MasterChef Australia 2026 is back on our screens for another year, and as new contestants battle it out for the ultimate cooking title, the heat in the kitchen is already warming up.
With a brand new season comes 24 of Australia’s most talented home cooks are being thrown into high-stakes challenges, including Pressure Tests, Mystery Box challenges, Service Challenges and, of course, those dreaded elimination challenges, all led by this year’s MasterChef Australia judging panel — Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novello.
Of course, MasterChef has made global headlines with a very royal announcement: Meghan Markle is appearing as a guest judge. Not only will Meghan’s arrival keep these cooks under pressure, but Robert Irwin, Jimmy and Jane Barnes, Jimmy Wong and Maggie Beer are slated to throw some local star power into the mix.
While MasterChef is set to follow the format that audiences know and love, this season is all about the contestants’ personal journeys, as many of this year’s contestants draw from crossroads in their lives — whether that be career changes, family influences, migration and loss — as critical to their cooking identity.
As we know, there can be only one winner of MasterChef, which means two contestants will pip their fellow contestants at the post and face off at the grand finale. There, one of them will be crowned the winner of MasterChef and walk away with $250,000, the title, and more culinary opportunities than you can shake a stick at.
So, the countdown is on: let’s see who can handle the heat in the MasterChef kitchen as it’s turned up to fever pitch, and who is sent home packing. If the latest instalment is anything like previous seasons, there’s likely going to be some shocking and heartbreaking eliminations along the way.
Read on to find out who left MasterChef so far.
Who has been eliminated from the MasterChef kitchen so far?
Olaolu Olorunnimbe eliminated in perfect pairing challenge
Olaolu Olorunnimbe struggled in the perfect pairing challenge, which required contestants to choose one of five flavour combinations to work with during a 60-second cook.
Ultimately, Olaolu’s dish of Breakfast trifle with whipped yogurt, macerated pineapple and coconut crumb was deemed one of the weakest along with Luke’s En Papillote.
Poh said that Olaolu’s coconut and pineapple ingredients weren’t the start of his dish, like the brief asked, and called the creation “incredibly basic”. All four judges deemed his dish the weakest and he was sent home.
“I’ve got some real mixed feelings right now, it’s never nice hearing your food didn’t hit the mark, but at the same time, I’m super proud of how long I’ve been here and I’m so excited I’ve learned so much,” he said after his elimination was announced.
“It’s been cool to share some Nigerian flavours with all of Australia, I really want to continue to showcase Nigerian food and whatever allows me to do that, I’ll be chasing it down.”
Uncle Miin Wei Looi eliminated from MasterChef
Miin Wei Looi unofficially became a fan fave after the May 20 Pressure Test, which saw him doubt himself after recreating Chef Rosheen Kaul’s Chou Farci. But while it wasn’t his time to leave the competition then, a heritage challenge aired on May 26 saw him eliminated from the competition.
Miin showcased his Malaysian heritage with a dish which was his mum’s family recipe, called Kiam Chye Ark, which is a salted vegetable duck soup. To fit the dish within the time constraints, Miin opted to use a pressure cooker, which ultimately led to his noodles falling apart and causing his elimination.
“Obviously I’m very sad. I tried my best, and obviously today, my best wasn’t good enough,” Miin said upon finding out he was eliminated. “It’s probably one of the best experiences of my life, I’ve met so many amazing people here, I think I’ve made lifelong friends here. It makes my life richer.”
Fan favourite Lucy Mansfield sent home
Lucy Mansfield found herself in a black apron for a Pressure Test alongside Vinnie, Jackie and Miin, and when Jackie decided to play her Immunity Pins, Lucy’s odds of leaving went from one in four to one in three.
The three contestants were given three hours to recreate Rosheen Kaul’s Chou Farci and — between Lucy’s impressive presentation and Miin’s errors along the way — when the time ran out it looked like Lucy had done enough to stay in the competition.
However, things fell apart for her during the judge’s tasting, with them noting that some of her elements were undercooked, leading to textural issues. Her dish was deemed the weakest, and she was eliminated from the competition.
“This has just been the best experience ever and every time I step into this kitchen I feel so lucky to be here and to be cooking for you guys,” Lucy said to the judges before addressing the contestants. “I feel so lucky and grateful to have met all of you, and I’ll miss you guys so much.”
Kanika Gadyok dumped in shocking elimination
Around the World week saw the top 20 MasterChef contestants tackle a mystery ingredient challenge. They were all asked to select a cuisine between Lebanese, Japanese, Italian, Mexican and Vietnamese and they’d picked a secret ingredient was revealed that they were required to champion in the dish.
The bottom three was made up of Jackie who picked Japanese, and Kanika and Olaolu who opted for Mexican. But, it was Kanika’s dish of prawns with chipotle corn and corn salsa that the judges were least impressed with, and she was eliminated from the competition.
“Kanika, eliminations are hard, please promise us that you will continue your journey after you leave,” Jean Christophe told her.
The amateur chef reassured viewers that she won’t be giving up on cooking any time soon.
“It just been an incredible journey, so much exposure to the world of food,” she said. “This is not the last time you’re seeing me, I’m not going to stop here.”
Alita Harvey-Rodriguez’s dumpling lasagna saw her sent home
The Black apron challenge on the May 11 episode saw Vinnie and Alita be picked for the bottom two.
“Each of you put something on the plate that had potential, but each of you had critical flaws. Unfortunately, there were too many in yours, Alita,” Poh told the two contestants.
Alita whipped up a dumpling lasagne with buratta. Andy said that while the dumplings were great, they were too hot when the burrata was placed on them, causing it to melt into the lasagna and turned the meat into a “wet meatloaf”.
Meanwhile, Vinnie opted for a pork and gochujang sandwich used pre-made break from the pantry, because the home made focaccia he was working on didn’t cook in time. Andy told him the store-bought bread was a let down, and Sofia said the end result looked like a “sloppy-joe”.
Ultimately, it was Alita’s dish that pleased the judges the least, and she was eliminated from the competition.
“I loved the opportunity to push myself, and to see how good of a cook I can be,” she said when asked her favourite thing about the competition.
Bella Di Conza sent home in shock elimination
The first MasterChef blindside came in the form of Bella Di Conza’s elimination; the 20-year-old recieved a lot of screentime in the first season and her cooking skills were repeatedly praised by the judges.
It all started to go wrong for Bella in the first team challenge, in which she was paired up with Hannah Johnson and Alyona Iljuhhina. The trio’s family feast landed them in the bottom two, meaning they’d compete individually against the three cooks from the other team with the least impressive dish.
In the elimination round, the six contestants were tasked with creating a dish close to their families’ hearts. Bella chose an Apple and Cinnamon Entremet, but the tight 75-minute time limit made it difficult for her to fully perfect the intricate dessert.
She landed in the bottom two aside Hannah, and Sofia delivered the sad news that Bella was eliminated.
“While we really admire your ambition, time got the better of you. There were flaws in most of you elements. I’m so sorry, but we had to say goodbye, Bella.”
Bella took to Instagram after the episode to aired to share that while she was sad about the outcome, she left with her head held high.
“Though every fibre in me aches with disappointment, I couldn’t be more proud of myself for putting up a fight today,” she began.
“Albeit short, my time in the competition has shaped me in many ways. Meeting so many likeminded people on this journey is undoubtedly the biggest win of all. This awesome group care so deeply about food, but moreover about each other. The support I felt from all of them made a world of difference.”
Belinda Gosden eliminated in Quick Carbs challenge
The third elimination challenge saw the judges create a form of “quick carbs” each — Poh made noodles, Andy made flat bread, Jean Christophe went with pilaf rice and Sofia opted for potato latkes. They asked the contestants to make to choose one of the sides, and make a main meal to accompany it. However, they were only given 36 minutes to complete the two dishes.
Alalou, Belinda and Vinnie were in the bottom three, and Andy said it come down to the quick carb they chose and how well it went with their dish.
“Unfortunately, that means you’re going home, Belinda,” he told the three contestants.
Belinda took the bad news within her stride.
“It’s been fantastic,” Belinda said of her time. “I’ve been watching MasterChef since series one, and now I’m on the show, so you know, dream accomplished. I’ve learned that I would like to now take my cooking to another level. I don’t think you’re ever too old to start again. I’ve had eight career paths, so let’s make number nine.”
Jeff Lam is the second contestant sent home
The second Elimination Challenge of the season saw Pat, Jackie, Jeff, Luke and Vinnie all tasked with cooking a pie using Maggie Beer’s pastry recipe in the MasterChef Australia kitchen, and the contestant behind the pie that impressed the judges the least would be sent home.
The stakes were risen by the fact that Maggie was on the judging panel, along with the regular crew; Andy, Poh, Sofia and Jean-Christophe.
While every dish had elements that the judges loved, despite his best efforts it was ultimately Jeff’s undercooked pastry that let him down and let to his elimination.
“There was one pie that really suffered, the pastry was undercooked, and the filling lacked balance, which means your time in the MasterChef kitchen has come to an end, Jeff,” Poh told the group.
Jean-Christophe then created Jeff’s iconic new nickname MasterJeff before the group chanted it at him for his exit.
Jeff took the bad news well, saying in a post-elimination interview that he’s leaving the competition with his head held high.
“I came with a dream of the last 11 years to come to MasterChef, and I got that dream, I got the white apron, and nothing could take that away from me. I’m proud of what I achieved, a great experience overall,” he said.
Megs Steel sent packing in first elimination challenge
Megs Steel is a 40-year-old HR consultant from Queensland. Unfortunately, she became the first contestant to be eliminated during the first round of the competition.
For Megs, securing a white apron on MasterChef was the realisation of a long-held dream. With a deep passion for catering, she had always had a dream to open her own restaurant called Megs Place.
Unfortunately, Megs Steel’s journey in the competition was cut short, making her the first contestant to be eliminated this season. During a challenge that asked the contestants to create a dish to represent them as home cooks, Megs served undercooked prawns, which the judges thought was clearly unsatisfactory and she was swiftly sent packing.
“I’m absolutely gutted, but I’ve taken so much, I’ve learned from everyone here, so I just really wanted to thank you all, it was everything I hoped and a million times more,” Megs said upon her elimination.
While the MasterChef judges were clearly disappointed to see her depart, Poh Ling Yeow noted that they looked forward to seeing her restaurant dreams come to fruition.
Reflecting on her exit in a confessional, Megs admitted, “I’m definitely heartbroken that I didn’t get to stay longer,” adding that she was “sad” that she had not had the opportunity to fully showcase her skills.
“I’m extremely grateful. This is a place where dreams are made of, and I had that for a short time.”
MasterChef Australia airs Sunday 7pm and Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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