusiasts from across the globe for two days of conversation, collaboration, and creativity. Alongside the awards ceremony, the programme featured thought-provoking panel discussions, exclusive dining experiences, and unique opportunities for chefs to share their knowledge and perspectives.

Staged in Milan, a city long recognised as a centre of culture, design, and gastronomy, this year’s gathering highlighted both the city’s international influence and its role as a meeting point for the world’s culinary visionaries. With hundreds of chefs from more than 69 countries recognised across the Knife tiers, the 2025 edition cemented The Best Chef Awards as the most inclusive celebration of global gastronomy to date.

KNIFE RECOGNITION

The Best Chef Awards’ tiered Knife recognition system offers a more comprehensive, inclusive view of culinary excellence. This year saw the number of voters almost double compared to last year, reaching a total of 972, including 572 chefs from 64 countries and 400 industry professionals. Abandoning traditional rankings in 2024, the system honours chefs based on impact and skill across three categories, recognising culinary professionals across six continents: