Meet the New Judges of MasterChef Australia

MasterChef Australia is preparing for its 2026 season, featuring a return to apron auditions and the introduction of new talent. The upcoming season will include a prize of $250,000 and the participation of A-list guest judges, according to reporting from Now To Love.

The judging panel for the new season consists of Andy Allen, a winner from series 4; food writer Sofia Levin; French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli; and Poh Ling Yeow, who was the runner-up in series 1.

Transition from Series 17

The 2026 season follows the conclusion of series 17, which was known as MasterChef: Back To Win. That series premiered on April 28, 2025 and concluded on August 12, 2025, on Network 10.

Series 17 utilized a concept where 24 contestants from previous seasons returned to compete for the title. The grand finale on August 12, 2025, resulted in a victory for Laura Sharrad, who defeated runner-up Callum Hann with a final score of 80–73.

Other notable placements in series 17 included Jamie Fleming, who finished in third place on August 11, 2025. Depinder Chhibber was eliminated on August 4, 2025, and Ben Macdonald was eliminated on July 29, 2025.

Contestant Developments

Beyond the culinary competition, series 17 saw personal developments between contestants. Sarah Todd, a series 6 participant and series 14 runner-up, and Declan Cleary began a relationship during the filming of the season.

The couple moved in together following their elimination from the competition. In October 2025, they announced that Todd was pregnant, and in December 2025, Todd gave birth to twin girls.

Format and Judging

The current judging quartet of Allen, Levin, Novelli, and Yeow also presided over series 16. This panel has maintained continuity as the show moves into the 2026 cycle.

The shift toward apron auditions and fresh talent for the 2026 season marks a departure from the returning-contestant format used in the immediate previous series.