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Entertainment • TV Series

Next Level Chef (season 5)

The fifth season of the American competitive reality television series Next Level Chef premiered on Fox on January 29, 2026, and concluded on May 21, 2026.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The fifth season of the American competitive reality television series Next Level Chef premiered on Fox on January 29, 2026, and concluded on May 21, 2026. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and mentor, alongside returning mentors Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais. The season was won by professional chef Darian Bryan.

Premise

Next Level Chef season 5 continued the series’ multi-level cooking competition format, with contestants challenged in a three-tier kitchen environment. The season followed the same judging and mentoring structure used in earlier seasons.

Production and broadcast

The season aired on Fox in the United States. It was scheduled as part of the series’ renewed run after the franchise was picked up for additional seasons.

Contestants and format

The season included 24 contestants before auditions and 15 after auditions, according to the season’s infobox data. Contestants competed for a grand prize of US$250,000 and a mentorship tied to the series’ judging panel.

Winner and finale

Darian Bryan won the season after the finale, with Connor Caine and Cole Lawson named runners-up. Coverage of the finale identifies Bryan as a professional chef.

Key facts

  • The season premiered on January 29, 2026, and concluded on May 21, 2026.
  • Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais returned as mentors.
  • The winner was professional chef Darian Bryan.
  • The runners-up were Connor Caine and Cole Lawson.
  • The season consisted of 16 episodes.
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Canadian context

The series airs in Canada through television and streaming availability that may vary by platform and licensing, so Canadian viewers may access it through regional broadcasters or streaming services rather than Fox directly.

Frequently asked questions

When did Next Level Chef season 5 premiere?
It premiered on January 29, 2026.
When did the season finale air?
The season concluded on May 21, 2026.
Who hosted season 5?
Gordon Ramsay hosted and also served as a mentor.
Who were the mentors in season 5?
Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais returned as mentors alongside Ramsay.
Who won Next Level Chef season 5?
Professional chef Darian Bryan won the season.
How many episodes were in season 5?
The season had 16 episodes.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Level_Chef_(American_TV_series)_season_5
    Supports: Premiere date, finale date, host, mentors, episode count, winner, runners-up, contestant counts.
  2. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/next-level-chef/episodes-season-5/1060040708/
    Supports: Season 5 episode count, series format, prize information, and season availability.
  3. Parade — https://parade.com/news/who-won-next-level-chef-season-5-2026-winner-finale-spoilers
    Supports: Winner Darian Bryan, finalists/runners-up, and finale outcome.
  4. Fox — https://www.fox.com/detail/series/SER001560CHOA/next-level-chef
    Supports: Series identity, broadcast platform, and series description.