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?
Aaron gets knocked out of the semi-final
In the MasterChef Season 18 Semi Final, Petro, Vinnie and Aaron were tasked with a fine dining service challenge as the former Top 24 contestants cheered them on from the gantry.
With three hours on the clock, the contestants had to prepare a two-course dining experience, making 23 dishes for each course – three dishes for the judges, plus 20 diners each.
Luckily, judge Andy Allen returned to the kitchen – now a proud new dad – to help mentor the contestants through the challenge.
In the end, the decision – described as one of the hardest decisions of the season – fell between Aaron and Vinnie, with Aaron just missing out on a spot in the Grand Finale.
Aaron produced an Asian-French fusion for his main course, cooking up a Pork Loin Chop roasted on the bone, Charred Treviso and three sauces: a Pork and Veal Jus, an XO Glaze and a Red Miso Mustard. For dessert, he created a Basil and White Pepper Ice Cream, Tomato & Strawberry and White Balsamic Granita, with a fried Basil Leaf and Hazelnut Crumb.
Unfortunately, while his dessert left the judges speechless, the big flavours in Aaron’s sauces for his main dish clashed too much.
Aaron gave the MasterChef kitchen a fond farewell, grateful for the experience and excited for what the future holds.
Casper just missed out on a spot in the Top 3
During an emotional ‘Letters From Home’ elimination on Monday, July 27, contestants were tasked with spotlighting an ingredient chosen by their loved ones in their dishes.
After Petro earned immunity and a spot in the Top 3 from Meghan Markle’s guest judge challenge, Casper, Vinnie, and Aaron were the only contestants wearing black aprons. With letters of encouragement from their loved ones pushing them through, each contestant produced dishes that reminded them of home and why they joined the competition in the first place.
In the end, Casper’s dish just fell short, sending the 28-year-old home.
We’ll miss you Casper!
Annabel’s MasterChef journey has come to an end
In an epic elimination challenge set by MasterChef judge Poh Ling Yeow, Aaron, Annabel, Casper, and Petro faced off. While Vinnie waited safely from the gantry after having won immunity the night before, the four contestants were tasked with recreating three of Poh’s beautiful and delicious Malaysian snacks: Kuih Lapis, Curry Puff and Kuih Koci.
These were recipes that came through her family line and so Poh felt honoured to be able to pass them on.
Each of the four contestants struggled with the pressure test, with every small mistake making a difference. However, in the end, Annabel’s frantic finish left her Kuih Koci undercooked, leaving her dish with the most errors.
As Annabel said goodbye to the MasterChef kitchen, Poh was emotional to have set a challenge that sent a contestant home.
However, the contestant left the kitchen with priceless memories and a mission to balance her former career as a nurse (which she loves) with her dream of becoming a chef. If anyone can do it, it’s Annabel!
Luke just missed out on a spot in the Top 5
With a place in the Top 5 of MasterChef 2026 on the line, Luke, Aaron, Petro, Annabel, and Casper faced an elimination challenge set by Jean-Christophe with Vinnie watching safety from the Gantry. After the saucier showed the contestants two classic French mother sauces, Espagnole and Velouté, they were given 75 minutes to create a dish that personalises one of the sauces.
Unfortunately, Luke’s ambition to create an elevated lamb rack with an Espagnole sauce – personalised through a heavy orange flavour – didn’t work out for the young contestant. After running out of time to perfect his sauce and leaving the fat cap on his lamb unrendered, the talented home cook was eliminated from the MasterChef kitchen.
Despite just missing out on a spot in the Top 5, Luke left the competition proud of what he achieved, and excited for what the future holds.
Pat said a tearful farewell to MasterChef kitchen
In an epic Dual Duels elimination on Wednesday night, Vinnie, Luke, Pat, and Petro were in the firing line.
In the initial 45-minute cook, Luke duelled Vinnie, and Pat duelled Aaron. However, ultimately Pat and Luke just fell short, forcing them to face off head-to-head in a subsequent 60-minute cook where they were tasked with cooking whatever they liked.
The energy was high, and the battle was tough. However, in the end, it was Pat’s unevenly cooked octopus that sent him home.
In a goodbye that shed some tears, Pat told the judges that while he’s taking away everything he “can do” and the relationships he formed in the MasterChef experience, he’s also looking forward to going home to his partner and 2-year-old girl.
In a chat with WHO after Pat’s Coles ice cream win, the young father gushed about the “one big family” that all of the contestants have become this season.
“When the cameras stop, we’re all cooking together and giving each other advice and helping each other out with dishes, and it’s just such a super supportive network of people,” he said. “We’ve been able to live through these experiences together so we have a really good understanding of what we all went through and the ups and downs.”
Down the track, Pat hopes to bring his own spin to classic dishes down the coast of Australia, sharing with the world his cooking style and talent.
Alyona was eliminated from the competition
In a high-stakes pressure test, featuring Michelin-starred Chef Sam Aisbett, Luke, Alyona, Casper, and Annabel all faced elimination.
Tasked with three hours to recreate Chef Sam Aisbett’s intricate ‘Crab Salad’, all four contestants hit some serious roadblocks. However, it was Alyona and Casper who landed in the bottom two, with Alyona’s dish ultimately deemed the least like Sam’s creation, sending her home.
Leaving the kitchen with wonderful memories, friends, and skills up her sleeve, Alyona’s exit was tearful, yet full of heart.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this talented cook!
Emily leaves the MasterChef kitchen
In the latest elimination challenge, the contestants were tasked with cooking a dish that featured one of five internationally sourced ingredients that they had never used before.
Not only were the cooks fighting to stay in the competition, but a $10,000 travel voucher was also up for grabs for the winner.
While Pat managed to nab the win, it was Emily who sadly left the MasterChef kitchen on July 6.
She attempted a Filipino fresh spring roll that was to feature the banana blossom alongside pork and prawns, but she failed to include the ingredient, and was sent home.
Hannah said a tearful goodbye
In Wednesday night’s Knockout elimination, the contestants were tasked with spotlighting an ingredient chosen by one of the three contestants watching from the gantry – Aaron, Vinnie and Annabel – and they all had a quick trip to Coles to make their selection.
With mussels from Vinnie, short ribs from Aaron, and leak from Annabel as the main ingredients to choose from, it was a tough cook that ultimately ended with Casper and Hannah as the bottom two dishes from the challenge.
In the end, the fact that Hannah’s mussels were inconsistently cooked meant she was sent home.
After her name was announced, tears filled the other contestants’ eyes – particularly Emily’s – as everyone reminisced on what it was like to go through the experience together. The judges gushed about visiting Hannah in the restaurant she will soon open, as well as what a feat it was to leave her family for the competition.
“To do this experience has been so amazing…you can’t put words to it,” Hannah said. “I’ve been whiplashed into this world…I’ve had a blast.”
Hannah has had a memorable MasterChef experience, particularly after her cheeseburger pie made it to the shelves of Coles.
Hannah spoke to WHO about the moment her pie won this opportunity and what this, as well as the whole MasterChef experience, meant to her.
“I think when you have a major win like this, it really does solidify the fact that I’m allowed to take up this space,” she said. “I’m part of this group. I’m here, and it does open up the opportunities of like, what do I actually want to pursue after this?”
“It’s a really beautiful community, to be honest. I think that’s what MasterChef is.”
We’ll miss you Hannah and we cannot wait to buy more of your products in the future!
Grace narrowly missed out on the Top 10
During Wednesday night’s elimination challenge, contestants Luke, Grace, Emily, and Aaron were tasked with an intricate pressure test set by chocolatier Kirsten Tibballs.
While a couple of the contestants struggled with replicating the guest judge’s over-100-step Chocolate Iris dish – like Luke, who started with great momentum, but terrified the judges, audiences, and gantry members after he forgot to remove his acetate (plastic coating) – it was ultimately Grace who was sent packing after her dish’s interior elements were not fully formed.
However, speaking to WHO, Grace reflected on some beautiful memories she shared with contestants, like eating Annabel’s mousse, which she described as “the best chocolate mousse [she] has ever had”, and slurping up Emily’s “nourishing broths” that she could “drink for days and will miss so much.”
She also revealed what’s next for the future.
“I am launching HEAD FIRST into turning my passion project, Dinner Party, into my career!” Grace said. “Dinner Party is a catering business with my sister, my boyfriend and two of my best friends.”
“As fun as it is to watch MasterChef and see beautiful cooking, it’s much more exciting to eat it! We want to bring beautiful private events into people’s homes and throw the best parties around! Outside of that, I just want to cook and eat all the time for the rest of my life.”
We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Bella said goodbye (again)
We were so lucky to get more of Bella this season after she returned to the MasterChef kitchen after this year’s ‘Second Chance Cook’ episode!
Sadly, Monday night’s flat iron steak challenge was the cook to send this dessert master home, after both her, Alyona, and Grace had some troublesome cooks.
In the end, Bella’s Thai beef noodles with a chilled broth didn’t quite hit the mark for the judges, as her steak was undercooked and her sauce lacked the correct flavours that the dish needed.
After a “rollercoaster” of a competition, as Andy Allen put it on the show, this dish was the one to send Bella home.
Reflecting on her experience on the show, she said “gratitude” summarised her time on MasterChef.
“I feel so lucky,” she told the cameras as she said her goodbyes. “This is not the last you’ll see of me, for sure!”
“My food dream to have my own patisserie one day feels so much closer, and I know that if I put in the hard work and keep aiming high, I can get there one day.”
We can’t wait to taste her incredible desserts in the future!
Jackie is eliminated from the MasterChef kitchen
Jackie was known for her delicious cakes, but sadly, it was also what sent her home.
On Monday night, she made a brown butter financier that was raw in the middle. The judges agreed they liked the orange and cinnamon ice cream she made, but thought her mint and lime granita shouldn’t have been included in the dish.
Fans were very upset to see her go, with one Reddit user writing, “No! Jackie was one of my favourites. Damn.”
“If Jackie opened a bakery I would [definitely] run there,” another said.
Others said that they felt that Jackie’s cooks had been “inconsistent” for a while.
Before the season started, Jackie told WHO, “I had no strategy at all. I think going on to the show, I was honestly just trying to make it in. I didn’t even think I would…make it in. So, my strategy is firstly to get in the show and then we’ll see what happens from there.”
Dot says goodbye
During Wednesday night’s elimination episode, emotions were running high as Aussie icon Robert Irwin lit up the kitchen with his energy, dance moves (yes, he really did salsa with Jean-Christophe), and native ingredient challenge.
The contestants were asked to produce a dish that used one of Irwin’s favourite native Australian ingredients – lilly pilly, wattle seed, Ooray (Davidson’s plum), lemon myrtle, or river mint. Inspired by the mission behind the Warrior Restaurant and Bar at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge at Australia Zoo, which has a strong focus on local produce and sustainability, Irwin had high hopes for these dishes and the contestants certainly didn’t hold back in trying to impress the Dancing with the Stars winner.
However, after some close calls by Luke, Petro, and Grace, it was Dot who was ultimately sent home for her river mint doughnuts, which Irwin was probably the most excited for. This decision left fans and the other contestants alike absolutely gutted by the news, after almost everyone picked her as a top contender for Top 3 in the competition.
“What an unforgettable few months it’s been,” Dot wrote after her elimination. “I got married, took a leap of faith, and got to live out my dream in the MasterChef kitchen.”
“While I’m sad to be saying goodbye, I’m leaving with a heart full of gratitude, incredible memories, and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
We will miss you Dot (and can’t wait to see what you do soon)!
Jack leaves the MasterChef kitchen
The contestants were asked to make a dish with pork as the star feature, and while some yummy meals were whipped up (particularly by winner Dot), Jack’s sadly missed the mark.
The 29-year-old is the latest cook to be sent home, leaving the MasterChef kitchen on June 8 after his air-fryer pork belly struggled to impress the judges.
“Jack, it’s been really great having you in the competition,” Sofia said. “Enthusiasm and curiosity can get you so, so far so keep that with you.”
In response, the cook said he’s had an “amazing time” on the show.
“It’s been so surreal to cook for all you beautiful people,” Jack said as he left. “I’ve met some lifelong friends… I just want to keep learning… I’m really proud of myself.”
Lydia has left the kitchen
In Wednesday night’s elimination challenge, Hannah, Annabel, Alyona, and Lydia – the bottom two teams from Tuesday night’s Perfect Pairs challenge – as well as Vinnie – who automatically qualified for elimination after missing Monday night’s pressure test due to being sick – battled it out in a timed pantry challenge where quick thinking was of the essence.
During last night’s challenge, four unknown pantries were hidden beneath cloth and revealed to the contestants every 15 minutes, eating into their cooking time. Before the challenge began, Vinnie opted to use his immunity pin (wise choice!), leaving Hannah, Annabel, Alyona, and Lydia to make some quick decisions for their strategy.
Lydia started cooking first from the herbs, spices, and alliums pantry, Hannah dove at the second fruit and vegetable pantry, Annabel opted for the flavour bomb selection, and Alyona held out (and stressed us out) for the Seafood pantry.
However, despite having 75 minutes to cook, Lydia’s tart fell short, sending her home.
After a noble effort, fans were distraught to see Lydia go, flooding comment sections with how she “fought well” and hoping she “keeps cooking amazing things.”
We’ll miss you Lydia!
Olaolu said goodbye
Tonight’s episode of MasterChef Australia asked contestants to feature some classic flavour pairs in honour of Perfect Pairs Week. From chilli and lime to maple and bacon, contestants cooked everything from kingfish to loukoumades.
However, while each contestant attempted to find “that ying and yang in these classic flavour pairs”, as Poh announced, there were a few dishes that fell short. Grace’s pairing selection of “orange and fennel” in a pan-seared kingfish dish was too dried out, Olaolu didn’t showcase enough technique with his trifle, and Luke’s papillote was too much of a risk.
While Lydia, Aaron, Hannah, and Casper had some impressive cooks, it ultimately came down to Olaolu and Luke in the bottom two, with Olaolu ultimately being sent home.
“I’m so excited to have learned so much,” Olaolu said as he left the kitchen. “And it’s been cool to share some Nigerian flavours with all of Australia.”
“I definitely want to continue to hero and showcase Nigerian food and wherever allows me to do that, I’ll be chasing it down for sure.”
Miin had an emotional end
During one of the most emotional episodes of MasterChef Australia so far, contestants were tasked with creating a dish inspired by their family tree in the second episode of ‘Nostalgia Week.’ As the judges relayed the challenge’s instructions, a tree adorned with photos of the contestants’ families and childhoods stood behind them, bringing tears to almost everyone’s eyes.
It was this emotion that the judges were after as Poh told the contestants that they wanted to “taste [their] story”, with the top dish earning the winner a $10k cash prize and the bottom dish sending the hopeful cook home.
After an epic display of talent and storytelling, it was Olaolu who took home the $10k prize with a dish – Efo Riro with semolina – that his father, who recently passed, loved. Lots of joyful tears were shed tonight!
Unfortunately, there were also some sad tears shed, as one contestant was sent home. After Miin, Jack, Luke, and Grace were in the bottom four, it was ultimately Miin who had to say goodbye after his duck dish – while strong through it’s broth – was missing the noodles and seasoning it needed to get him across the line.
When his name was announced, a tearful Pat expressed how much he’ll miss Miin, saying that he “taught [him] so much” and will be one of his “best friends for life.”
“I tried my best,” Miin said in his final interview. “And today, my best just wasn’t good enough. It’s probably been one of the best experiences of my life.
“I’ve made lifelong friends here…it makes my life richer.”
What a send off! Here come the waterworks!
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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