Credit: Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
Last fall the Michelin Guide landed in the American South. The inaugural ceremony and awards were hosted in Greenville, South Carolina, where Michelin’s North American headquarters are located. For the second year of the regional guide, the team is on the move, and will host the 2026 ceremony in Nashville.
The event will take place on Oct. 21 at The Pinnacle, a downtown live-music venue. The ceremony is invitation only and not open to the public, but we imagine it will be available to stream live online as it was last year.
“Last year marked a momentous year for the American South as we proudly introduced the very first U.S. regional selection of restaurants to travelers both near and far,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide in a press release.
“As our anonymous Inspectors prepare the restaurant selection for 2026, Nashville stood out as a fitting backdrop for the ceremony thanks to its vibrant entertainment culture, local food influences and shining culinary talent.”
Indeed, Nashville had a great showing in the first year of the American South Guide with 21 restaurants recognized. Three spots earned one star, The Catbird Seat, Locust, and Bastion; seven restaurants earned Bib Gourmands (meaning they “serve high-quality food at great value”), including Kisser and Sean Brock’s Sho Pizza Bar; and 11 other local favorites, like Tailor, became Michelin Recommended restaurants.
“Nashville’s culinary scene has evolved into one of the most exciting in the country and hosting the MICHELIN Guide American South ceremony in October will further elevate Music City as a dining destination,” said Deana Ivey, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp in a press release. “From innovative tasting menus to beloved neighborhood spots, our culinary community reflects the creativity and authenticity of our city.”
The American South Guide doesn’t just elevate Nashville dining, though. It’s an opportunity for restaurants in Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Atlanta (yes, just the city, not the state of Georgia) to get recognized for their incredible dining scenes. Texas and Florida, which we would consider the American South, are also part of the Guide, but in their own individual categories.
The Michelin Guide began in France at the turn of the 20th century as a tool for boosting the car and tire industry, offering travelers useful advice on places to stay and eat. Today, it has become an arbiter of excellence in the culinary industry, helping identify world-class restaurants, now including those in the South. Last year, it celebrated everything from fine dining at Emeril’s in New Orleans to brisket and ribs at Sacred Ground BBQ in Pocahontas, Mississippi.
Read the original article on Southern Living
Dining and Cooking