Guy Fieri’s “Tournament of Champions” Is Back with 4 Surprise ‘Icons' (Exclusive)
- - Guy Fieri’s “Tournament of Champions” Is Back with 4 Surprise ‘Icons' (Exclusive)
Erin ClementsJanuary 21, 2026 at 11:00 PM
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Food Network
Guy Fieri on 'Tournament of Champions VII' -
Tournament of Champions returns for its seventh season on Sunday, March 1
Episodes the two preceding weeks will feature a qualifying tournament and bracket reveal
The season's winner, who takes home a $150,000 cash prize, will be revealed in the finale on April 19
Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions is turning up the competition.
The Food Network series returns for its seventh season on Sunday, March 1, with 32 chefs facing off in the kitchen.
While this year’s contenders will include “proven warriors and fierce new challengers,” according to an announcement shared with PEOPLE, they’ll be in for the show’s “biggest surprise ever.”
“This season, top-seeded chefs in every division will be food world icons, four of the most powerful opponents to ever compete on the series, but their identities will remain a secret until the moment they enter the arena,” the description says.
At the end of eight weeks, the champion who takes top honors will win a Tournament of Champions belt and a $150,000 cash prize.
Food Network
Guy Fieri on 'Tournament of Champions VII'
“Year after year, chefs up their gameplay and strategy, so we need to constantly raise the stakes to keep the competition next level,” Fieri said. “This year, we put four industry icons in the top seed, immediately putting targets on their backs for the win-hungry competitors. And that alone is the secret ingredient for the most epic season yet.”
The competitors include Adam Greenberg, Adam Sobel, Britt Rescigno, Bryan Voltaggio, Carlos Anthony, Claudette Zepeda, Dale Talde, David Viana, Jet Tila, Joe Sasto, Jonathon Sawyer, Kaleena Bliss, Karen Akunowicz, Kevin Lee, Lee Anne Wong, Marcel Vigneron, Nini Nguyen, Sara Bradley, Shirley Chun and Tobias Dorzon.
Participants will also include eight winners from Tournament of Champions: The Qualifiers, which airs Feb. 15 and sees 16 chefs battling for the final spots in the main bracket.
Past Tournament of Champions winners Antonia Lofaso, Maneet Chauhan, Mei Lin and Brooke Williamson will serve as judges along with Alex Guarnaschelli, Cat Cora, Curtis Stone, David Chang, Dominique Crenn, Geoffrey Zakarian, Hubert Keller, Judy Joo, Ken Oringer, Marcus Samuelsson, Michelle Bernstein, Nancy Silverton, Rocco DiSpirito, Scott Conant and Susan Feniger.
Simon Majumdar continues to hold the role of judges’ correspondent, getting their takes on dishes.
Anders Krusberg/Food Network
Guy Fieri on season 4 of 'Tournament of Champions'
Tiffani Faison and Justin Warner will serve as sideline reporters throughout the season. The pair will also preview the show’s Randomizer, the device that determines the protein, produce, equipment, cooking style and time set for each challenge, on Tournament of Champions VII: The Bracket Reveal on Feb. 22.
Guy’s son Hunter Fieri, 29, will take viewers backstage, getting winners’ reactions to culinary battles.
The celebrity chef opened up about Hunter’s role on the show while chatting with PEOPLE at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in February 2025.
“My sons are my best friends,” said Guy, who also shares 20-year-old Ryder with wife Lori Fieri. “My wife has been an incredible partner in life and the way we raised our kids. But Hunter's doing really good on TV. He continues to gain confidence. My youngest son Ryder's in college in San Diego, so he makes it in once in a while. But Hunter's doing a great job.”
Tournament of Champions season 7 premieres Sunday, March 1, at 8 p.m. ET/ PT on Food Network. The Qualifiers premieres Sunday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/ PT, and The Bracket Reveal premieres Sunday, Feb. 22 at 10 p.m. ET/ PT. The finale will air April 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
