Join The New York Times for a celebration of the 2026 list of the 100 Best Restaurants in New York City, hosted at The Times Center.

Since the list’s debut in 2023, New York Times restaurant critics have explored the city in search of the most exciting places to eat, an undertaking that is as rigorous as it is delicious. Now, we invite you to celebrate the new 2026 100 Best Restaurants list with several of the chefs featured on the list at a live event, hosted at the Times Center.

At the heart of the evening is Ligaya Mishan, one of the two New York Times chief restaurant critics, who will take you behind the scenes of this year’s reporting, including what it takes to visit more than 100 restaurants, how the list comes together, and the moments that linger long after the last bite. She’ll also introduce the chefs featured on this year’s list, offering a closer look at the people and stories shaping dining today.

Cookbook author, columnist, and longtime Times journalist Melissa Clark will speak with Paul Carmichael, the chef behind Kabawa, this year’s number one restaurant on the 2026 list, about the vision, creativity, and leadership behind one of the city’s most celebrated dining destinations.

Food editor and creator of The Times’s “Where to Eat” newsletter, Nikita Richardson, will sit down with Annie Shi and Jess Shadbolt of King and Shi’s Lei for a conversation about their work, craft, and experiences running restaurants today. Both King and Shi’s Lei were featured on this year’s 100 Best Restaurants list.

After the program, guests are invited to continue the evening with food, cocktails, book sales and conversation in The Hall at The Times Center.

Come curious, come hungry, and join us at The Times Center to mark a year of extraordinary eating.