Everything you need to know.

India's Junior Kitchen Stars 2026 is India's biggest celebration of home cooking, organised by The Little Broadway (TLB). It is a nationwide competition across 15 categories, culminating in a Live Grand Finale in Mumbai. We are celebrating recipes, not chefs — every original dish has a story worth telling.

India's Junior Kitchen Stars is a flagship of The Little Broadway (TLB), a premium kids' experiences company based in India. TLB runs experiences, events, and platforms designed to celebrate children's creativity.

Registration dates for 2026 will be announced soon. Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media to be the first to know. You can also email hello@recipeawards.in to get on the priority list.

Children and teenagers aged 10 to 15 residing in India are eligible to participate. There is no restriction on school, city, background, or culinary experience. We welcome first-time cooks and experienced young chefs alike. Participants outside this age range are not eligible to enter.

Yes, participation is completely free. We believe every cook deserves a fair shot at the national stage, regardless of background or financial situation.

The Grand Finale is held in Mumbai. Registrations, shortlisting, and video evaluation stages are all conducted online, so participants from anywhere in India can participate from home.

Yes! You can submit entries in up to 3 different categories. Each submission must be a distinct, original recipe specific to that category.

Yes, absolutely. Our submission system automatically saves your progress as a draft as you type. You can leave the page at any time and when you return, you will be able to pick up exactly where you left off.

The recipe should be the entrant's own creation or a personal family adaptation. Recreating a famous chef's recipe as-is is not eligible. We want to see the entrant's personal story and creativity in every dish.

No major restrictions. We welcome all cuisines and cooking styles. However, alcohol-based ingredients are not permitted.

Parental or guardian involvement is welcome. However, the recipe idea, steps and story must come from the primary entrant.

You will need to provide: the recipe name and category, a full ingredient list with quantities, step-by-step cooking instructions, a personal story (why this recipe matters to you), exactly 3 photos of the dish, and a 1–3 minute cooking video.

No. Each submission must be a unique recipe. You can submit up to 3 different recipes in 3 different categories, but the same dish cannot be entered in more than one category.

Photos must be in focus, well-lit (natural light is ideal), and show the finished dish clearly. Exactly 3 photos are required (e.g. the final dish plus in-progress shots). You do not need professional photography equipment — a smartphone works well.

Submissions can be edited up until the submission deadline. After the deadline passes, no further changes are permitted. We recommend submitting early and reviewing your entry carefully before the deadline.

Yes, a cooking video is mandatory for all submissions. The video is used by the screening jury to verify the recipe and assess the child's cooking process.

The video should be 1–3 minutes long. It must show the child actually cooking the recipe — from preparation through to the finished dish.

We accept MP4, MOV, and AVI formats. Maximum file size is 500MB. If your video is larger, we recommend compressing it using a free tool before uploading.

Absolutely not. A smartphone camera propped against a bottle is perfectly fine. We are evaluating the cooking, not the cinematography. Clear footage of the cooking process and final dish is all that's needed.

The video must show: the child introducing themselves and their recipe, key steps in the cooking process, the finished dish, and a brief taste/presentation moment at the end. The child must be visible on camera for at least 50% of the video.

Yes! You can present your video in any Indian language or English. If you speak in a regional language, please add a brief English subtitle or note explaining your dish in the text submission form.

Judging is based on four criteria: Creativity (originality of the recipe concept), Presentation (visual appeal of the dish), Story (the personal narrative behind the recipe), and Taste (assessed from photos and video). Weights vary by category — see each category's page for specific percentages.

There are two rounds. Round 1 (Screening): A panel of screening judges reviews all entries and shortlists the top performers. Round 2 (Expert Evaluation): Celebrity chef judges evaluate the shortlisted entries in detail. Top 3 per category advance to the Grand Finale (45 finalists across our 15 categories).

Our jury panel includes celebrity chefs, food writers and culinary industry experts. Confirmed judges will be announced as registrations open. Visit our Jury page for full profiles.

Yes! Every participant receives personalised feedback from the jury panel after the judging rounds, regardless of whether they advance. This is one of our most valued features — real input from culinary professionals.

Screening (Round 1) typically takes 2–3 weeks after the submission deadline. Expert Evaluation (Round 2) takes another 2 weeks. Finalists are announced approximately 6 weeks after the submission deadline.

The Grand Finale is a one-day live event in Mumbai. The top 3 finalists per category (45 total) come together to cook live, get judged in person, and attend an awards ceremony. It is a full day of cooking, tasting, celebration and community.

Yes. TLB covers travel and accommodation for all finalists and one accompanying parent/guardian coming from outside Mumbai. Full details are communicated to finalists when they are selected.

Just yourself! All cooking equipment, ingredients, and workstations are provided. Finalists should wear comfortable clothes and bring the energy and enthusiasm that got them there. A list of what you need is sent with the finalist confirmation.

Yes. Each finalist is entitled to bring one parent/guardian to the Grand Finale. Additional family members may purchase tickets if seating is available. This will be communicated closer to the event.

We offer three sponsorship tiers: Title Sponsor (one brand), Co-Sponsor, and Category Sponsor (15 available, one per category). Visit our Sponsors page to download our pitch deck and submit an inquiry. We respond within 24 hours.

India's Junior Kitchen Stars 2026 targets 50 Lakh+ total reach across social media, PR, and direct participation. Our audience spans food enthusiasts, families, and home cooks across India, with strong engagement in tier-1 and tier-2 cities.

Yes. We can create custom packages that suit your brand's goals. Contact us at hello@recipeawards.in or use the Sponsorship Inquiry form on our Sponsors page to discuss your requirements.

Your recipe remains yours. By submitting, you grant India's Junior Kitchen Stars a non-exclusive licence to feature your recipe on our platform, social media and print materials, with full credit to you. You retain all ownership rights.

Email us at hello@recipeawards.in. We aim to respond within 2 business days. For urgent queries, you can also DM us on Instagram @recipeawardsindia.

We are committed to being inclusive. If your child needs any special accommodations for the submission process or Grand Finale, please email us at hello@recipeawards.in and we will do our best to assist.

Since participation is free, there is nothing to refund for participants. For sponsors or any paid arrangements, refund terms are specified in the relevant agreement.