My Kitchen Rules 2026: meet the teams competing on Channel 7 and 7plus – My Kitchen Rules returns to Channel 7 and 7plus at 7.30pm on Monday 28 September, with a new group of home cooks ready to chase the $100,000 prize.
The 2026 season brings together friends, couples and parent-and-child teams from around Australia, each determined to prove their food is the country’s best.
For TV Central readers planning their Channel 7 viewing, the line-up has two parts: six initial teams and three gatecrasher pairs. Here is who they are, where they are from and the cooking traditions they will bring to My Kitchen Rules 2026.
Meet the first six My Kitchen Rules 2026 teams
Krysten and Lucy — Queensland
Mother and daughter Krysten, 50, and Lucy, 23, bring two approaches to the kitchen. Krysten co-runs the family medical practice and cooks by instinct, favouring bold flavours. Lucy runs her own microbakery, Burnt Croissants, and takes a more precise approach to baking.
Their life on a 12-acre property and seven years spent living on a boat have shaped their love of food and the outdoors. Together, they champion great food that does not have to be expensive. Their chilli crab shio pan combines Krysten’s flavour-led cooking with Lucy’s bread-making skills.
Angus and Simon — South Australia
Funeral director Angus, 31, and his mate Simon, 36, met while working at a pub 11 years ago. Now, they are bringing their friendship and competitive streak to the dinner table.
Angus works quickly and uses plenty of utensils, while Simon prefers a methodical, recipe-focused approach. Their favourites range from Angus’s grandmother’s mini sausage rolls to Simon’s Hainanese chicken rice. Alongside their food, expect a strong sense of humour.
Alisha and Deanne — South Australia
High-school friends Alisha, 33, and Deanne, 34, call themselves the “Classy Bogans”. Both are mothers, with Alisha working as a beautician and Deanne in retail.
They favour simple home cooking with big flavours and want to make their children proud. Alisha’s sticky date pudding and Deanne’s birria tacos offer a taste of the comfort food they love. Their longstanding friendship is another ingredient they hope will help under pressure.
Tiffany and Giancarlo — Victoria
Tiffany, 37, and Giancarlo, 41, have been together for almost 20 years. Their cooking draws on Italian family recipes passed down through more than six generations, with Greek island influences also shaping Giancarlo’s food.
Tiffany is a homemaker with a background in aviation and marketing. Meanwhile, Giancarlo works in the family engineering business and is a tech entrepreneur. Fresh pasta, spaghetti pomodoro and eggplant parmigiana are among their favourites. They see trust and mutual support as strengths in the kitchen.
Mary and Golden — Victoria
Nurses Mary and Golden, both 38, met while studying nursing in the Philippines and moved to Australia together in 2004. Their Filipino heritage is central to the food they want to share.
They dream of running a late-night Filipino street-food truck serving hospital workers. Mary brings a vocal, energetic presence, while Golden is the calmer, more observant member of the team. Together, they hope to introduce more diners to the flavours of their upbringing.
Jane and Shane — New South Wales
Married foodies Jane, 49, and Shane, 55, have been married for two years and have a blended family of five adult children. Jane works in food styling and creative direction. Shane is a former hairdresser who became a builder.
They grow produce and enjoy cooking over fire. Jane leads with bold flavours, while Shane supports her and brings his love of pasta and wood-fired cooking. A Sri Lankan prawn curry cooked over coals and handmade pasta reflect their approach.
The My Kitchen Rules 2026 gatecrashers
The official line-up also includes three gatecrasher teams. These pairs are separate from the six teams in the opening group.
Harrison and Oliver — New South Wales
Harrison, 30, and Oliver, 28, became mates while working at a brewery six years ago. Food, craft beer, fashion and music are shared interests for the pair.
Bar manager Harrison enjoys slow cooking and matching food with beer, with curried sausages among his favourites. In contrast, bottle-shop attendant Oliver draws on his Italian roots. Handmade pasta, risotto and seppie in umido are part of his cooking repertoire.
Sheridan and Ted — Western Australia
Mother and son Sheridan, 53, and Ted, 25, combine organisation with experimentation. Sheridan is a high-school maths teacher who enjoys technical baking, including a yuzu dessert.
Ted, the youngest of four children, leans towards Asian-fusion cooking. He has won the family’s Christmas cooking competition two years in a row. Butter chicken and Taiwanese beef noodle soup are among his favourites, giving the pair another set of flavours to draw on.
Zoe and Zac — New South Wales
Zoe and Zac, both 30, have been friends for 15 years after meeting as teenage co-workers. Competitive Zoe is pescatarian, and the pair dream of a Newcastle brewery where they can make their own beer and bread.
Family and travel influence their food. Zoe’s caramel slice comes from a family recipe, while Zac’s sage and mushroom risotto draws on his European backpacking experience.
My Kitchen Rules 2026: Manu and Colin return
Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge return as co-hosts and judges. The pair will bring their usual mix of camaraderie, technical knowledge and direct feedback as the teams cook for a place in Kitchen HQ.
In addition, Manu says the season is “exciting, fiery and spicy”. He expects menus inspired by Australia’s appetite for comforting food and value for money.
However, his advice to the contestants is simple: do not focus on the clock. “The clock is your enemy,” Manu says. “The more you watch it, the more stressed you become – and the slower you work.”
Likewise, Colin is urging the cooks to plan for the unexpected. “The biggest skill a team can have is a plan B and a plan C,” he says. “Expect things to go wrong and have something in your back pocket to fix them.”
What is at stake
The new teams will serve treasured family recipes and modern creations. However, the competition is about more than the food. Traditional cooks will face culinary risk-takers, personalities will clash and each score will carry significant weight.
In addition, Seven promises high-stakes kitchen moments, surprise revelations at the table and big personalities alongside bold flavours. Only the best teams will reach Kitchen HQ, where one pair will claim the title of My Kitchen Rules champions.
My Kitchen Rules is produced by ITV Studios Australia for the Seven Network.
For more TV Central My Kitchen Rules news, head here. Watch My Kitchen Rules on 7plus.
