MasterChef Australia has officially reached the pointy end, with the top 12 now locked and loaded.
Starting with 24 hopeful cooks and after weeks of pressure tests, mystery boxes, immunity battles and dramatic eliminations, 12 amazing cooks have made it over the halfway point.
The competition is set to get even more intense as these 12 accomplished home cooks battle it out under the guise of judges: Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.
This season has already served up plenty: comeback cooks, shock exits and contestants turning everything from air fryer challenges to flat iron steak into nailbiting reality TV moments.
The guest judging line-up has been major this season, with big names like Curtis Stone, Meghan Markle, Jimmy Barnes and Robert Irwin dropping into the kitchen to shake things up.
Without further ado, the remaining top 12 cooks who are chasing the winning title and a life-changing $250,000…
Who is in the Top 10 of MasterChef Australia 2026?
Annabel
Annabel Lloyd has quietly become one of MasterChef Australia 2026’s most reliable all-rounders, with her signature style built around rustic cooking, seasonal produce and clean flavours.
The NSW registered nurse has shone with dishes like cured coral trout with Davidson plum ponzu and macadamia cream, plus glazed duck breast with potato, goat’s cheese, tarragon and truffle gratin.
Alyona
Alyona Iljuhhina brings one of the most distinctive perspectives to MasterChef, drawing on her former-USSR and Estonian upbringing, a strong no-waste ethos and a love of gutsy flavour and unexpected taste combos.
The NSW clinical research manager has impressed with polished dishes like orange and whisky marmalade-glazed spatchcock, pan-seared scallops with miso cauliflower purée, and sour cream and avocado ice cream with pistachio crumb, burnt white chocolate and sour cherry. Yum!!
Aaron
Aaron Kher has stood out on MasterChef as a technique-driven cook with a Malaysian-Chinese influence, inspired by watching his grandmother make Nyonya, Malaysian and Chinese dishes from scratch.
The Victorian medical product specialist has impressed with clever savoury plates like his steak tartlet on a cornflake shell, fish congee and a heavily praised recipe for steak tartare.
Vinnie
Vinnie Gibaldi has brought big Italian-family energy to MasterChef Australia, with this home cook shaped by growing up around his dad’s Lygon Street restaurant in Melbourne and dreaming of opening his own panini shop.
The Victorian registered nurse is strongest with hearty, old-school technique and generous savoury flavours, from pâté en croûte to duck roasted on the crown with macadamia and black garlic purée and his flat iron steak two ways.
Petro
Petro Papathomas brings some serious Greek-Cypriot vibes to MasterChef Australia, with a cooking style built around Mediterranean flavours, savoury cooking and he’s not afraid to bring the fire — like, literally!
The Victorian chartered accountant learned from his mum and yiayiathes, and he has spent years perfecting halloumi. Petro dreams of opening a modern Cypriot restaurant. His standout dishes include his apron-winning prawn bisque fettuccine, Middle Eastern-inspired pumpkin with corn flake cumin cluster and tonka bean tart.
Pat
Pat McGarry has been one of MasterChef Australia’s calmest cooks, backing himself to hold his nerves under pressure.
The NSW council worker grew up asking his grandmother questions in the kitchen and watching his dad cook, shaping his thoughtful, ingredient-led style. Pat’s standout dishes include ricotta and cavolo nero tortellini, chicken curry pie with Sri Lankan green apple salad, air fryer apple tart tatin and barbecue flat iron steak.
Luke
Luke Harris has been MasterChef Australia’s chaotic baby genius, bringing some fearless, roll-the-dice energy to the kitchen.
The 19-year-old WA student grew up learning from his parents, grandmothers and YouTube, with steak and gnocchi among his early signature dishes. His best dishes show big promise, but Luke’s cooks can spiral spectacularly too — making him equal parts frontrunner, wildcard and walking panic attack.
Hannah
Hannah Johnson has become one of MasterChef Australia’s sweetest comfort-food queens, balancing home cooking with more polished, upmarket flair.
The WA mum-of-four has a huge cookbook collection and a style rooted in family, nostalgia and generous flavour. Her standout moment was winning the Coles challenge with her cheeseburger pie, and she also impressed in the Jimmy Barnes mystery box challenge.
Emily
Emily Sue has been one of MasterChef’s strongest flavour cooks, drawing on her Chinese-Australian upbringing in rural NSW, where her parents and grandfather ran Chinese restaurants.
The NSW youth worker’s style leans authentic, punchy and deeply personal, with spicy, sour and Cantonese influences. Her best dishes show that heritage clearly, from her audition-winning prawn wontons to her team challenge mango sago and other Chinese-inspired dishes.
Casper
Casper Kenworthy has emerged as one of MasterChef’s most inventive food nerds, with this self-taught cook serving up nonstop adventurous and surprising dishes.
The ACT technology consultant is inspired by Josh Niland, Kate Reid and Gordon Ramsay, and likes modifying recipes into something bolder. His best moments include winning the Jimmy Barnes mystery box with his spatchcock, landing multiple top dishes and showing real creative confidence in the kitchen.
Grace
Grace King has become one of MasterChef’s biggest dessert threats, honing her skills from growing up around her parents’ Melbourne restaurant, co-owned with Karen Martini.
The Victorian retail assistant has a precise cooking style and clearly loves her refined sweets. Grace’s standout moment was winning immunity with a drool-worthy lemon dessert and lemon biscotti, while her fruit-dessert cook during Viral Wonders Week cemented her status as a serious contender.
Bella
Bella Di Conza brought a dessert-heavy, technically elevated style to MasterChef Australia, with pastry and unexpected flavour combinations clearly her comfort zone. Her best dishes included the comeback-winning Nonna’s Garden, a bold chocolate and capsicum dessert, plus hazelnut, coffee and fennel seed mille feuille.
Sadly, after winning a redemption cook and returning to the kitchen as a top 12 contestant, Bella was eliminated again in Curtis Stone’s flat iron steak challenge.
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