As registrations open, Rahul Rao outlines the vision behind a nationwide search for excellence

The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2026 invites brands, creators and experiences shaping India’s food and lifestyle space

Mumbai, January 2026: Registrations have officially opened for the 2026 edition of the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards, a national platform recognising excellence across food, travel, and lifestyle. The upcoming edition is anchored in the theme Redefining Excellence and aims to identify individuals, brands, and experiences that are influencing creativity, quality, and cultural relevance across India’s evolving food and lifestyle ecosystem.
The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2026 will feature a wide range of categories spanning restaurants, cafés, bars, bakeries, spirit brands, breweries, experiential dining formats, hospitality concepts, and content creators. The awards continue to build on their credibility through a structured evaluation process guided by an expert jury drawn from the food and hospitality industry.

The jury for the 2026 edition includes veteran food critic Rashmi Uday Singh, restaurateur and hospitality entrepreneur AD Singh, chef Rahul Akerkar, chef and F and B consultant Sneha Singhi Upadhaya, chefpreneur and television presenter Ajay Chopra, food writer Priya Ganapathy, mixologist Nitin Tewari, luxury hospitality and lifestyle curator Karishma Sakhrani, and food writer Rukhsana Kapadia, among others. The panel brings together diverse expertise to ensure a balanced and credible assessment process rooted in craft, innovation, and cultural impact.
Speaking about the upcoming edition, Rahul Rao, Chief Channel Officer, Zee Zest, said the awards continue to recognise individuals and organisations that raise standards and influence the future direction of India’s food, travel, and lifestyle sectors. He added that the 2026 edition seeks to acknowledge originality, consistency, and innovation that reflect the spirit of contemporary India.

Registrations for the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2026 are now open and will remain live until 21 January 2026. Establishments, brands, and individuals from across the country can submit nominations across multiple categories through the official awards platform.
The previous edition of the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards saw strong participation from across the industry, bringing together chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality leaders, creators, and media professionals. The event featured presentations by leading culinary figures including Chef Vikas Khanna, Chef Ranveer Brar, and Chef Hemant Oberoi, reinforcing the awards’ position within the food and hospitality ecosystem.

The ceremony also witnessed the presence of actors and cultural figures such as Nushrratt Bharuccha, Adah Sharma, Aparshakti Khurana, Mrunal Thakur, Bobby Deol, Javed Jaffrey, Manoj Bajpayee, Babil Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Chitrangada Singh, Aditi Govitrikar, Sara Afreen, and Sumona Chakravarti, along with influencers and public personalities including Miss Malini, RJ Malishka, and South Korean pop artist Aoora.
As nominations open for the 2026 edition, the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards continues to position itself as a platform offering national visibility to both emerging and established voices shaping India’s food, travel, and lifestyle landscape.

At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.