A couple of months ago, I was doing inventory of all the canceled and renewed spring shows and I realized one major network title was not on there. I wrote at the time about how Padma Lakshmi’s America’s Culinary Cup had not yet been greenlighted for Season 2, and in the time since the major foodie host has been out and about keeping the name of the series alive. However, in a surprising turn of events, we still haven’t heard anything about CBS making a decision yet.
I’d like to point out it is August 10th. The final episode last season aired on May 13th. Most of last season's shows were renewed or canceled around that time. At this point, shows like NCIS: Origins are already back in production at CBS. So, it’s wild we still haven’t been given a thumbs up or thumbs down on this competition series. I said it once before and I’m saying it again months later.
Padma Lakshmi hasn’t slowed down at least when it comes to America’s Culinary Cup this summer. She was out and about in LA just before the 2026 Emmy nominations dropped championing the show she produced. She noted that it might have landed itself on the bubble, but there are some major pros to keeping ACC around, telling THR:
I’m happy to say that even though it’s a first-season show, we had a 96 percent retention rate.
One of the issues with America’s Culinary Cup might be its big prize package, which comes in at $1 million dollars. That put it on the same level as Survivor’s typical prize package, but without the dedicated audience via network TV and streaming. Padma’s said she really wanted to bring in the Rolls Royce of cheftestants, and needs a higher prize package and better logistics in order to get people to leave their jobs and come and compete.
I wanted the chefs to have a clean, orderly place that was as close to a Michelin-starred restaurant as possible. I also wanted them to all have their own space. I didn’t want them to fight for stoves or ovens or counter space. If you see all the other shows, you know that the stoves are way back over there and then they’ve got to run and chop over here and they’ve got to fight for equipment or they’ve got to fight for the best ingredients, and I didn’t want any of that because that’s not what you’re going to have in a high-caliber, top-of-the-top competition of any kind. You’re not going to ask Picasso to come [compete] and give him a rickety easel. You’re not going to ask Serena Williams to come and have her fight with Coco Gauff for the racket. So I wanted this to be enticing for chefs. I wanted them to feel respected and taken care of and supported in their pursuit of excellence.
She got her wish in Season 1, but this could also be the reason the show is on the bubble while other programs like Survivor and The Amazing Race are renewed. Survivor can justify its higher winners package. Big Brother’s prize package is a bit lower. Race now only airs once a year. Sometimes compromises need to be made to move forward, but the hard part of it all is I did like how high-end ACC felt during its first season run.
The one thing is that Race and Survivor will both be back and airing together on the 2026 TV schedule this fall. So, CBS has a little time to think about whether or not they want more from America’s Culinary Cup or if it will ultimately be a one and done. However, now that fall TV is right around the corner, they don’t have that much time to decide. So, we’ll be sure to keep you posted if it does ultimately get renewed. Even if that happens, though, I’m guessing some tweaks will be on the docket.
