Australia’s Best Burger Competition
Where Australia’s top burgers battle it out
Next Competition: ICC Sydney, 25 & 26 May 2026
Why Enter?
Think your burger has what it takes to be crowned the best in the country? Australia’s Best Burger Competition returns to ICC Sydney, 25–26 May 2026, bringing together the nation’s most talented chefs, grill masters and burger innovators for two days of high-stakes competition.
Open to chefs from restaurants, QSR, pubs, hotels and street food, this is your chance to showcase your signature style, creativity and technical skill on a national stage.
The competition will be point-based, participants will accumulate points across all criteria for both the ‘Signature Burger’ & ‘Creative Burger’ rounds, with their total score determining who is the overall winner.
- Best Signature Burger: Winner ($1,500)
- Best Creative Burger: Winner ($1,500)
- Australia’s Best Burger: Winner ($2,500)
- Gain national recognition at Australia’s leading hospitality trade show
- Compete live before industry leaders and expert judges
- Receive valuable feedback to accelerate your career
- Build your profile through media and industry exposure
Applications are now open for the 2026 competition, taking place at the Restaurant & Foodservice Show, ICC Sydney, 25–27 May
Congratulations to our 2025 Winners
2025 Australia’s Best Burger Awards & Competition Winner is crowned! Congratulations to Jonathon Donovan from Cbco Brewing – taking out the top honour.
- National Burger Winner: Jonathon Donovan from CBCo Brewing Port Melbourne Brewery and Tap Room
- Best Signature Burger: Tie between Ben Niumata from Grubbies Burgers & Hawaiian BBQ and Stuart Walsh from The Shearing Shed – Phillip Island
- Best Technical Burger: Matt McKee from Hashtag Burgers and Waffles
FAQs
Key Dates
Competition Dates: 25th-26th May, 2026, ICC Sydney
Applications Close: 10th April, 2026
Competitors Notification: 17th April, 2026
Who Can Enter?
The competition is open to any chef across the restaurant, QSR, pub, hotel and street food sectors.
Competition Categories
Finalists are required to compete in both of the following categories:
SIGNATURE BURGER A uniquely crafted burger that reflects your personal culinary style and creativity. It should represent your strongest work – a memorable burger that defines your brand and keeps customers coming back.
CREATIVE BURGER (SPONSOR ROUND) Competitors are required to make a burger that will be judged on their inventiveness & creativity with using provided sponsor ingredients.
See Full Guidelines for more detail
General Requirements
- All burgers must be prepared and cooked on-site.
- Each contestant will be expected to arrive 30min before their allocated heat. Competitors will not have access to the competition area before their heat time commences
- Competitors will have 30minutes to compete (10mins prep, 15mins cook, 5mins clean)
- Competitors are required to make four identical burgers for each category, ‘Signature Burger’ and ‘Creative Burger’, in their allocated 30minute heat time. Total of eight burgers.
- Contestants are responsible for cleaning their workspaces after completion and will be judged on the cleanliness of their station.
- All ingredients must be transported in labelled containers and comply with Australian Food Safety standards. Correct food handling must be adhered to.
- Ingredients must be brought in insulated coolers to maintain temperature control prior to your heat. Improperly chilled products will lead to disqualification. On-site refrigeration will be available.
Judging Criteria
The competition will be point-based, participants will accumulate points across all criteria for both the ‘Signature Burger’ & ‘Creative Burger’ rounds, with their total score determining who is the overall winner.
- Burgers will be graded by an esteemed panel of judges using a universal score sheet.
- The judges’ decisions are final.
- For all non-judging matters, the Competition Coordinator’s decision is final.
- Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be substituted.
- Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be substituted.
Judging Criteria
- Taste – Balance of flavour & ingredients
- Execution – Technically sound, assembled well, cooking precision, food safety, commercial viability
- Appearance – Visually appealing and appetising
Prizes
- Best Signature Burger: Winner ($1,500)
- Best Creative Burger: Winner ($1,500)
- Australia’s Best Burger: Winner ($2,500)
Equipment
Competitors will be allocated one of two stations. Each station will have access to a range of equipment – see full list here in the application guidelines.
Any items not mentioned, must be provided by the competitor.
How to Apply
Please fill out application form here
Full Guidelines
Check out the full guidelines here.
Australia's Best Burger Competition 2026 Sponsors
2026 Applications Now Open: Can you handle the heat? 🔥
Want to enter the 2026 Australia’s Best Burger Competition? Check out the full guidelines here.