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Bravo's Top Chef Will Feature a Major Twist When It Returns for Season 18 (UPDATED)
Top Chef alums will be part of the upcoming season in a whole new way.
UPDATE (FEBRUARY 8, 3:42 P.M.): Bravo announced on Monday, February 8 that Top Chef will return for Season 18 with a supersized premiere episode on Thursday, April 1 at 8/7c. Get your first look at the new batch of 15 cheftestants vying for the title of Top Chef in the upcoming season, as well as the elite rotating judging and dining panel full of familiar faces to the culinary competition in the official trailer for Season 18, above.
The original story continues below.
Bravo's Top Chef is bringing something completely new to the competition when it returns for Season 18.
For the first time ever in the history of Top Chef, the culinary competition will feature an elite rotating judging and dining panel made up of All Star winners and finalists, including Richard Blais, Carrie Baird, Nina Compton, Tiffany Derry, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King, Kristen Kish, Edward Lee, Kwame Onwuachi, Amar Santana, Dale Talde, and Brooke Williamson.
They will be joined by host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio, and judge Gail Simmons.
The news comes as it was announced that Top Chef will be heading to Portland, Oregon for Season 18. Top Chef is set to return in 2021.
Production on Season 18 of Top Chef is currently underway with a comprehensive health and safety plan developed in accordance with CDC guidance, all state and local orders, as well as NBCUniversal’s own safety guidelines. "The health and safety of the cast and crew is the priority of Bravo & Magical Elves on all of its shows," the press release announcing the location of the new season of Top Chef reads.
The most recent season of Top Chef, Season 17, featured an all-star cast comprised of 15 finalists, frontrunners, and fan favorites, including Gregory and Melissa, who ultimately won the competition. The season was filmed in Los Angeles with its finale taking place in Italy.
Want more Top Chef? Catch up on the latest season through the Bravo app.
Relive Melissa's winning Top Chef moment, below.
