MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia announces 3 Special Awards

The MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026 named 51 restaurants in the Guide and announced three Special Awards during its inaugural Restaurant Celebration.

The MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Celebration for Saudi Arabia 2026 announced three Special Awards during an event in Riyadh. The 2026 Guide includes 51 restaurants, with 11 earning the Bib Gourmand distinction and 40 listed in the Selected category. The reveal was presented in stages on a dedicated website across three storytelling phases that highlighted hospitality, women, and breads. Restaurant plaques were personally presented to establishments in partnership with the Culinary Arts Commission. Key details: - 51 restaurants are included in the MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026; 11 received the Bib Gourmand distinction and 40 are listed in the Selected category. - Three Special Awards were announced: the Young Chef Award to Elia Kaady of Maiz in Riyadh; the Exceptional Mocktail Award to Il Baretto in Riyadh, under Bar Manager Santiago Latorre; and the Service Award to Yaza in Jeddah, led by Chef/Owner Hakim Bagabas. - MICHELIN distinctions are reported as being based on five criteria: the quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, the chef’s personality as expressed through the cuisine, and consistency across the menu and over time. - A premium mocktail reception in Riyadh featured six guest chefs, including three international talents and three chefs from the MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia 2026 selection. - Restaurant plaques were distributed in a ceremonial handover that concluded the announcement period. Summary: The event marked the public distribution of MICHELIN plaques and highlighted individual and team achievements across kitchens and bars in Saudi Arabia. The staged reveal emphasized cultural themes alongside the Guide’s selections. The Guide’s inclusion and plaque distribution conclude the 2026 selection process as announced. Undetermined at this time.