After a one-year hiatus, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards is back.
The event will be held in Antwerp, Belgium, on 5 October 2021 and encompass a gala ceremony alongside live culinary events and experiences.
The 2021 list will be unveiled in front of culinary professionals in the coming months and has been formed by combining votes cast in early 2020 and 2021.
“We are very excited about hosting this important gastronomic event in Flanders in early October and remain optimistic that the ongoing vaccine rollout will enable as many people as possible to join us safely in Antwerp,” says William Drew, director of content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
“The event programme will allow the global gastronomic community to reconnect in person, share experiences, celebrate resilience and brilliance, and ultimately help boost the restaurant sector when it needs our support most.”
Select events will be broadcast, including the 50 Best Talks, which will see leading figures take the stage to cover industry issues.
While restaurants across the globe are in the midst of navigating the pandemic and running at varying capacities, the list will be compiled from votes cast from 1,000 food professionals including writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and international culinary experts.
Each member votes for 10 restaurants, with at least four venues coming from their home region.
Due to travel and dining restrictions, voters were able to update their 2020 selections based only on restaurant experiences in their own region.
Restaurants that have closed or changed their concepts will be removed from the 2021 list.
The World’s 50 Best will also launch a new initiative, Champions of Change, set to launch in the months before the October program.
Champions of Change will see a select number of people receive a monetary donation for their work during the past year.
“It provides a substantial monetary donation to each of the recipients’ causes and supports long-term progress in the restaurant and food sphere, whether through helping others, developing inspirational blueprints or creating a healthier planet,” reads a statement.