Call for The Black Women in Food Awards 2026 is open now!!!
The Black Women in Food Awards is a prestigious global recognition program designed to honor the excellence and leadership of Black women across the entire culinary landscape. Established by Dine Diaspora, this award program aims to close the visibility gap in the food industry by highlighting the diverse roles Black women play in shaping how the world eats, drinks, and thinks about food. Honorees are nominated by the public and selected by a distinguished panel of industry experts. The 2026 honorees will be announced at the Black Women in Food Summit, April 23–25, 2026 in Washington, D.C., USA
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Rather than a single winner, the program identifies a cohort of honorees across ten distinct categories, ensuring that every sector of the food system is represented:
- Game Changer: A game changer uses their voice or influence to bring about positive change for individuals, groups, communities, or the environment (e.g. activist, policymaker, and/or venture capitalist, etc.).
- Innovator: An innovator creates or adapts tools, models, approaches, and/or harnesses technology in efforts to solve challenges within the food system (e.g. inventor, researcher, product developer, intrapreneur, etc.).
- Trailblazer: A trailblazer is a well-accomplished leader who has paved the way for others and has made groundbreaking contributions to the food system (e.g. pioneer, vanguard, etc.).
- Creator: A creator is an individual that creates content, experiences, or products that connect people to different foods (e.g. food blogger, food stylist, curator, content creator, consumer packaged goods entrepreneur, etc.).
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- Culinarian: A culinarian or restauranteur is trained or self-taught in the art of cooking and demonstrates exemplary talent through their work (e.g. chef, home cook, caterer, etc.).
- Beverage Master: A beverage master is an individual with knowledge in spirits, beer or wine that leverages their expertise to move the industry forward through education, creativity, and/or engagement with people or brands (e.g. sommelier, mixologist, bar owner, beer maker/brewer, wine and spirit maker, vineyard manager, etc.).
- Amplifier: An amplifier is an individual that leverages their voice and platform(s) to highlight stories or narratives in the food system (e.g. journalist, author, photographer, podcaster, filmmaker, etc.).
- Restaurateur: A restaurateur uses their entrepreneurial skills and business acumen to launch and grow impactful restaurant businesses (e.g. Owner-operators of restaurants, bars, cafes, food trucks, cloud kitchens or mobile food services).
- Corporate Champion: A corporate champion works in the private sector to shape products, ideas, and/or opportunities that contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive food system (e.g. branding and marketing professional, buyer, research and development professional, diversity & inclusion professional, sustainability strategist, etc.).
- Hospitality Maven: A hospitality maven is an architect of professionalism and excellence in guest experience who translates care into service (e.g. front-of-house operations; general managers, hotel food and beverage managers, hospitality specialists, and guest relations experts)
The Black Women in Food Awards are an investment in the future of the global food economy. By validating the expertise of Black women and providing them with a platform to be seen and heard, Dine Diaspora is ensuring that the industry becomes more equitable, representative, and innovative. It is an invitation for Black women to claim their space as leaders, creators, and owners who are not just participating in the food system, but actively redefining it for the next generation.
Location:
OnlineBenefits
- Recognition and visibility through a prestigious platform that celebrates Black women’s contributions to the global food system.
- Inclusion in the official “Black Women in Food” honoree list, which is distributed to global media outlets and industry leaders.
- Access to a powerful global network of chefs, restaurateurs, innovators, and beverage experts for potential collaboration.
- Potential to receive non-equity grants and financial awards for specific pitch competition and grant categories.
- Increased media coverage and storytelling opportunities via Dine Diaspora’s digital platforms and partner networks.
- Enhanced professional credibility and brand authority within the food, beverage, and hospitality sectors.
- Participation in a supportive community dedicated to closing the visibility and resource gap for Black women in food.
Eligibilities
- Anyone who self-identifies as a Black woman in any country.
- Demonstrate significant accomplishments or impact within the global food system.
- Align with one of the specific award categories (e.g., Culinarian, Restaurateur, Innovator, Game Changer, etc.).
- Submit a completed nomination form via the official portal before the deadline.
- Provide a professional biography highlighting relevant career achievements.
- Be open to public recognition and engagement within the Black Women in Food community.
Application Process
- Visit the official Black Women in Food Awards website via the Dine Diaspora portal.
- Review the ten specific award categories to determine the most appropriate fit for yourself or your nominee.
- Prepare a comprehensive professional biography that highlights key achievements and impact within the food industry.
- Collect supporting documentation, such as press features, social media handles, or portfolio links, to strengthen the application.
- Complete the online nomination form with accurate contact details for both the nominator and the nominee.
- Provide detailed responses to the qualitative questions explaining why the nominee deserves recognition in their chosen category.
- Submit the final application through the awards portal before the deadline and monitor your email for a confirmation message and potential follow-up requests from the selection committee.
- Register for the Black Women in Food Summit if you plan to attend the live announcement and celebration in Washington, D.C.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2026 (13 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
