We present the four Spanish chefs who will compete in the grand final of Chef Balfegó 2026

The first stage of Chef Balfegó 2026 already has its stars. Following a demanding selection process, we now know the names of the four Spanish chefs who have secured their place in the grand final, which will take place on 30 November at Le Cordon Bleu Madrid.

The four chefs will represent Spain in a final that will bring together twelve chefs from across Europe. The remaining four places will be decided on 26 October during the European Semi-Final, which will be held at Le Cordon Bleu Paris.

Below, we introduce the four national finalists of this year’s edition.

Alberto Montes Pereira is currently the Head of R&D at Atrio (Cáceres), one of Spain’s leading gastronomic institutions and holder of three Michelin stars. Trained at the Luis Irizar School, he has worked in renowned kitchens such as Mugaritz, Quique Dacosta, and Skina. His achievements include winning the Chef Balfegó Award and the National Tapas and Pinchos Competition of Valladolid.

The competition continues. On 26 October, the European Semi-Final will take place, where we will discover the eight chefs who will complete the line-up for the Chef Balfegó 2026 Grand Final.

Very soon, we will reveal the eight finalists who will compete for the title.