MasterChef Asia Returns With New Season in September 2026

The latest edition of MasterChef Asia is set to premiere across the region in September, bringing former contestants together for a new round of culinary challenges filmed in Macao.

The 10-episode competition premieres onHBO Max on 22 September, with TLC Southeast Asia airing the series at 9pm MYT the same day. It follows on Discovery Channel Southeast Asia on 23 September at 7.10pm MYT, while the Taiwan broadcast begins at 7pm CST on the same day.

Judging the competition are chefs Edward Lee, Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij and Kelvin Cheung, who will assess contestants as they compete for the MasterChef Asia title.

The international line-up includes Vietnamese-Australian chef Khanh Ong, restaurant owner Sahadol “Pond” Tantrapim, Malaysian pastry chef Marcus Low, Korean gastronomy specialist Areum Yoon and Meghalaya culinary and cultural ambassador Nambie Jessica Marak. They are joined by Audrey Wicksana, Therese Lum, Mime Kataniwa, Ivory Yat and Macao-based Sandy Tang.

Guest judges include food personalities Mark Wiens and Abi Marquez, alongside chefs Ken Chong and Julien Tongourian.

Filmed in partnership with the Macao Government Tourism Office, the series uses the city as more than a backdrop. Challenges take place at local markets, Michelin-starred restaurants and a dedicated MasterChef Asia kitchen, putting contestants’ technical skills and adaptability to the test.

MasterChef Asia is produced by Warner Bros. Discovery and CreAsia Studio, with Banijay Rights handling global distribution. The wider MasterChef format, created by Franc Roddam in 1990, has been commissioned in 74 markets and has produced more than 750 seasons and 16,000 episodes, according to Guinness World Records.

The new season arrives as MasterChef Asia continues to bring the format’s competitive cooking format into a distinctly Asian setting, with Macao’s food culture providing the backdrop for its latest chapter.