MasterChef Australia is well and truly underway for 2026, and 24 home cooks are competing for the ultimate cooking title.
The 18th season of MasterChef Australia premiered on Sunday, April 19, and it started with 40 of the country’s best home-cooks vying for a spot in the top 24 and that infamous MasterChef apron.
Now through to the next stage, these contestants are facing challenges and being pushing out of their culinary comfort zones.
As returning judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Sofia Levin lead the contestants through the season, the hit cooking show is boasting a selection of Aussie food heroes such as Maggie Beer, Curtis Stone, Adriano Zumbo, and Justine Schofield, viral stars like Andy Cooks, DimSimLim and Catherine Zhang, and celebrity guest judges and cameos like Robert Irwin, Jimmy and Jane Barnes, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
With $250,000 and the coveted title of MasterChef Australia 2026 winner on the line, the stakes have never been higher as contestants start to be eliminated.
With the season cooking with gas, meet the 2026 class of MasterChef Australia.
MasterChef Australia 2026: Meet the contestants
Aaron Kher
Age: 32
State: VIC
Occupation: Medical Product Specialist
Instagram: @aaronkher_
Aaron grew up cherishing the ritual of cooking and eating good food, taking inspiration from his grandmother’s Malaysian and Chinese dishes like Nyonya, as well as his grandfather’s hospitality. Born in Malaysia, Aaron moved to Melbourne when he was five years old and has always had a curiosity for food and cooking technique.
Alita Harvey-Rodriguez (eliminated)
Age: 40
State: VIC
Occupation: Chief Operating Officer
Instagram: @msalita
Alita grew up watching her parents in the kitchen, laying the foundation for her passion. A successful tech entrepreneur by day, this home cook has always dreamt of food. However, she credits her skills in the kitchen to the four tiger snake bites she’s received while on her family’s country Victoria farm as the experience made her turn to the kitchen over the outdoors.
Alyona Iljuhhina
Age: 38
State: NSW
Occupation: Clinical Research Manager
Instagram: @alyona.iljuhhina
Born in the former USSR and raised in post-Soviet Estonia, the food in Alyona’s childhood laid the foundations for the chef she’s become. With a passion for flavour and no waste, she was taught by her grandmother how to honour every part of an animal straight from the farm, and has taken inspiration from chefs like Josh Niland who do the same practice.
Annabel Lloyd
Age: 30
State: NSW
Occupation: Registered nurse
Instagram: @annabellloyd_
As a nurse working in the ICU, Annabel found cooking to be a much needed respite, particularly during the COVID pandemic. Growing up around a vegetable garden, Annabel loves the farm-to-table approach to cooking and has adopted a rustic style of cooking.
Belinda Gosden (eliminated)
Age: 56
State: WA
Occupation: Education Administrator
Instagram: @whatsfordinnerbelinda
Belinda knew she wanted a career in food from the young age of 11. She learnt her way around the kitchen while living in Papua New Guinea with her family as a young girl and loves Asian flavours, off-the-cuff cooking and themed dinner parties with friends. As a fan of the original Australian MasterChef Julie Goodwin, Belinda hopes to follow in her footsteps.
Bella Di Conza (eliminated)
Age: 20
State: VIC
Occupation: Agriculture Student
Instagram: @bella_di_conza
While she’s one of the youngest competitors in the MasterChef kitchen at 20-years-old, her passion and dedication proves that age is just a number. Since age 9, Bella has been preserving the family traditions and memory of her Nonna’s recipes, showing just how important heritage and family are to her cooking and identity.
Casper Kenworthy
Age: 28
State: ACT
Occupation: Technology Consultant
Instagram: @gucci_schooey
Growing up watching his idols Josh Niland, Kate Reid, and Gordan Ramsay on MasterChef, Casper has always been a food nerd. Even since he moved out at the age of 17, learning everything he can about cooking became a core part of his life.
Dot McHugh (eliminated)
Age: 31
State: NSW
Occupation: Senior Graphic Designer
Instagram: @dottys.bowl
Born in New Zealand, Dot has always loved food, inheriting the love from her parents – particularly her mum Michelle who taught her everything she knows. With a freestyle and flavourful approach to cooking, Dot is a savoury girl through and through, leaning into hearty and rustic meals that use seasonal produce. While she loves her job, she also relates deeply to Nagi Maehashi and would love to do something meaningful in the world of food.
Emily Sue
Age: 37
State: NSW
Occupation: Youth Worker
Instagram: @emeatseveryday
Emily was quite literally born into the world of food. Her parents parents owned a small Chinese restaurant in rural NSW, and her grandfather, before that, had opened one of Dubbo’s first Chinese restaurants. When she wasn’t helping out in the restaurant, Emily was learning everything she could from her grandma, learning Cantonese dishes and applying her skills to teaching kids.
Grace King (eliminated)
Age: 23
State: VIC
Occupation: Retail Assistant
Instagram: @gracewestking
Grace grew up with parents who co-owned a Melbourne restaurant with chef Karen Martini, meaning she was immersed in food from a very young age. While she has been uncertain about chasing her food dreams until now, Grace is ready to spread joy through her cooking and chase her passion.
Hannah Johnson
Age: 37
State: WA
Occupation: Homemaker
Instagram: @hannahjohnson.food
Hannah has always nurtured her passion for food, even as her family took priority for the last 13 years. With a collection of 250 cookbooks, Hannah’s cooking style ranges from homely to up-market and she’s always down to try new things harness her all-rounder skills in the kitchen.
Jack Hosking (eliminated)
Age: 29
State: SA
Occupation: Events Manager
Instagram: @jackhosking_
Jack has watched MasterChef ever since he was young, even recreating the famous Snow Egg when he was 11 years old. After meeting his idol Callum Hann from season 2, Jack was inspired to apply for the show, and has harnessed his passion for seafood and fine-dining heroes like Hugh Allen and Peter Gilmore to set his sights high during the competition.
Jackie Yu (eliminated)
Age: 31
State: NSW
Occupation: Tech Recruiter
Instagram: @jackieyz
Jackie learnt her love for food from both her parents, as well as her French stepfather. Growing up eating both Asian and European flavours, Jackie developed a curious palette and loves to try new flavours. In 2025, she harnessed her sweet tooth to start a side hustle, creating custom cakes for friends and events as well as doing food styling.
Jeff Lam (eliminated)
Age: 47
State: VIC
Occupation: Print Production Technician
Instagram: @whisked_away_delights
Cooking has always been more than a hobby for Jeff. Born in Hong Kong, Jeff’s family migrated to Adelaide in the 80s and he has always looked up to food icons like Nigella Lawson, Maggie Beer and Gordon Ramsay. However, his number one idol has always been his mum, Grace. After applying to MasterChef Australia a few times over the years, Jeff has finally earnt himself an apron in the top 24.
Kanika Gadyok (eliminated)
Age: 35
State: NSW
Occupation: IT Analyst
Instagram: @thesydneynest
Kanika describes her childhood memories as the sounds of mustard seeds popping in hot oil and the scent of garam masala in the air. Growing up in Delhi, India, Kanika was surrounded by delicious moments, particularly as her dad, Rakesh, who worked as a confectionary chef, and her beloved Nani and aunts taught her everything she knows about being in the kitchen. She is inspired by watching Indian street vendors and studying heritage-style recipes and brings a creative and flavour-first approach to her cooking.
Lucy Mansfield (eliminated)
Age: 24
State: QLD
Occupation: Web Designer
Instagram: @lucemansfield
Lucy has always been around food since her dad co-owned a bakery and managed a cheese shop at Adelaide’s Central Market. Her mum was also a passionate home cook, making her and her sister chief taste-testers and growing her love of sharing recipes and food with others and online – her teriyaki chicken bowl earning her millions of views on TikTok.
Luke Harris
Age: 19
State: WA
Occupation: Student
Instagram: @lukkeharris
Luke is the competition’s youngest competitor. His parents were both strong cooking influences for this contestant, teaching him everything he knows. He’s also learnt from his grandmas and his idols Gordan Ramsay, Poh Ling Yeow and Jamie Oliver who taught him his ambition.
Lydia Kamperos (eliminated)
Age: 58
State: NSW
Occupation: Homemaker
Instagram: @lydiakamperos
Lydia attributes her love of food to her memories full of extended family visiting with over-the-top feasts and their Greek culture always prioritised. She describes her childhood as no different to the My Big Fat Greek Wedding family and learnt to cook from her mother, aunties and uncles, alongside Australian Women’s Weekly cookbooks and cooking shows like MasterChef Australia. While being in the top 24 feels surreal, Lydia is ready for this adventure.
Megs Steel (eliminated)
Age: 40
State: QLD
Occupation: HR Consultant
Instagram: @to.your.taste
Meg recalls growing up in a home full of laughter, with the kitchen at its heart. After losing her mum to cancer at 19-years-old, Megs knows that her competing in MasterChef Australia will bring a smile to her face and the home cook is proud to be putting herself first. Owning around 300 cookbooks, Megs is the friend that is called upon for special occasions, and she would love to fulfil her lifelong dream of opening a small restaurant called ‘Megs Place’ with seasonal and fresh food at the centre.
Miin Wei Looi (eliminated)
Age: 52
State: VIC
Occupation: Communications Strategist
Instagram: @thehousehusbandofsouthyarra
Growing up in Penang, Malaysia, Miin was raised in a Chinese Malaysian family, with close ties to his godparents who helped raise him from an early age. Miin loved watching Adam Liaw and Alvin Quah showcase their heritage on MasterChef Australia, inspiring him to do the same. Miin describes his cooking style as traditional Malaysian, incorporating the Malaysian adoption of Chinese, Indian and Malay cuisine.
Olaolu Olorunnimbe (eliminated)
Age: 34
State: NSW
Occupation: Brand Consultant
Instagram: @olaolus.kitchen
Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Olaolu moved to England to attend boarding school at age 12, and was immediately put off the bland and mass-catered foods he was served. Ensuring his university accommodation had a kitchen, Olaolu was excited to finally cook for himself and recreate the flavours of his home. He is passionate about championing Nigerian culture and has spent his life sharing these flavours with those around him.
Pat McGarry
Age: 36
State: NSW
Occupation: Council Worker
Instagram: @mcgravy_train
Pat grew up watching his dad Ron cook and asking his grandmother countless questions about the kitchen. Growing up in Bathurst, Pat describes his cooking style as trial and error and loves nothing more than building and finessing an idea for a dish. Describing himself as calm under pressure, Pat is ready for the pressure of the MasterChef kitchen environment.
Petro Papathomas
Age: 30
State: VIC
Occupation: Chartered Accountant
Instagram: @petropapa
Good food has always been a fabric of Petro’s family life. With a Greek/Cypriot background, this home cook developped a love for food from an early age, learning to cook by watching his mum Georgia and yiayiathes (grandmothers) Sophia and Christina. He has spent countless hours perfecting his halloumi recipe over the years and is passionate about Greek and Mediterranean flavours, hoping one day to open a Cypriot restaurant.
Vinnie Gibaldi
Age: 25
State: VIC
Occupation: Registered Nurse
Instagram: @cookingwithvin
Growing up in a big Italian family, Vinnie notes that food has always been at the centre of his life as its been how they expressed love, celebrated milestones and stayed connected. Vinnie’s father owned a restaurant on Melbourne’s famous Lygon Street which became his second home as he spent countless hours learning from his dad and what it takes to run a successful business. Vinnie dreams of one day opening a small panini shop, ‘Vinnie’s Panini’s’ where everything would be made from scratch.
How to watch MasterChef Australia 2026?
MasterChef is available to watch on Channel 10 and 10 Play on Sundays at 7 pm and Monday through to Wednesday at 7:30 pm.
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