The TASTE AWARDS are proud to announce that acclaimed chef, restaurateur, author, and television host Lidia Bastianich will receive the 2026 Anthony Bourdain Lifetime Achievement Award.

Named in tribute to the late chef, author, and cultural explorer Anthony Bourdain, the honor recognizes individuals whose work reflects a commitment to cultural understanding, authenticity, and the ability to connect people through food.

Through decades of work in culinary media, publishing, restaurants, and public television, Lidia Bastianich has become one of the world’s most respected voices in food culture. Her work has consistently celebrated family, heritage, immigration, tradition, and the enduring role of cuisine in bringing people together across generations and communities.

“The spirit of Anthony Bourdain’s legacy was never simply about food,” said the TASTE AWARDS Awards Committee. “It was about curiosity, humanity, cultural understanding, and the ability to connect people through shared experiences. Lidia Bastianich’s work has embodied those values for generations, helping audiences around the world experience food not only as cuisine, but as identity, memory, and connection.”

The recognition will be featured as part of the upcoming TASTE AWARDS Honors special presentation, a curated television and streaming program celebrating influential voices in food, culture, travel, and culinary media. The presentation will include archival moments, reflections, and selected honorees whose work represents the evolving landscape of global food and cultural storytelling.

Often referred to as the “Oscars of Food, Fashion and Lifestyle Media,” the TASTE AWARDS celebrate excellence across television, film, streaming, digital media, podcasts, photography, and emerging platforms that shape how audiences experience food, travel, health, style, and culture.