Atlanta Snags Two 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award Nominations

The James Beard Awards Foundation announced its official 2026 slate of award nominees on Tuesday, March 31, and two Atlanta names and places are among them.

J. Trent Harris of lauded Midtown restaurant Mujō is nominated in the Best Chef: Southeast category. Additionally, wine-focused Aria (also a finalist last year) was recognized in the Outstanding Hospitality category.

The news comes after eight Atlanta restaurants and bars were originally under consideration when the long list of semifinalists was revealed back in January. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 15.

Considered one of the restaurant industry’s most coveted awards, the honors span categories such as Restaurant and Chef Awards, Media Awards (Book, Broadcast Media, Journalism), and Achievement Awards. Last year, the foundation introduced the new category of Impact Awards, which it describes as recognizing “achievement by individuals and/or organizations who are actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry.”

The full list of nominations can be found here.

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards.