The competition in the MasterChef Australia kitchen is already heating up for 2026. Since the show’s premiere on April 19, 40 budding home cooks were narrowed down to the Top 24 and now they’re starting to be eliminated one by one.
With challenges carried out under the watchful eyes of judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli, fan-favourites have already been declared by avid viewers, and it’s safe to say we’re already committed to this season’s contestants and all the meals they have to serve.
From pressure tests, group tasks, mystery box and service challenges, contestants will be earning judges’ praise.
Here’s everything you need to know about how eliminations work and who’s been eliminated so far!
Who has left MasterChef Australia 2026?
Lucy had a tearful goodbye
To finish off ‘Around the World’ Week, four contestants – Jackie, Lucy, Vinnie and Miin – were tasked with an epic pressure test where they had three hours to recreate chef Rosheen Kaul’s iconic Chou Farci. While Jackie was a massive fan of Rosheen and was eager to impress the chef, she did what fans (and her gut) told her to do and chose to use her immunity pin before the challenge began.
Safe on the gantry and surrounded by her peers, Jackie and the other contestants watched Miin, Lucy, and Vinnie work at a crazy speed to pull off a dish with a recipe containing a never-ending list of steps. In this epic elimination challenge, each contestant struggled against time and technique, with Miin looking to be the one to go home after his last-minute messy plating.
However, due to Miin’s constant tasting throughout the cook – thanks to the advice of chef Rosheen – what he lacked in presentation, he made up for in flavour. In the end, it was Lucy who was sent home, after she was slow to complete some of the harder caramelising steps on the recipe.
“I feel so lucky to be here and to be cooking for you guys,” she told the judges. “I feel so grateful and lucky to have met all of you [contestants], and I’ll miss you guys so much.”
After Lucy said her final words, leaving her now-close friend Annabel in tears, Lucy bravely exited the MasterChef kitchen, telling production that she had “no regrets” and was “excited for what’s next.”
We’ll miss you Lucy!
Goodbye to Kanika
‘Around the World’ week continued with contestants being tasked with creating a dish including an ingredient from one of five countries — Vietnam, Mexico, Lebanon, Japan, and Italy — and while many exciting meals were rustled up, Kanika fell behind the pack and was sent home on May 18.
While contestants Miin, Grace, Casper, and Alyona stood safe on the Gantry, the rest of the contestants were faced with one of the hardest challenges yet.
In this epic international elimination, Jackie, Olaolu and Kanika were left in the bottom three, and ultimately the dish that “had the most flaws” was sent home, according to judge Andy.
Despite being heartbroken to be sent home, Kanika said she “loved everything” about her time on the show.
“Eliminations are hard, please promise us, you will continue your journey after you leave,” judge Jean-Christophe said after the deliberation was announced.
“It’s just been an incredible journey. [I’ve had] so much exposure… This is not the last time you’re seeing me,” Kanika said, bowing to her fellow contestants before leaving the kitchen.
Alita leaves the MasterChef kitchen
Sadly Alita is the latest contestant to leave the MasterChef kitchen, with her dumpling lasagne not impressing the judges on May 11.
During the challenge, contestants had to make a meal with one of five viral ingredients selected by Victoria Minell (a widely popular food content creator).
However, Alita’s dish had “too many ideas going on”, according to Poh, and the burrata ultimately left it soggy.
“All the [burrata] cream is just basically drenched into the dumping lasagne. And then the meat has just gone wet meat loaf,” Andy said about Alita’s dish.
Devastated, Alita left with her head held high and admitted she “loved the opportunity” to push herself.
Bella eliminated during the family traditions challenge
Bella was eliminated on May 6 after her spiced apple cake didn’t quite hit the mark with the judges during the family traditions challenge — with contestants asked to make a dish that reminds them of their childhood.
While Poh said she really liked the flavours of Bella’s dish and praised her for “balancing the sweetness” well, there were components that “didn’t taste amazing”, according to Andy.
Ultimately, it was between Hannah and Bella in the bottom two, before the latter was sent home.
“Bella, we absolutely loved having you as a part of the MasterChef family. Your cooking is well beyond your years,” Sofia said.
Bella said she’s been “inspired” by the experience and has “enjoyed every moment” of it, intending to take her skills and have her own bakery one day.
Belinda was sent home after the season’s first Masterclass
After Aaron, Kanika, Alita, and Dot won immunity on Sunday night, May 3, the rest of the contestants had to battle it out in an elimination round on Monday, May 4.
This week was focused on family favourites, from breakfast with Andy Cooks to a dinner masterclass with the judges. During the elimination on Monday, the contestants were given 36 minutes to put their own spin on one of the judge’s quick carbs – Andy’s flat bread, Jean-Christophe’s pilaf, Poh’s noodles, or Sofia’s potato latkes.
After Olaolu, Belinda, and Vinnie were in the bottom three, unfortunately, it was Belinda who was sent home, as her quick carb choice was not quite up to scratch.
Belinda said her dream was accomplished being on the show, and it was a dream to watch her cook!
“I’ve learned that I would like to now take my cooking to another level,” Belinda said after being eliminated. “I don’t think you’re ever too old to start again. I’ve had eight career paths, so let’s make number nine.”
Jeff is the second contestant to say goodbye
After a gruelling pie challenge set out by Maggie Beer on April 29, Jeff was the second contestant to be eliminated from the show.
Despite his best efforts, his pie’s pastry was “undercooked” and the “filling lacked balance”, according to Poh, and he was eliminated, leaving Jackie and Vinnie to fight another day.
Despite the sad departure, the judges were full of praise for the 47-year-old.
“One day when you open your dream bakery, I will be your first customer,” Jean-Christophe said after the elimination to Jeff. “You know what I’m going to buy? A pie.
“You will always be a master, Jeff.”
Jeff joked that the pie he would sell to Jean-Christophe would be “better” than the one he produced on the show, but admitted he was proud of his time in the kitchen.
“I came with a dream to get into MasterChef and I got that dream. I got that apron, and no one can take that away from me.”
Give it up for Master Jeff!
Megs was unlucky in the first elimination round
The challenge for the first round of eliminations on April 27 was for contestants to give the judges an insight into their family homes.
Each home-cook had 75 minutes to cook a dish close to their hearts, and everything from miso banoffee pie to bowls of gnocchi were on the menu.
While Casper was safe from this challenge after impressing celebrity judges Jimmy and Jane Barnes, the rest of the contestants had to fight against the clock.
Emily was the stand-out cook as Poh called her take on tomato and beef short rib noodle soup (named ‘To My Mate Shorty’) “stunning cooking.”
She even got an “elite technique” quote from Jean-Christophe!
In the end, it was Megs and Jackie who were up for elimination after Jackie wasn’t able to get her duck on the plate, and Megs’ prawns were inedible.
In the end, Megs was eliminated, becoming the first cook sent home for 2026.
In her exit interview, Megs reflected on her time on the show with positivity, calling the MasterChef kitchen “a place where dreams are made of” and saying she “had that for a short time.”
Fingers crossed that this talented cook still fulfils her dream of opening her own restaurant, named ‘Megs Place.’
We’ll be keeping an eye out!
What’s different about this season of MasterChef Australia 2026?
While MasterChef has always seen it’s fair share of celebrity cameos, with Robert Irwin, Jimmy and Jane Barnes, and Meghan Markle among the list this year, judge Andy Allen told WHO about an increase in new cameos that worked so well in previous seasons.
“Last year, we had Sooshi Mango come on, and it was a massive gamble for us because, at that time, they didn’t have their sandwich shop and they weren’t kind of known for loving food,” Andy told WHO, speaking of the comedy trio who have since become known for their food content.
“It was a bit of ‘people are just going to see through this and not know why they were there, and just take the piss out of it’, and it was our highest rating show of the whole season. And we have now lent into that — and without giving too much away, there will be guests that, you know, are found on social media, and yes, they obviously have a great relationship with food, and that’s their thing.”
This year, well-known food content creators will be making another appearance this year, causing excitement for contestants and fans, and showing just how wide and accessible the food world is in Australia.
Who knows, maybe some of these top 24 will build a following and come back as celebrity cameos in the future (final winner or not)!
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