Seven
A brand-new season of My Kitchen Rules returns to Seven and 7plus at 7.30pm on Monday, 28 September. From bustling cities to regional towns, MKR travels across the country to uncover a diverse group of passionate home cooks from all walks of life.
Best friends, siblings, parents and children, partners and unlikely teammates all come together with one shared dream: to prove their food is the best in Australia.
Speaking to WHO ahead of the season’s premiere, we asked co-hosts and judges Manu Fieldel and Colin Fassnidge what viewers might be most surprised by this time around.
“The characters! There are some funny characters,” says Manu.
Meanwhile, Colin added, “There’s a couple of very outspoken ladies this year, and then there’s a couple of people … I would say there’s a lot of opinions this year, and they aren’t shy to let you know [what they are], let’s put it that way.”
Meet the cast of My Kitchen Rules 2026
Krysten and Lucy
Mother and daughter – QLD
Queensland mother-and-daughter duo Krysten, 50, and Lucy, 23, are bringing big personalities and very different kitchen strengths to MKR. They live on an acreage property where life revolves around food, fishing, free-diving and entertaining friends at their smokehouse. Krysten is all instinct and bold flavours, while Lucy is the precise baker behind her own micro-bakery, Burnt Croissants. She’s so committed to pastry she even has a pain au chocolat tattoo. Together, the pair reckon good food doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive, just made with plenty of love.
Angus and Simon
Funeral Director and mate – SA
These two mates from South Australia are sure to bring the laughs this season. Angus, 31, and Simon, 36, first met while working at an Adelaide pub together and have been joking around with each other ever since. And while they may share a similar sense of humour, they tend to be polar opposites in the kitchen, with Angus leaning more towards a Type B, using every utensil at his disposal, while Simon likes to keep things methodical and go by the book. Angus says if they win, he’d love to open up a small restaurant serving quality produce in hometown Adelaide.
Alisha and Deanne
Classy bogans – SA
These high school friends and self-proclaimed “classy bogans” may be bringing a bit of fiery energy to the dinner tables this season. The South Australian mums describe themselves as loud, chaotic and very much without a filter, with Alisha, 33, the sassier of the two and Deanne, 34, always ready with a one-liner. Their food is proudly home-style, hearty and made for feeding a crowd, with sticky date pudding and birria tacos among their go-tos. They’re competitive too, but mostly here to have a laugh, make their kids proud and prove a bit of chaos in the kitchen never hurt anyone.
Tiffany and Giancarlo
Loved-up couple – VIC
Tiffany, 37, and Giancarlo, 41, have been together for almost 20 years, and while they’ve said they haven’t felt the need for a wedding and kids, they very much come as a package deal. The Victorian couple share a love of food and Italian family traditions, with Tiffany crediting Giancarlo for teaching her how to cook over the years. These days, though, she reckons the student may have become the master. Their food leans heavily Italian, from fresh pasta and roast chicken to Giancarlo’s childhood favourite, melanzane alla parmigiana. Competitive but supportive, the pair say they know exactly when to push each other and when to step in.
Mary and Golden
Nurses – VIC
These two Victorian nurses have been best mates since studying together in the Philippines, before making the move to Australia in 2004. More than 20 years later, Mary, 38, and Golden, 38, are bringing the Filipino flavours they grew up with into the MKR kitchen, along with a friendship that barely needs words at this point. Mary is the louder, more straightforward one, while Golden tends to keep things a little calmer. Both are instinctive cooks, and their ultimate dream is to launch a food truck serving Filipino street food to hospital workers on late-night shifts.
Jane and Shane
Stylish foodies – NSW
Jane, 49, and Shane, 55, are bringing plenty of style to the MKR kitchen, but they’re just as serious about what’s on the plate. Married for two years, the NSW couple have a blended family of five adult children and share a love of cooking, travel and growing their own produce. Food stylist Jane is the bolder half of the duo, having picked up plenty of tricks working alongside top chefs, while former hairdresser-turned-builder Shane is a little calmer in the kitchen. Their signature dishes span everything from Sri Lankan prawn curry to handmade pasta, with plenty of Italian influence thrown in the mix too.
Who are the 2026 MKR gatecrashers?
After the first round of Instant Restaurants, three ‘gatecrasher’ teams will be added to the 2026 My Kitchen Rules contestants list…
Harrison and Oliver
Hipster mates – NSW
Harrison, 30, and Oliver, 28, met by chance at their local brewery six years ago and quickly bonded over food, craft beer, fashion and music. The NSW mates are bringing plenty of personality to the MKR kitchen, along with very different cooking styles. Bar manager Harrison is all about hearty, slow-cooked dishes and a good beer pairing, while Oliver leans into his Italian roots with handmade pasta and rich, savoury flavours. They describe themselves as “two mad scientists” in the kitchen and, with Oliver’s bold fashion sense and Harrison’s quick wit, they’re unlikely to fade into the background.
Sheridan and Ted
Mother and son – WA
Sheridan, 53, and Ted, 25, are a mother-and-son duo from WA who are very close, even if they don’t always see eye-to-eye in the kitchen. High school maths teacher Sheridan is the organised, no-nonsense one, while Ted loves experimenting with flavours and techniques he’s picked up online. Their different approaches have already caused a few lively debates, but food is very much a family affair, with Ted even winning their Christmas cooking competition two years running.
Zoe and Zac
Sassy friends – NSW
Zoe, 30, and Zac, 30, have been best mates for 15 years after first meeting as teenagers at work, and they’ve been stumbling into adventures ever since. The NSW duo are loud, competitive and very much here for a good time, with Zoe so determined to win she’s apparently been banned from game nights. In the kitchen, she brings the drive while Zac brings the jokes, with both drawing plenty of inspiration from family cooking. Their dream is to one day open a brewery in Newcastle, serving up with their own beer, fresh bread and, of course, very good vibes.
When does MKR Australia 2026 start?
My Kitchen Rules 2026 season 17 premieres on Monday, 28 September 2026 at 7:30 pm. We’ll be covering all of the action, so make sure you are following WHO for all of the fun!
