2026 James Beard Award Nominations Now Open – Nominate Your Pensacola Favorites

Deadline to nominate your favorite Pensacola chef or restaurant: Nov. 21 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern

Nominate your favorite Pensacola chef, restaurant, or bar for the prestigious 2026 James Beard Awards! Whether it’s a culinary innovator or a standout local eatery, show your support by submitting a nomination in the Restaurant and Chef Awards or the Impact Awards categories. Explore our celebrated dining spots, find the names that inspire you, and head to jamesbeard.org/awards to begin. Make sure to submit your nomination by November 21 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern!

NOMINATE HERE

Recommended categories: Best Chefs in America - South

Impact Statement

The James Beard Awards honor those who are creating exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems while demonstrating a commitment to equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

The application process requires a short statement describing the impact of the restaurant or chef and how their work aligns with the Foundation’s mission and vision—Good Food for Good®— an expression of our values: equity, transparency, respect, integrity, and community. This is our chance to learn a little more about the chef, beverage professional, or restaurant.

If you are submitting for yourself, please write or speak in the first-person. If you are submitting on behalf of someone else, please be specific and use clear, pertinent examples when possible.

Statements can be submitted in the following formats:

  • Written (150 to 300 words)
  • Audio (1-2 minutes)
  • Video (1-2 minutes)
  • AI must not be used for writing impact statements.

Questions to consider as you compose your statement:

  • Based on your own dining experience, how does this candidate exemplify excellence?
  • What is inspiring about the chef or restaurant?
  • From your perspective, does there seem to be a positive team culture? What are some examples?
  • If you have dined with the candidate multiple times, have your experiences been consistently positive? In what ways?

If you are submitting for yourself:

  • What impact do you hope to have on the independent restaurant industry?
  • How do you think your work reflects Good Food for Good®?
  • What inspires you about American food/beverage culture?

Visit our dining chefs, pastry chefs, restaurants, and bars, and nominate your favorites for the 2026 James Beard Awards in both the Restaurant and Chef Awards and Impact Awards.

To start your nomination, explore our dining partners.