National Burger Awards announces finalists for 2026
A selection of some of the finest burgers from across the country have been chosen as finalists for the 2026 National Burger Awards.
In total, 16 chefs from burger operators across the hospitality sector will take part in the live final, cooking up their signature recipes for a panel of industry judges.
The line-up this year includes previous winners of the competition, such as Bleecker, Danny’s Burgers and El Perro Negro, as well as welcoming National Burger Awards debutants in Burger & Beyond and Honest Burgers.
Meat Stack will represent Newcastle at the cook-off in London, while there are also returns for popular burger outfits such as 7bone, Mollie’s, The Boring Burger and Fat Hippo. The full list of 16 finalists can be seen below.
See you in London
The competition will take place at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow on Tuesday 24 March. As well as cooking up their signature burgers, finalists will take part in a technical challenge where they must create the ultimate burger from a selection of sponsor ingredients. They will then participate in a plant-based burger round, sponsored by Redefine Meat.
The 2026 National Burger Awards will also see the return of The Great Shake Challenge, in which another selection of leading operators will battle it out to see whose milkshake creation will be named best in the UK.
“We’re back with more burgers that seriously mean business,” says Tristan O’Hana, editorial director of Dine Out magazine, which organises the event. “This year’s line-up strikes the perfect balance between previous champions, those who have come so close to glory, and then the outfits who are making their debut – we’re in for some serious competition.”
The National Burger Awards 2026 is sponsored by Americana, Aubrey Allen, Conglom International, Euro Food Brands, Kraft Heniz, Fleet Street, Kerrymaid, Kühne, Lamb Weston, Pepsi MAX, PureOatly, Redefine Meat, Synergy Grill Technology, Tabasco and Tork.
The 2026 National Burger Awards finalists
Bleecker, Bacon Double
Burger & Beyond, Bacon Butter Burger
Danny’s Burgers, The Frenchie
Dodo Pub Co, The Longhorn Burger
Cawsburger, The Cawsburger
El Perro Negro, The Top Dog
Fat Hippo, The Louvre Loot
Honest Burgers, The Honest
Meat Stack, West Coast Classic
Mollie's, Mollie’s Double Cheeseburger
Oowee Diner, The Camembert Cream
Roddy Burger, The Gazza
7bone, Loyal to the Bone
SoBe Burger, Double Bacon Black Garlic
The Boring Burger, The Boring Burger
The Flavour Trailer, The Drip
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