The fifth season of the American competitive reality television series Next Level Chef premiered on January 29, 2026, and concluded on May 21, 2026. Gordon Ramsay returned as host and mentor, and Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais returned as mentors.
The season was won by professional chef Darian Bryan, with professional chefs Connor Caine and Cole Lawson being named runners-up.
Production
On February 27, 2025, it was announced that Next Level Chef was renewed for a fifth and sixth season.
Chefs Note: The list below only includes chefs that made it onto the show after qualifying via an audition. Contestant Age Status Hometown/Home country ResultMareya Ibrahim-Jones56Social media chefCapistrano Beach, California Eliminated February 19Elise Jesse36Home cookCincinnati, Ohio Eliminated February 26Emerson Batolome46Home cookSan Diego, California Eliminated March 5Matt Starcher54Social media chefChesapeake, Virginia Eliminated March 12Tim Laielli35Social media chefDripping Springs, Texas Eliminated March 19Amber Kellehan30Home cookJoshua Tree, California Eliminated April 2Machete Gonzalez34Professional chef Houston, Texas Eliminated April 9Jared Veldheer38Home cookGrand Rapids, Michigan Eliminated April 16Danielle Kartes43 Home cookPuyallup, Washington Eliminated April 23Christian Alquiza35 Social media chefAustin, Texas Eliminated April 30Andy Allo37 Social media chefMalibu, California Eliminated May 7Gabrielle Coniglio34 Professional chefPalm Beach, Florida Eliminated May 14Cole Lawson31 Professional chefLos Angeles, California Runners-up May 21Connor Caine30 Professional chefManhattan Beach, CaliforniaDarian Bryan34 Professional chefBuffalo, New YorkWinner May 21
Elimination table Place ContestantEpisodes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1Darian Adv Blais Win Safe Safe Win Safe Risk Safe Safe Win Safe Win\ Win Winner 2Cole Adv Ram Safe Win Win† Safe Safe Safe Win Risk Win\ Win Risk Win Runner-upConnor Adv Arr Safe Safe Safe Risk Win† Win† Safe Safe Safe Win\ Safe Risk Runner-up4Gabrielle Adv Ram Safe Win Win Safe Safe Safe Win† Win Safe Risk Safe Elim5Andy Adv Ram Safe Win†* Win Safe Safe Safe Win Win Risk Safe Elim6Christian Adv Blais Win† Safe Risk Win Safe Safe Safe Safe Risk Elim 7Danielle Adv Arr Safe Safe Safe Risk Win Win Safe Risk Elim8Jared Adv Blais Win Safe Safe Win Safe Safe Risk Elim9Machete Adv Arr Safe Safe Safe Risk Win Win Elim10Amber Adv Ram Safe Win Win Safe Risk Elim 11Tim Adv Blais Win Safe Safe Win Elim 12Matt Adv Arr Safe Safe Safe Elim 13Emerson Adv Arr Risk Risk Elim 14Elise Adv Blais Win Elim 15Mareya Adv Ram ElimT-16Diana ElimEarl ElimMichael ElimT-19Landon ElimMiriam ElimHenna ElimT-22Hunter ElimKevin ElimBelinda Elim
†The contestant cooked the best dish overall and won safety for their team or themselves.
*The contestant cooked the best dish on their team and was selected by their mentor to win an immunity pin.
\The contestant cooked the best dish overall and won the Time Token.
Episodes
Ratings
References