MasterChef Australia is right around the corner, which means our favourite judges will be returning for the 2026 season.
While the contestants have not been officially revealed yet, we know who will be critiquing their dishes.
And, there are plenty of stars joining them, too.
Find out more about the judges below.
Who are the judges on MasterChef Australia 2026?
Andy, MasterChef alumni Poh Ling Yeow, food critic, journalist Sofia Levin, and multi-Michelin Star award-winning chef Jean-Christophe Novelli were all a hit with fans in 2024.
So it’s no surprise that they were invited back to judge once again.
In 2024, Andy carried on the legacy of his dear friend and colleague, Jock Zonfrillo, with three new faces, who have become the judges we know today.
Andy previously described his decision to return in 2024 and again in 2025 as one made with great consideration, reflecting on the loss of Jock.
“MasterChef Australia has been part of my life for over a decade. It gave me a pathway into the industry and led me to a career that I’m forever grateful for. After an extremely difficult year in 2023, and upon reflection, the decision to return to the series is not one I took lightly,” he said.
“But there is something special in the MasterChef Australia kitchen, and it feels right to come back to work with the amazing production team and to play my role in seeing the contestants do as I have done.”
For Jean-Christophe, returning in 2026 is something he never takes for granted. He exclusively told New Idea that he thinks the Australian version is better than the rest.
“I will keep screaming it,” he told us. “There’s no-one that does 60 [episodes], there’s no one who has the budget of Australia, there’s no one who’s got that energy.”
For Poh, who was runner-up in the inaugural season, becoming a full-time judge was an emotional “full-circle” moment.
“MasterChef Australia is where my food story began, so this feels like coming home. A big part of me will always be standing on the other side with the contestants, and I hope when they look at me, they see proof you don’t have to win to win,” she said when she took on the role in 2024.
Before the season one runner-up became a permanent judge, she returned several times as a guest judge and mentor, and then made an additional appearance as a contestant in 2020.
For Sofia, her journey to becoming a MasterChef judge was one of excitement, bringing to fruition her almost 15-year-long career writing about her love of food.
“The first season of MasterChef Australia aired the same year I started writing about food,” she previously shared.
“By the time I graduated from journalism, I was sharing lesser-known food stories, while the show was exposing the nation to cuisines and cultures they had never considered before. Becoming a judge on MasterChef feels like two parallel paths converging, and I am giddy with excitement at the people I get to stand beside.”
Who are the guest judges on MasterChef Australia?
To say the line-up is star-studded this year, we truly mean it.
The most recent guest judge revealed needs no introduction – Meghan Markle, aka the Duchess of Sussex.
In footage released by Network 10, she is seen walking through the kitchen and hugging the judges.
“The Duchess was quite clear on knowing the contestants better,” Poh explained to 10 News+ after the announcement was made.
“And she said, ‘You know, you know these guys, but I don’t. So I would really like to see some stories and food that’s going to show us their personalities.’”
“And you know, she’s a home cook, and she’s a gardener herself. So when you think about it, we’re getting more and more connected to our food,” judge Sofia Levin added.
So, who else will join Poh, Jean-Christophe, Andy and Sofia?
On April 6, the network confirmed that a bunch of our favourite show alumni will also be returning!
That means we will be seeing our favourites coming back as guest judges, Khanh Ong, Jess Lemon, Marion Grasby, Matt Sinclair, Justine Schofield and Sarah Todd.
While the show is known for its chef star power, several Aussie icons will also be on the show.
Dancing with the Stars USA champion and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! host Robert Irwin is making a surprise appearance!
Former Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes will also be on the show with his wife Jane.
When it comes to superstar chefs, Maggie Beer, Josh Niland, Dobbers, Rosheen Kaul, Adriano Zumbo, and Rick Stein will also share their wisdom during the 18th season.
Social media superstars DimSimLim, Recipes by Victoria’s Victoria Minell, Andy Cooks, and biteswithlily’s Lily Huynh are also set to challenge this year’s contestants.
