TV "Top Chef" is heading to Greenville, Charlotte

The Emmy-nominated culinary competition show "Top Chef" will begin filming in Greenville this summer, according to VisitGreenvilleSC.

The winner receives a cash prize of $250,000 and perks.

Charlotte and Greenville have been designated as cities in 'Top Chef Carolinas' Season 23, and production will begin sometime this summer and premiere in 2026.

The show will be filmed in both cities and is set to focus on Southern hospitality, regional history, agriculture, outdoors, and up-and-coming chefs who will seek to be crowned 'Top Chef of the entire season.

"We're excited to return to the South for 'Top Chef' Carolinas," said Ryan Flynn, senior vice president of current production at NBC Universal Television and Streaming.

"Charlotte and Greenville are perfect chefs' playgrounds fueled by exceptional local ingredients, bold flavors, a strong agricultural foundation, stunning natural landscapes, and the warm, genuine hospitality the South is known for," he added.

Historically, the competition does not exclusively feature chefs from the hosting cities; however, there are typically one or more local chefs represented among the 16 participating culinary experts.

Here is more on what to expect from 'Top Chef' and its arrival in Greenville:

What is 'Top Chef' and what happens during a television broadcast?

'Top Chef' premiered on the Bravo Network in March 2006 and has since hosted 22 seasons, featuring an elimination-style competition among culinary artists that spans various cities across the U.S.

Produced by Magical Elves, the longtime series was recently nominated in three categories at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards.

The competition typically begins with 16 contestants who participate in quickfire or elimination challenges throughout the season. The challenges require participating chefs to create a dish using specific ingredients or participate in a chef-centric activity or challenge among the group.

Chefs are required to execute their best dish within a specific timeframe. Those who win the quickfire round are granted immunity from the elimination challenge, where chefs are grouped together to prepare one or more dishes for another shot to remain on the show. The dishes are judged by a panel of celebrity and noteworthy chefs who provide feedback on the dish designed by those competing.

At the season's end, Top Chef will announce a runner-up, a fan favorite, and the overall winner, who will ultimately take home a cash prize of $250,000 and other commercial opportunities.

The Greenville filming highlights the continued growth and increasing visibility of the culinary scene in the Upstate on a national level.

"We've long known that Greenville's food scene could hold its own on a national stage," said Heath Dillard, chief executive and president of VisitGreenvilleSC. "Hosting Top Chef is both validation and a celebration. We're thrilled to see our culinary community in the spotlight."