The 'Best Young Chef' award at Michelin 2026 goes to Datça
As the names for the 2026 Michelin Guide Turkey selection were announced, the 'Best Young Chef Award' was presented to Datça-based chef Duru Akgül, marking the district's first representation on the Michelin stage.
İHA
The 2026 Michelin Guide Turkey selection was announced.In the new list covering Istanbul, Izmir, Muğla, and Cappadocia, the number ofMichelin-starred restaurants inTurkey rose to 17,while Datça achieved a historic success in the field ofgastronomy.
This year, the 'Best YoungChef' Chef Award" was presented to the youngchef of a restaurantin Datça, Duru Akgül. Akgül being selected as Turkey's best young chefbrought Datçaensuring its first-ever national inclusion in theMichelin Guide.
Furthermore, a restaurant located in Datçawas also included in the Michelin Guide's'Recommended Restaurants' list. Thus,Datça has been featured in the 2026 selection for both its young chef. managed to be included in the guide both with the award and in the recommended restaurant category.
With the participation of Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the selection was announced, featuring Cappadocia in the list for the first time, while the Michelin Guide will cover the entire country next year.wasannounced.
While stars and awards centered in Bodrum drew attention across Muğla, the "Best YoungChef" success from Datça marked the district'smaking the district's gastronomic potential visible on a national and internationalscale.With the2026 selection,Datça has become one of the new and ambitious destinations to bring itstranquil cuisine to the Michelin stage.