Borneo Culinary World Cup 2026 happening from 5 – 7 August 2026
- BT
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
KUCHING, 1 July 2026: The Borneo Culinary World Cup (BCWC) 2026, an international culinary competition and gastronomy festival, will be held in Kuching from 5 to 7 August 2026 at the Alumni Hall in Chung Hua Primary School No.3, and is set to bring together 74 judges and hundreds of participants.
BCWC 2026 is a biennial competition and festival presented by the Malaysia Bersatu Culinary Association (MBCA) in partnership with the Malaysia Bersatu Culinary Sarawak Association (MBSSA) and the Global Chefs Union (GCU), and builds on the success of its sister events, the Malaysia Culinary World Cup in Kuala Lumpur (2023) which set a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest cooking competition, and in Ipoh (2025), which drew over 800 participants from 26 countries.
This year’s competition will bring together 40 international judges and 34 Malaysian judges to oversee competitors across 10 main categories and 48 sub-categories, including Hot Cooking, Pastry, Artistry Carving and the signature Black Box Challenge. More than a competition, the event serves as a platform to showcase diverse techniques, traditions and creativity in a world-class setting, bringing together talented chefs and culinary students from around the world to compete, connect and celebrate unity through culture, craftsmanship and culinary excellence.
“Sarawak today stands at an exciting juncture – riding the momentum of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 as well as Kuching’s proud distinction as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Our culinary scene, rich, diverse and deeply rooted in the traditions of our many communities, is increasingly recognised on the world stage. BCWC 2026 is a natural and timely extension of that,” said Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during a press conference earlier today.
“This is a defining moment for BCWC 2026. With the Ministry’s support and a venue that lets us welcome the public, our judges and competing chefs in the best possible setting, we believe that this edition will stand as a proud milestone for Sarawak’s culinary and tourism story,” said Organising Chairman of BCWC 2026, Chef Julian L. Henry, who is also Vice Chairman of MBCA and Chairman of MBCSA.
After the press conference, distinguished guests and members of the media had the chance to try out some culinary offerings specially prepared by some of the MBCSA chefs, as well as admire some of the intricate food carvings on display. An MoU between MBCSA and Blue Point was also exchanged after the press conference, appointing Blue Point as a corporate member of MBCSA and an official training provider for BCWC 2026. Ahead of the competition, a pre-BCWC chefs’ judging training programme will be held at Legacy Hill Hotel and CENTEXS, preparing the judging panel for the application of international standards across all competition categories.
Also present at today’s press conference, Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Mayor of Kuching South, Dato Wee Hong Seng, Acting Permanent Secretary of MTCP, Julin bin Alen, Chairman of MBCA and President of the Global Chefs Union, Master Chef Arthur Lim, as well as other members of MBCA and MBCSA.
“To every chef, cook, culinary student and food enthusiast across Sarawak, who has ever dreamed of testing your skills against the best in the world: this August, that opportunity is yours, right here at home. Step forward, compete with pride and cook with heart, and show the world what Sarawak kitchens are truly made of,” encouraged Dato Sri Abdul Karim.
Members of the public are welcome to catch a glimpse of one of the biggest culinary competitions in the region and even try out some of the dishes prepared by contestants. Interested in joining? Register here: https://mbcasarawak.org/individual-event/. Registrations close on July 20, 2026.
